Disable (or switch off) a network interface on windows but keep the "plug and play"

Posted by Leandro on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Leandro
Published on 2012-05-30T00:48:54Z Indexed on 2012/06/06 4:42 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 467

Filed under:

networking

|

windows-7

|

windows-xp

|

nic

I'm looking for a good workaround to do this on Windows 7 and Windows XP:

Disable or make ineffective the network interface (ETH, WIFI, any NIC).
If the user connect his ETH cable, the network interface enable again.

Important Notes to take care:

I'm working with wmic on Win7 (through the command line)
I'm working with devcon on WinXP (through the command line)
I'm specifically working with the .NET Framework 2.0 on C# but this is just for informational purposes.
I know that an event won't help me to detect it (if there is a way or workaround to do this I don't know it).

The real problem is that when I disable the NIC, I can't know if the user connects his cable or has a wired network. This is why I am looking for a workaround.

I'll treat suggestions as answers if no direct answer exists. I'll provide any extra detail necessary.

© Server Fault or respective owner

Related posts about networking

Networking stopped working on Ubuntu

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I installed Ubuntu 10.04 through the Wubi installer (Funny, I installed it today and thought I would have gotten 10.10). I had a network connection and everything was working fine. I rebooted my coumputer a couple of times and then suddenly, I could not connect to the network and when I click the… >>> More
Troubles with start up defenition of networking service in Ubuntu

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I use Ubuntu 12.04.1. I put attention that networking script starting in runlevel 0: user@comp:/etc/rc0.d$ chkconfig -l networking networking 0:on 1:off 2:off 3:off 4:off 5:off 6:off When I try to move it working to appropriate run levels I get error: user@comp:/etc/rc0… >>> More
Installing the Elgg Social Networking CMS

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
One Open Source CMS that stands out above the rest for small businesses and personal networks is the Elgg open source "social engine," which can be used to create social applications. Scott Clark shows you how to install and get started with this social networking CMS. >>> More
OAuth: Token-Based Authorization for the Social Networking Age

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
The OAuth token-based authorization system allows users to grant third-party access to their resources without sharing their usernames and passwords. It's perfect for the age of data scattered across many social networking sites. >>> More
OAuth: Token-Based Authorization for the Social Networking Age

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
The OAuth token-based authorization system allows users to grant third-party access to their resources without sharing their usernames and passwords. It's perfect for the age of data scattered across many social networking sites. >>> More

Related posts about windows-7

Server 2012 DFS New Member Issue

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I am trying to add a new member to our DFS topology. We have 3 DCs (VMs - VMware) running Windows server 2012, two servers are located in or Primary site and the third at our DR site. Currently the two servers at our primary site are currently replicating DFS (full mesh) and are working fine. I have… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
error in IIS7 but not on IIS6

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I have a website that is we are now deploying to windows 2008 servers that has worked in the past on IIS6 without a problem. It is using .net 2 framework. Most of the website works. Just when we create a screen report over a certain size on the server we get this error. Event code: 3005 Event… >>> More
Microsoft Management Console stops working when I add snap-in to it

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I have Windows 7 Ultimate OS. I'm opening mmc.exe as administrator and trying add Certificates or any other snap-in, then while loading that snap-in MMC breaks and displays following message and after that it closes automatically once I click on close button on that message. What could be the problem… >>> More
Handling keyboard and mouse input (Win API)

as seen on Game Development - Search for 'Game Development'
There is a number of ways to catch mouse or keyboard under Windows. So I tried some of them, but every of them has some advantages and drawbacks. I want to ask you: Which method do use? I've tried these: WM_KEYDOWN/WM_KEYUP - Main disadvantage is that, I can't distinguish between left and right-handed… >>> More