Microsoft Hosted Virtual Network Adapter is gone

Hi Folks,

I am using Windows 8.1. I was having problems while trying to host a wireless network off of my laptop, using a program called Virtual Router. I went through a variety of troubleshooting steps recommended online, with no luck. In the end, I thought that the culprit may have been some problem with "Microsoft Hosted Virtual Network Adapter", a piece of hardware that only shows up in Device Manager when you click on view->show hidden devices. The troubleshooting tips had recommended updating the driver for it. I checked to see if the drivers were up to date. Windows said they were fine, so I figured that the next step would be to uninstall and reinstall "Microsoft Hosted Virtual Network Adapter". I right clicked and selected uninstall. The device disappeared from my device list. I searched for new hardware that needed to be installed, with no luck. I was surprised by this. Then, I noticed something listed as "Unknown device" at the bottom of the network adapters list. I have tried to update driver software and scan for hardware changes. Windows doesn't seem to know what it is, and is saying that it needs me to direct it to a particular file, on a disk. I have no such file, and searches of the internet to find it turn up nothing.

Does anyone know where I can find the driver? Or does anyone know how I can restore "Microsoft Hosted Virtual Network Adapter" in my list of devices?

Just to be clear, I have already tried restarting several times throughout this whole process.

There is no driver. The Virtual Hosted Adapter is a part of the software you installed.

Oh wow. Thank you. So I should be able to just uninstall and reinstall the software? I will try this.

Hi broe23,

I tried installing and reinstalling. This does not restore the Microsoft Hosted Virtual Network Adapter.

I'm not saying that you're necessarily wrong about this being installed by the software itself, but the reality that reinstalling hasn't solved the problem, and there is still an "unknown device" at the end of my list of network adapters makes me a bit skeptical.

In any case, I welcome any further suggestions.

You are going to have to research on it. Best place to go is microsoft.com. Do a search on the subject you posted, and then you will get the info on what that virtual device does.