Remove an unused/hidden network connection so that an existing name can be reused
How can I safely remove a network connection that is no longer visible in Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections on Windows 10?
I want to reuse the name of a previously existing connection, "USB Ethernet", so that I can programmatically find this connection on multiple PCs if it exists.
When I try to rename one of the connections I get the following error message: "Cannot rename this connection. A connection with the name that you specified already exists. Specify a different name."
See: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B6dFu9niJIpEU0pYX1NiS0dhNlk
There are no hidden adaptors in Device Manager: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/315539/device-manager-does-not-display-devices-that-are-not-connected
Other posts mention editing the registry and removing the GUID that represents that specific connection under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlNetwork
However, this connection may be referenced in other places within the registry. How can I safely remove the connection and all its references?
There are many unused/hidden connections on my machine according to the registry: Local Area Connection* 11, Local Area Connection* 2, Local Area Connection* 7 etc.
windows-10 windows-registry network-adapter
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
add a comment |
How can I safely remove a network connection that is no longer visible in Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections on Windows 10?
I want to reuse the name of a previously existing connection, "USB Ethernet", so that I can programmatically find this connection on multiple PCs if it exists.
When I try to rename one of the connections I get the following error message: "Cannot rename this connection. A connection with the name that you specified already exists. Specify a different name."
See: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B6dFu9niJIpEU0pYX1NiS0dhNlk
There are no hidden adaptors in Device Manager: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/315539/device-manager-does-not-display-devices-that-are-not-connected
Other posts mention editing the registry and removing the GUID that represents that specific connection under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlNetwork
However, this connection may be referenced in other places within the registry. How can I safely remove the connection and all its references?
There are many unused/hidden connections on my machine according to the registry: Local Area Connection* 11, Local Area Connection* 2, Local Area Connection* 7 etc.
windows-10 windows-registry network-adapter
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
add a comment |
How can I safely remove a network connection that is no longer visible in Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections on Windows 10?
I want to reuse the name of a previously existing connection, "USB Ethernet", so that I can programmatically find this connection on multiple PCs if it exists.
When I try to rename one of the connections I get the following error message: "Cannot rename this connection. A connection with the name that you specified already exists. Specify a different name."
See: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B6dFu9niJIpEU0pYX1NiS0dhNlk
There are no hidden adaptors in Device Manager: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/315539/device-manager-does-not-display-devices-that-are-not-connected
Other posts mention editing the registry and removing the GUID that represents that specific connection under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlNetwork
However, this connection may be referenced in other places within the registry. How can I safely remove the connection and all its references?
There are many unused/hidden connections on my machine according to the registry: Local Area Connection* 11, Local Area Connection* 2, Local Area Connection* 7 etc.
windows-10 windows-registry network-adapter
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
How can I safely remove a network connection that is no longer visible in Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsNetwork Connections on Windows 10?
I want to reuse the name of a previously existing connection, "USB Ethernet", so that I can programmatically find this connection on multiple PCs if it exists.
When I try to rename one of the connections I get the following error message: "Cannot rename this connection. A connection with the name that you specified already exists. Specify a different name."
See: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0B6dFu9niJIpEU0pYX1NiS0dhNlk
There are no hidden adaptors in Device Manager: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/315539/device-manager-does-not-display-devices-that-are-not-connected
Other posts mention editing the registry and removing the GUID that represents that specific connection under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlNetwork
However, this connection may be referenced in other places within the registry. How can I safely remove the connection and all its references?
There are many unused/hidden connections on my machine according to the registry: Local Area Connection* 11, Local Area Connection* 2, Local Area Connection* 7 etc.
windows-10 windows-registry network-adapter
windows-10 windows-registry network-adapter
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
asked Oct 10 '17 at 13:24
matt.bakermatt.baker
6115
6115
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
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votes
For wired connection:
Type the command
netsh lan show profiles, press Enter to obtain all wired network profiles.
netsh lan delete profile name="WiredProfileName"
For wireless connection:
Type the command
netsh wlan show profiles
netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"
Besides that, go into the following registry entryL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
For wired connection:
Type the command
netsh lan show profiles, press Enter to obtain all wired network profiles.
netsh lan delete profile name="WiredProfileName"
For wireless connection:
Type the command
netsh wlan show profiles
netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"
Besides that, go into the following registry entryL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
add a comment |
For wired connection:
Type the command
netsh lan show profiles, press Enter to obtain all wired network profiles.
netsh lan delete profile name="WiredProfileName"
For wireless connection:
Type the command
netsh wlan show profiles
netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"
Besides that, go into the following registry entryL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
add a comment |
For wired connection:
Type the command
netsh lan show profiles, press Enter to obtain all wired network profiles.
netsh lan delete profile name="WiredProfileName"
For wireless connection:
Type the command
netsh wlan show profiles
netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"
Besides that, go into the following registry entryL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
For wired connection:
Type the command
netsh lan show profiles, press Enter to obtain all wired network profiles.
netsh lan delete profile name="WiredProfileName"
For wireless connection:
Type the command
netsh wlan show profiles
netsh wlan delete profile name="WirelessProfileName"
Besides that, go into the following registry entryL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
edited Oct 12 '17 at 3:16
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
answered Oct 11 '17 at 9:04
WakaWaka
78324
78324
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
add a comment |
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
1
1
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately it's not showing the hidden connections, just the ones already displayed in the Windows Network Connections UI
– matt.baker
Oct 11 '17 at 9:17
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
were those wired or wireless network profile? Above netsh lan & netsh wlan would show all network profiles in your computer.
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 3:12
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
These were wired connections. When I ran the netsh lan show profiles command it only showed Ethernet and Ethernet 2.
– matt.baker
Oct 12 '17 at 5:36
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
go into the following registry entryL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles Find those unused network profile by right pane profile name, delete them(GUID).
– Waka
Oct 12 '17 at 5:55
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
Sorry for the delay in responding. The registry location you mention doesn't list the connections I mentioned unfortunately (only profiles). It seems bad practice just deleting a GUID as I cannot be sure it isn't referenced in another placed leading to broken links.
– matt.baker
Oct 18 '17 at 11:43
add a comment |
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