Internet down, Yellow exclamation by all network adapters

After a windows update about a week ago all my network adapters had yellow exclamation points by them in device manager. I was cleaning up from a malware infection at the same time so I'm not sure which caused the problem.

I've tried downloading the drivers on another computer and transfering them over to uninstall/reinstall them but with no luck. I tried a system restore right off the bat but that didn't work. I'm running windows xp SP3 and using a VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter. Anyone know anything about this?

 

It's worrisome that you tried to re-install the drivers and that failed to work.

Try this - go into device manager and remove/delete your network adapter (the one for the internet) . Reboot, and let windows "find" the "new" hardware. Let windows install drivers if it offers. If that works, go online and search for updated drivers on the microsoft site if you wish - often there are newer drivers online (or, install the newest driver you can find for the adapter manually).

Do the same for any other network device that shows a yellow exclamation point in device manager - though with luck if you search for drivers on the MS site as described above, it might find the drivers you need for other devices that are having problems.

 

lol - No problem . . . I actually overlooked the malware angle. Good suggestion.

 

Yes, I cleaned up here and am now certified malware free. I was told to take the networking problem to the proper forums.

The only network adapter that can be removed is the VIA Rhine. I did as you had written below previously following the troubleshooting guide ie: removing and letting the computer find hardware itself but after locating the same problem remained. I tried rolling back, locating the drivers online and putting them on the computer via usb stick and then reinstalling (can't let windows find them for me because no internet on that computer) but none of these worked for me.

I stuck in my windows cd yesterday and was going to try and repair it but it said it was an older version of windows so I let it be not being sure what I would be getting into if I reinstalled an older version and deleted the current.

 

Got stuck in a loop, Setup failed to remove the product catalog SP2.CAT and SP3.CAT & The signature for Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade is invalid error code fffffe0b. Think I might be doing a full format.