Prevent Network Card shutdown on ethernet cable removal

[MiraJim]

I need to know if this is a Windows 7 issue...

I am running software which is licensed through my network card ID. I have recently bought a new laptop, running Windows 7 for the first time. Unless there is a network cable plugged in, I have no access at all to my card and so the software does not work.

My card is a Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller. I have read in a couple of places that both Windows 7 and Realtek have introduced "Green" power saving to disable your network card to save power; but so far I have not been able to find settings that can stop this happening.

There is an option to "Allow the computer to switch off this device to save power", but it appears to happen if this is checked or not.

Has anyone else had this issue and is there a solution?
Thank you

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome!

You can try this:

 

[ccatlett1984]

You could also install virtualbox and tie the software to the virtual network interface that it creates.