How to prevent Windows from safely removing hardware?

Question

We have HP laptops with a Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet card. For some reason, it is possible to 'safely remove' the network card from Windows. Obviously this disconnects the machine from the network.

Even worse, removing the network cable from the laptop (e.g. to move it to another room) automatically 'safely removes' the NIC. The machine cannot be reconnected to the network until Windows is rebooted!

I haven't been able to find any settings on the network adapter in Device Manager that changes this behaviour.

Does anyone know how to stop Windows from listing this device as hardware that can be removed?

Solution

Disable LAN Power Save in BIOS.

Look here: http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware/ethernet-card-disables-when-unplugging-power-cable/td-p/104485

Dutch

Comments

[Orihara]

It'd be preferable to include the answer itself in your response, instead of linking to the answer

[Jacob]

Sorry, I just didn't know if copy/pasting was tolerated :D.

[Alex Angas]

Happens whether it is plugged in, on battery, or on a docking station.

[Alex Angas]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services[you‌​r network adaptors keys]. Check under the Enum key, make sure it is a PCI and not USB entry. Under each network adaptor key, create a DWORD DisableRemovable with data value of 1. This doesn't stop the NIC from being removed but it does reconnect it properly.

[dunxd]

-1 - copy pasting isn't great, but it is preferable to linking to something that could move or be deleted at any time. Update your answer to get voted up.

[Alex Angas]

And now the techrepublic link is broken, so marking unanswered.

[HopelessN00b]

That's actually not the solution to this particular problem, even if it is probably a good idea anyhow.