How to fix network adapter “NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller” experiencing driver or hardware related issues?

Problem

Windows Network Diagnostics reports “The network adapter ‘NVIDIA nForce networking controller’ is experiencing driver or hardware related issues” when trying to connect to the internet.

Solution 1: Update Drivers for NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller

1. Go to Device Manager with following method. Click Start menu button, type in Device Manager and select this tool from the list of results at the top. Or press Windows Key + R buttons to bring up the Run dialog box, type in devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK.
2. Expand Network adapters section in Device Manager, right click on NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller and select Uninstall Device option.
3. Download NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller driver from NVIDIA website and install it.

Solution 2: Change MAC Address of the NVIDIA nForce Controller via Device Manager

1. Go to Device Manager with following method. Click Start menu button, type in Device Manager and select this tool from the list of results at the top. Or press Windows Key + R buttons to bring up the Run dialog box, type in devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK.
2. Expand Network adapters section in Device Manager, right click on NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller and select Properties option.
3. Navigate to Advanced tab, select Network address entry then change the Value option either to 00936ECC8ED5 or to 00-93-6E-CC-8E-D5.

Solution 3: Change MAC Address of the NVIDIA nForce Controller via Regedit

1. Open command prompt with Run as Administrator option.
2. Enter command ipconfig/all. Write down Description and Physical Address for the network device you are currently using (NVIDIA nForce Controller) whose name will match the type of connection you are using to connect (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, etc).
3. Enter command net config rdr. Write down the GUID, which is displayed between the “{…}” brackets next to the Physical Address entry you located earlier.
4. Open the Registry Editor utility (regedit).
5. Navigate to below registry key path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
6. Find your adapter by opening the folders named “0000”, “0001”, etc, and comparing the DriverDesc key to the Description your wrote down above.
7. Right-click on the folder that matches your network device via the Description and select New > String Value. You should name it NetworkAddress by double-clicking on it and typing NetworkAddress in the name value.
8. Enter new MAC address in the Value data field. You can use the one we have presented below (00936ECC8ED5).
9. Restart computer.

Solution 4: Setup Certain Settings for Adapter

1. Go to Device Manager with following method. Click Start menu button, type in Device Manager and select this tool from the list of results at the top. Or press Windows Key + R buttons to bring up the Run dialog box, type in devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK.
2. Expand Network adapters section in Device Manager, right click on NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller and select Properties option.
3. Navigate to Advanced tab, locate the two options called Link Speed and Duplex Mode or simply Speed/Duplex settings. Change the Value option at the right-side to your actual connection speed or Full Duplex respectively and apply the changes.

Solution 5: Assign Network Settings Manually

1. Open command prompt with Run as Administrator option.
2. Enter command ipconfig/all. Take note of the following settings: IP address, DNS Server, Default Gateway, and Subnet Mask.
3. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows logo key + R key together. Then type ncpa.cpl in it and click OK in order to open Internet Connection window.
4. Double-click on active Network Adapter which should belong to NVIDIA nForce, then click on Properties and locate Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) entry on the list. Click on it in order to select it and click the Properties button below.
5. In the General tab and switch both radio buttons in the window to Use the following IP address and Use the following DNS server addresses. Take note of the data you have gathered above and type it in the fields which will display.
6. Keep Validate settings upon exit option checked and click OK in order to apply the changes immediately.