How to reinstall the host-only network adapter in VMware 7

35,669

Solution 1

It seems that few people have needed to reinstall the host virtual adapters (or at least if they did, they just resorted to reinstalling VMWare instead of just the adapters), so it’s no surprise that there are very few references to fixing it. Fortunately, it has come up and a solution does exist.

What you need to do is to use the vnetlib utility (it should be in the VMWare installation directory).

Someone on the VMWare forums has attempted to document the vnetlib command and another tried to use it to add the host virtual adapters.

Ulli Hankeln has done an even more through job of documenting vnetlib at his Sanbarrow site (which basically, is the online VMWare bible). He also lists a few other ways to manage the network settings.

Anyway, what you can do is to manually reinstall the adapters by using the add adapter argument to vmnetlib, and then managing all the settings, but it’s much easier to just reinstall the VMWare network services:

> vnetlib.exe -- install devices

Solution 2

Stop the VMware services first, then run the following command...

32-bit Windows:

vnetlib.exe -- install devices

64-bit Windows:

vnetlib64.exe -- install devices

Solution 3

Run vmnetcfg.exe and just press "Restore Default".. :)

Generally, clicking "restore default" restores basic connectivity. You can then configure additional options as needed. Essentially, this reruns the initial network configuration setup and reinstalls all adapters/resets all network settings.

Solution 4

I came across the same issue. After pocking around VMware i found a way.

On the workstation click:

  • Edit

  • Virtual Network Editor

  • Add Network and choose the network to add ( VMnet1,2,3 and so on)

  • Click 'OK' twice and you should be good to go...

Solution 5

I disabled my VMware network adaptor in Windows 7.

After enabling it in Windows 7, it also works again in VMware.

See if that works for you.

Share:
35,669
Wahid Bitar
Author by

Wahid Bitar

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

  • Wahid Bitar
    Wahid Bitar over 1 year

    I've this problem when I want to use "Host only" network adapter in VM-Ware 7.0 this is the error message:

    The host-only adapter driver does not seem to be running. If you have not rebooted the host since installing the host-only network adapter, you need to do so before you can use this support. Otherwise, check the system Event Log for an explanation of why service VMnetAdapter did not startup properly. Failed to connect virtual device Ethernet0.

    I looked at my device manager in the host system "Windows 7" but I couldn't find the VMware network adapter at all.

    And I tried to reinstall it by "Virtual Network Editor" but it doesn't work

    So please how to reinstall these drivers and adapters ?

    • Synetech
      Synetech almost 13 years
      Did you manage to figure out how to reinstall the VM nics?
    • Wahid Bitar
      Wahid Bitar almost 13 years
      No i didn't till now
  • Synetech
    Synetech almost 13 years
    That does not apply because he does not have a VMWare network adapter in the host OS, so he can’t disable/enable it. He’s asking how to re-install it.
  • Mostafa Hamed
    Mostafa Hamed over 10 years
    Welcome to Superuser, please be aware single line answers are commonly frowned up on :( could you elaborate on your answer
  • Francisco  Tapia
    Francisco Tapia almost 9 years
    this is the answer, adding the net the virtual interface is avaliable again.
  • Insane
    Insane over 8 years
    You should format your answer in a more direct way such as 'Step 1, Step 2, Step 3' versus storytelling in a large text block -- which can be hard to navigate.
  • Violet Giraffe
    Violet Giraffe almost 5 years
    Thank you. vmnetlib did nothing for me to restore the missing virtual adapters, but this worked.