Remove ghost interfaces from list of interfaces

[Serge Fonville]

I am currently trying to remove ghost intefaces from VirtualBox.

In the VirtualBox list of interfaces when I add a bridged interface, interfaces appear that no longer appear in Windows.

I verified if the interfaces exist in Windows in the following ways to no avail:
1. Check device manager
- Open device manager and display hidden devices
- No such device
2. Open device manager from an administrative command prompt
- set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
- devmgmt.msc
- display hidden devices
3. use devcon.exe from the WDK
- devcon.exe listclass net
- devcon.exe findall =net
4. Uninstall and reinstall VirtualBox using the installer.
5. disabling and enabling the interface filter
6. search the registry

None of these seemed to show the #2 interfaces.

I appreciate all the help in advance!

[socratis]

I take it you've seen the TechNet article and also a couple of more articles in the webs, such as the one from "The Windows club", which also links to a free tool (Device Cleanup Tool) they offer. Disclaimer: I haven't tried it.

[socratis]

OK, I did try the Device Cleanup Tool. Amazing!

<off_topic>
In fact I took a look at the author's other free offerings and I discovered another gem, UsbTreeView, a modified version of the USBView that's coming with the Microsoft Driver Developer's Kit (but only in source code). So nice, that I updated the USB Basics and troubleshooting articles to include that as well.
</off_topic>

[Serge Fonville]

I tried the device cleanup tool, also to no avail.

Also, the network device in the list of bridgable interfaces, the #2 corresponds to the windows interface without #2
I verified the interface IP using VBoxManage.exe list bridgedifs.

So the interface that does not exist according to Windows, is associated to an interface that exists according to VirtualBox.

Perhaps if I knew what method VirtualBox uses to find these interfaces, I could clean--up its source.

[socratis]

You'd have to take a look at the source code for that: https://www.virtualbox.org/browser/vbox/trunk
I would uninstall VirtualBox, clean up the system, devices, registry, etc. and re-install VirtualBox.

[Serge Fonville]

I uninstalled the driver of the network card and reinstalled it again and now windows thinks its #2 as well.