Deleted registry entry to fix code 31, network adapters won't work

tjacob · 12 Jan 2013

The comp started BSOD'ing out of nowhere, a new adapter I think called ISATAP or something like that shows up under network adapters in device manager which had a yellow exclamation icon. (Code: 31). Disabling or uninstalling its drivers resulted in BSOD's. Googled around and found the only way to fix it was to delete some registry entries, so without backing up the registry I deleted some keys.

I don't remember which keys but the image above is the result. I got Ubuntu live booted up and using it to post this because my Win 7 installation obviously can't connect to the Internet.

*I tried reinstalling drivers (Marvel Yukon & Belkin), disabling and enabling stuff but nothing seems to be happening.
*Got some registry fixing tools or whatever, still the same.

Any idea how to fix this, guys ? Thanks for any help.

marsmimar · 12 Jan 2013

Hello tjacob and welcome to Seven Forums.

See if you can roll back your computer to an earlier date/time (prior to editing the registry) using system restore.

System Restore

tjacob · 12 Jan 2013

Nop, no system restore either, this a month old installation. I don't have any backups.

marsmimar · 12 Jan 2013

System Restore is on by default (as part of System Protection) and automatically creates restore points at least once every 7 days; more often under certain circumstances like when installing programs, some Windows Updates, drivers, etc. Are you saying you turned System Restore/System Protection off?

What is System Restore?

What is system protection?

tjacob · 12 Jan 2013

System restore is active but didn't have any restore points. I'd have happily restored to a previous date if there was one.

Any other remedies ?

marsmimar · 12 Jan 2013

It's a long shot but maybe the registry editing damaged some system files. You could try running a system file checker scan from an elevated command prompt (option two.) If problems are found run the scan 3 times and reboot the computer after each scan.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Also, one of the Forum experts prepared a troubleshooting guide with some additional suggestions that may help.

Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

One other possibility is to use a free driver scanning utility such as DriverMax. Let it run its scan and then make note of whatever drivers it says are out of date or missing. You could then visit the manufacturers' websites to see if those drivers are available. (If DriverMax says drivers are needed I think it's safer to go to the manufacturer.)

Driver update - Use DriverMax to update all your Windows PC drivers

tjacob · 14 Jan 2013

SFC didn't find anything wrong with the files and driver max needs to connect to go online to check if there the internet is working or not! anything else that can be done ?

rmanHammer · 20 Oct 2014

I had Code 31 errors across all network adapters, and finally found a solution (uninstall/reinstall of drivers didn't work, buying and adding a new wireless adapter didn't work, sfc /verifyonly didn't find anything, etc). Although the following KB article (https://support.microsoft.com/kb/937056) is for a different problem, it worked for me. My steps (slightly different/abbreviated from the KB article):

1. Download and copy latest version of the network adapter driver to the machine (I used another machine to download onto USB thumb drive)

2. Run regedit. Remember, editing the registry is dangerous, and you could make things worse! Be paranoid and back things up before you do this.

3. Locate and then export the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network. Use File/Export... menu item to backup the key in case something goes wrong)

4. Delete the registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Config. The type of this subkey is REG_BINARY. It is the only subkey you need to delete. Don't delete the entire Network key, but if you do, you have a backup from step 3.

5. Run Device Manager, expand Network Adapters, right-click the network adapter that you want, and then click Uninstall. I chose to delete the driver also, but I don't think it was strictly necessary.

6. Restart the computer. If you deleted the driver in step 5, Windows will tell you that it failed to install the driver. This is ok (you'll install it in the next step).

7. Install the drivers that you copied to the machine in step 1. If you didn't delete the driver in step 5, then this shouldn't be necessary.

Deleted registry entry to fix code 31, network adapters won't work

Deleted registry entry to fix code 31, network adapters won't work

It could be a Registry Issue