Windows 7: realtek rtl 8102e/rtl 8103e family pci-e fast ethernet nic problems

I created a dual boot system as I have a few older programs which require Windows 7 32bit o/s.

I failed to make an Internet connection but it was not essential on the 32bit system, however I am now getting lots of MS reminders to register my Windows 7 software.

In device manager the realtek rtl 8102e/rtl 8103e family pci-e fast ethernet nic problems has a yellow astrid along side and despite deleting and reloading it is still giving a code 10 error.

This is stopping me setting up a connection to my wired router.

My realtek rtl 8102e/rtl 8103e family pci-e fast ethernet nic was not functioning because the driver was incorrect. I down loaded the required driver and tried updating in device manager without success. I uninstalled the realtek rtl 8102e/rtl 8103e family pci-e fast ethernet nic but when I rebooted it automatically loaded the old driver.

I tried again today and this time I went into device manager, right clicked the realtek rtl 8102e/rtl 8103e family pci-e fast ethernet nic and from the drop down menu selected Install Driver Software a route I had never tried before. It gave me the option to manually select the driver and to my surprise installed it.

It appears the functionality of driver update in device manager is temperamental at times but the Install Driver Software route could sort any driver installation problems. I decided to pass this info on as I had 167 views on my original thread and no one came up with this alternative.

Thanks to All Ken Davison