I've been using my B660M GAMING X DDR4 motherboard for a couple of years without any issues, but recently the onboard LAN, specifically the Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Family Controller, suddenly disappeared from my OS. It's not listed under active devices in Device Manager and only shows up as a ghost device, stating: "Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)." I'm running a dual-boot setup with both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the issue occurs on both, so it doesn't seem to be OS-related.
I've already tried checking if the onboard LAN is enabled in the BIOS, toggled it on and off, and installed the latest BIOS updates from ASUS. I haven't made any recent changes to Windows or the drivers prior to this issue. I'm worried it might be a hardware failure, but I'd love to hear any suggestions or if others have experienced this. Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
First things first, try the classic fix: turn off your PC, unplug it from the power source, and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to discharge any residual power. Then, wait for around 20 seconds before plugging it back in and starting up again. This can sometimes help reset components and get them recognized by the OS. Good luck!
It sounds like you've covered a lot of ground already! Since you've confirmed that the LAN is enabled in BIOS and tried some updates, you might want to check the physical connections, especially if you can open the case. Make sure everything is seated properly. If it’s a hardware failure, checking those connections might reveal something loose or dusty.
Haha, classic IT Crowd move! Sometimes the simplest fixes work wonders. If that doesn't solve it, you might want to consider cleaning out the motherboard—dust buildup can cause strange issues too.