To configure the tcp/IP, You Shoup Install and Configure the Network Adapter

The following error sometimes appears in Windows: “To configure TCP/IP, you must install and configure a network adapter.” You can see it when you try to open the properties of Internet Protocol version 4 or version 6 (TCP/IPv4 and TCP/IPv6) in the properties of the adapter through which you are connecting to the Internet. I learned about this error from the comments on one of the articles on this site. As far as I understand, the status is “limited” when connecting to a Wi-Fi network in Windows 8. And when you try to open the network adapter settings (to, for example, change the IP address, DNS, or other parameters) a Microsoft TCP/IP window appears with an error message.

This is how the error related to TCP/IP settings in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 looks like:

In our case, the problem occurred with the Wireless adapter in Windows 10. That is, when connecting via Wi-Fi network. But judging from information on the Internet, it often fails to configure TCP/IP when connecting to the Internet via cable. In Windows 7, this is the “Local Area Connection” adapter, and in Windows 10 it’s the “Ethernet” adapter. In any case, if you are having any problems connecting to the Internet (e.g. no or limited Internet access) via cable or wi-fi, and when you try to change the TCP/IP settings in the network connection properties, you see the error “To configure TCP/IP, you must install and configure the network adapter”, then try the solutions that I will discuss later in this article. They should help you out.

A few more words about what this error is and why it appears. I haven’t found any information about why this error appears anywhere. Even on the official Microsoft support forum they can’t explain why this message pops up. It seems to be because of replacing the network adapter. As a result, the system cannot work with the new adapter, there is no possibility to change network settings, DHCP-server does not receive addresses and as a consequence of all this the Internet does not work. That’s why the error says: “…you should install and configure the network adapter”. And it’s nothing that it is as if it is installed, as it is displayed in the system. But we can’t configure it, because TCP/IP settings are not opened. And most users get this error suddenly, without replacing the network adapter, changing any settings, etc.

Variants of solving the error

1
I wanted to advise you to remove the network adapter in Device Manager (to reinstall it), but since there may be problems with reinstalling the drivers (especially in Windows 7), I would advise you to reset the network settings first. To avoid writing about the same thing over and over again, I’m just providing links to detailed instructions:

• Resetting TCP/IP and DNS Network Settings in Windows 7
• Reset Network Settings in Windows 10

Open the instruction that suits you, follow all the steps and restart your computer. If the problem persists, apply the second solution.

2
Since the error “To configure TCP/IP, you must install and configure the network adapter.” is somehow related to the installation and configuration of the network adapter, the first thing that comes to mind is to reinstall the network adapter. You can download a driver for it and run the installation, but it seems to me that it is much more effective to remove the network adapter from the system and install it again.

Most often, after removing the adapter and rebooting the computer, the system automatically finds it and installs the necessary drivers. But to avoid problems later, it is advisable to initially download the driver for the adapter that we will remove. Especially if you have Windows 7 and you will remove the wireless adapter (problem with wi-fi connection).

You need to open the Device Manager. You can do this in a convenient way. There are several options. I usually press the keyboard shortcut Win+R and run the command devmgmt.msc. There we open the “Network Adapters” tab, find the adapter we need (the name of the wireless adapter will most likely contain the words “WLAN”, “Wireless”, “802.11”, and the name of the network card will be “PCIe”, “GBE”), right-click on it and select “ Remove Device”. Watch carefully! You need to remove the adapter through which there are problems with connecting to the network.

Then you need to confirm the deletion. I do not recommend to put a check mark near the item “Delete driver programs for this device”.

After deleting the configuration of the equipment will be updated automatically. But I advise you to reboot your computer.

3
Try running the troubleshooter.

Even if the network diagnostics tool itself does not fix this error, it will probably indicate the cause and some recommendations, which can be used to look for a solution on the Internet.

Usually it helps to reinstall the network adapter. The Internet starts working and TCP/IP settings are opened.

In the case when the problem remains and the connection without access to the Internet, try to apply the solution from this article: “Connection is limited” in Windows 10 over Wi-Fi and network cable.

If you managed to solve this problem and get rid of the error “To configure TCP/IP, you must install and configure the network adapter.”, then write in the comments what solution helped you. Or describe your method if it’s not in this article. All the best!

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Ramón

Solving problems and errors