HELP...Windows shut off the Nic

I have a problem with my general managers machine. He has a Dell Latitude D610 with XP installed. This morning he complained that he cannot get network on his laptop. He can get to the network while it's docked, but not stand alone.
I did a system restore to yesterday morning...nothing.
I updated the network driver.....nothing.
I also tried to re-enable the device in device manager and it tells me Windows was unable.

Not sure what to try next.....any ideas??

 

Let me also add....

I removed the HD and put it in another machine and it does the same thing.

so that's why I say it's windows doing the deed.

 

I think he configured some type of home wireless last night and somehow windows shut the onboard nic off.

 

He isn't using wireless at work though. He plugs into the LAN.

weird... because his docking station will work, but when he unhooks and tries to connect with the cable that way.....nothing.

 

My partner in crime went in and deleted some "corrupt" .inf files and some registry stuff. It works now, but now the wireless is defunct....

working on that now....

 

Thanks TimW....appreciate the help!!!!

 

I'll try that scan..... never seen that before. I like this forum BTW....I learn something new everytime I log on...

 

There is a powersave feature on some laptops. Dell has a config utility in the system tray where you can configure that or in BIOs. The network will only be enabled when you power on with a power source connected, change that to always on.