Trouble with Virtual Server 2005 (R2) Standard Edition and Network Cards

  • Article

I was having trouble with Virtual Server 2005 recognizing my host network cards.  After many tries of uninstall/reinstall, add/remove virtual network machines from NIC cards, and other various config changes I finally figured out my situation.

Symptom

  • Goto Virtual Server Admin website
  • Goto Server Properties
  • Goto Physical Computer Properties
  • I could not see any network cards

You may also have problem seeing new network cards or if you reconfigured your network card order.

Resolution

Unfortunately the only resolution I found was to completely remove Virtual Server.   Removing Virtual Server required more than just uninstall through add/remove programs.

Here is the steps to perform

  • Backup all your VMC and VHD files (be safe rather than sorry!)
  • Stop the Virtual Helper and Virtual Server services
  • Goto add/remove programs and uninstall Virtual Server
  • Delete the directory and all files in the direcotry
    • C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Virtual Machine Helper
    • C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Virtual Server
    • C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Virtual Server Webapp
    • C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Shared Virtual Machines
    • C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Shared Virtual Networks
    • C:\Document and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Virtual Server
  • Reinstall Virtual Server 2005