Issue:
You would like to know where Network Card (NIC) information is stored in the registry. You need this information for troubleshooting, diagnosing issues, or finding configuration settings of the NIC.
Solution:
The following lists the common network card registry settings and a brief description of their use.
1) HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards
a. Contains a numbered subkey for each NIC.
b. Review the “Description” value name in each subkey to determine which NIC the key applies to.
c. The “ServiceName” value name is the {GUID} of the NIC that is used to reference the NIC throughout the registry.
2) HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\{GUID}
a. This key contains the Tcpip subkey and the current Tcpip settings for the NIC.
3) HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Adapters\{GUID}
a. This key has the “IpConfig” value name which is used to direct drivers to the appropriate key used to store Tcpip configuration. Other protocols will do the same thing using different value names.
4) HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\{GUID}
a. This key contains a subkey called “Connection.” Under this key the value name called “Name” will display the name of the network connection as it appears in the Network Connection control panel. Typically “Local Area Connection #”
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}
a. This key contains numbered subkeys that hold the current configuration of all the network adapters. Search this key for the {GUID} and you will find your network adapter configuration key.
b. You will find the {GUID} in the value name called “NetCfgInstanceId”
c. Under the numbered subkey you will find the …\Ndi\Params subkey. Under this key you will find all the configuration options and values for the NIC as they appear in the NIC properties window. See the example key name for more information.
i. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}\####\Ndi\Params