dual boot installed win 8 --> win7 internet crashed?

win8upd · 21 Dec 2011

Hey all, I just installed win 8 dualboot a couple hours ago, to complement my win 7 (installed the developer preview of course). Immediately after, my internet (ethernet or wifi) would not work on my win 7. Ethernet would result into 'unidentified network' and the machine won't pick up the ip address or something, I think. No matter how hard the IT guys tried, they couldn't get it to work. Wi-fi could be because I have a lousy router, but I am not sure. Is there a way to fix ethernet/both? I have a feeling ethernet is 100% related to win8 installation, wi-fi not so sure. I checked the drivers -- they are the same as before. I uninstalled, reinstalled, disabled/enabled, etc. etc. etc., nothing happened. Win 8 internet works fine. Thank you!

This is cross-posted at Win 8 forums dual boot installed win 8 --> win7 internet crashed? - Windows 8 Forums due to the urgency of the issue (I really need my internets on the Win 7 side of the computer! :) ). Thanks again!

Vertex · 21 Dec 2011

Have you tried deleting the network device from Network and Sharing Center? Its under "change adapter settings". You just right click on the device and delete and then just try to install it again.

But you said you used Wifi? Does Wifi work with Windows 8 when its not with your Windows 7? If it does not work with Windows 8 as well, it may be a hardware trouble if you said your router was lousy. Is this a home or an office computer? If you could get a spare router, maybe you could check if that will work instead.

win8upd · 22 Dec 2011

Problem solved -- apparently installing win 8 (even dual-boot) induces something in the system that makes your Ethernet card (provided it's Marvell Yukon I think) unusable unless you update the drivers on the Win 7 side. Did that, it works golden now. Wi-fi was just lousy because of the router. Thanks!