Is it possible that win10 could deliberately disable wired lan port through uefi bios, if certain conditions are met ? I could provide more detail should someone be interested to help me tackle the problem.
Well, thank you for your time. It is weird, I agree ; that's exactly why I need help of some expert who understands the whole thing...
FYI Apple already don't allow you to format/clean install an OS on "apple silicon" MACs w/o an internet connection. be sure MS will copy that nasty thing in matter of few years (as usual, with crap introduced by apple first). Perhaps the only way I can think is filtering the mac address via an external firewall, then change it in Windows to allow the net connectivity. or modding the bios (if possible) removing the UEFI module that manages the NIC.
Thank you acer, I knew there would be someone that shares with me an idea that they can do it, should they choose so ! My question sounds a bit cryptic, I admit; what had happened was much simpler...and weirder at the same time. I have Lenovo T430 built in 2013 and I wanted to upgrade OS to win 10,even though I was very happy with win7 Enterprise on it. But the other day Signal told me that it will stop working on win7, and one could expect ever more apps we love to follow. So, I decided it's time to switch and kind of prepare for the inevitable. 1. I used Slimdown 10, thank you wkeller, and installed win 10 successfully. 2. Updated BIOS from Lenovo support site to the latest , 2.82 version. UEFI only. 3. As I was finding my way around it, came across some way of having Dolby Digital AA courtesy GitHub and I tried to implement it. Win 10 refused to run the file. I poked around reading a bit and changed some security setting after I was able to run the file, but couldn't get it to work. 4. My cat, don't laugh, flipped the laptop off the table straight to the floor !! 5. Everything seem to be OK, I re-booted and saw my NordVPN spinning to death trying to connect... Closer look at the ntwk ctr revealed "Network cable unplugged", when actually it wasn't. Windows Ntwk Diag came up with this: ' The Diagnostic Policy Service is not running" . After I would start it manually it would stop immediately. Device manager was showing "all good" basically...More reading ensued...try this...that...nothing ! Was it virus from Dolby AA patch? Or, Msft punished me for trying to run "unsafe" file and disabled (somehow !?) my wired lan port : incidentally, WiFi was operational ! Or, my cat screwed me over and physically ruined the port ? Fynny enough, Lenovo diag test, you could run from inside BIOS, was done with flying colors telling me that mobo is OK !? 6. I wanted to know what the heck happened, so I took the laptop apart to see firsthand what happened to that port after taking a dive off the table. Everything seemed fine: no bent tiny wires inside port, no ripped mobo connectors, just hunky-dory everything... But...when eventually everything was back...No lights on the back of the port; same old " Network cable unplugged" staring me in the face... Sigh... I have internet through wifi; I could buy usb-ethernet adapter...but, I would like to understand what happened !? Unfortunately, my limited understanding of this complex issue, and not being lucky enough to pin-point that one invaluable article that explains it all, brought me here. I decided to turn to you guys and ask : pretty please, help ! Turned out longer than I wanted, sorry. Thank you for your time reading through this.
First I dont't understand how all of the above relates to your initial question On 1st message you ask how to disable internet from the bios, now you talk about not having internet at all? Second, never "switch" OS, never format unless you have a *really* valid reason to do so Just use a native vhdx to install a parallel new OS, test it, then decide if you want to keep the new clean OS or do an in place upgrade to the older one (then delete what you don't need anymore). Third never use wkellers scripts. If you want a clean system use a LTSB/LTSC windows, and eventually take some ideas/settings from the script to mod/tweak what YOU, not wkeller, want. That's especially valid on the first time you use an OS on a definite system. First test an untouched OS to see what happens, then eventually tweak it. As for dolby (it's not included in LTSC windows, but search the forum it's a "problem" already asked and solved (cleanly).
Thank you for your time acer, This was my original, sci-fi, or not , thought : "Or, Msft punished me for trying to run "unsafe" file and disabled (somehow !?) my wired lan port...!?" to prevent me from obtaining more of the same ! I will re-read the rest of your post and see what I could use for my given situation. Enjoy your weekend.
Yes my Mini Mac needs an internet connection to clean install MacOS And even worse, I have to connect it with a network cable. The build in wireless cannot be used during installation So I use a 20 meter cable...
Hi there LP, you basically answered my, probably paranoid, curiosity straight of the bat ! With my modest knowledge of moving around OS and with enormus help of pros like urslf around the internet, I did most of the things you suggested. Installed win7 instead of 10, ethernet port is still dead. I have one more piece of potentially useful info, that i have to try later one regarding reverting bios to the version at wich port was functioning. We'll see how that goes, if at all ! Thanks for pitching in.
@cbsvitzer Thank you for sharing, it kind of confirms that my question was not altogether stupid or god ole paranoid...Maybe we just don't know or people in the know just don't want to disclose it publicly...
@ Exilee... Hi there, tx for ur 2C|| in the arena ! Yes, it COULD be , but ofc, I'm not sure; don't have an expertise to say so. I am not doing anything sinister here, just average joe's stuff, most of us do daily... But, yes, I am dealing here with three,or maybe four?, major corporations : MS, I-tell, (IBeam)ChiNnovo...so, everything is possible...I am not pretending that I am up to it,no. Just reading around, comm with like minded people here n there, hoping someone will show me the path. Our friend Mr.A, who was first , or maybe not ?, to respond to my cry for help, certainly knows a lot, but sounds, most of the time, a bit grumpy; it scares me, honestly... He offers advice, thank you, but along his own lines of understanding, not really trying to immerse himself in my given situation; which, in return, amouns to not all that much, unfortunately. So, ur 2c are much more valuable, and those of some other pips who got involved, thank you all. I just bought usb network adapter, which kind of solved this issue, but, then again NOT really. I got net connectivity but @ 100 mbps !? That's even worse than my internal wifi adapter which clocks 144 mbps...sigh. Resolved ? Not resolved ? I need to revert my bios to the version that was there when eth port worked...We'll see what happens. All the best, stay indoors!
1. Attention! Not all BIOS updates allow to be reverted back to the older version. So, Even if you do everything rightly, You may get into irrecoverable conditions or corruptions! 2. Did you perform a Power Reset ?
Hi LP, according to this post from some other competent forum (please, if not allowed delete it !) "Downgrade is easily possible via IVprep: Dowwngrade any xx30 series ThinkPad to an 1vyrain compatible BIOS version. - GitHub - n4ru/IVprep: Downgrade any xx30 series ThinkPad to an 1vyrain compatible BIOS version. " Yes, I did perform power reset...nothing worth mentioning, sorry. Stay in the shade !
I will still suggest to keep away! I would only downgrade if the update(s) allow(s) it. Update(s) specially mention(s) that.
Sorry LP, I just had to know; so, I did it ! But...: eth port is still dead and I'm just worse for the wear... Thanks again for tryinn' to help, stay cool !