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Remove Non-Existing Network Adapters 2003 & 2008 Servers

 
I have major problems trying to remove devices which had been previously installed but are no longer valid.
 
ERROR:
The IP address XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX you have entered for this network adapter is already assigned to another adapter Name of adapter. Name of adapter is hidden from the network and Dial-up Connections folder because it is not physically in the computer or is a legacy adapter that is not working. If the same address is assigned to both adapters and they become active, only one of them will use this address. This may result in incorrect system configuration. Do you want to enter a different IP address for this adapter in the list of IP addresses in the advanced dialog box?
 
SOLUTION:
 
Windows 2003:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER.
  2. Type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type Start DEVMGMT.MSC, and then press ENTER.
  4. Click View, and then click Show Hidden Devices.
  5. Expand the Network Adapters tree.
  6. Right-click the dimmed network adapter, and then click Uninstall.
Windows 2008:
 
It MUST be started from the elevated-privilege command window for this procedure to work.
  1. (Start -> Right-click "Command Prompt",select "Run as Administrator")
  2. Type set SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type Start DEVMGMT.MSC, and then press ENTER.
  4. Click View, and then click "Show Hidden Devices".
  5. Expand the Network Adapters tree.
  6. Right-click the dimmed network adapter, and then click Uninstall.
 
To correct this problem via registry, do the following in the registry:
  1. Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) and locate the following registry subkeys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, where number is the number of any network adapter that appears in the Installed Adapter Cards section in the Network tool in Control Panel:
    \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NWLinkIPX\NetConf
    \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\<Directory Specifying Manufacturer>
    \SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards\<number>
  2. Manually remove all subkeys pertaining to the network adapter.
  3. Quit Registry Editor.
  4. Shut down and restart Windows.
 
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