"The Virtual Machine Network Services driver has failed to install" error message when you try to install Virtual PC 2004 (835352)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Virtual PC 2004

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, you experience all the following symptoms:
  • You receive the following error message:
    The Virtual Machine Network Services driver has failed to install. After installation please reboot your machine and run INSTALL.BAT located under the "Utility" directory of the Microsoft Virtual PC installation directory. The Virtual Machine Network Services driver will only be loaded if an ethernet or wireless network adapter is present in your physical computer.
  • If you run the Install.bat batch file to install the Virtual Machine Network Services driver, the installation appears to be successful. However, external network capability does not function in Virtual PC 2004. Additionally, the host computer may also lose network connectivity.
  • If you open the Network Connections dialog box, right-click your host computer's network connection, and then click Properties, the Virtual Machine Network Services check box is selected.
  • If you start Device Manager, click Show hidden devices on the View menu, and then expand Network adapters, you notice that Virtual Machine Network Services Driver does not appear next to the your Ethernet adapter.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the user account that you use to install Virtual PC 2004 is a member of the Network Configuration Operators security group.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, remove the user account from the Network Configuration Operators security group, and then reinstall Virtual PC 2004. To remove a user from the Network Configuration Operators security group, follow these steps:
  1. Log on to the computer as Administrator.
  2. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
  3. Under System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups, and then click Groups.
  4. In the right pane, double-click Network Configuration Operators.
  5. In the Members list, click the user account that you want to remove, click Remove, and then click OK.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/18/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB835352 kbAudEndUser
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