How to install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP

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Article ID: 839013 - Last Review: April 22, 2004 - Revision: 3.1
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How to install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP
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For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 236869 .

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SUMMARY

The Microsoft Loopback adapter is a testing tool for a virtual network environment where network access
is not available. Also, you must use the Loopback adapter if there are conflicts with a network adapter or
with a network adapter driver. You can bind network clients, protocols, and other network configuration
items to the Loopback adapter, and you can install the network adapter driver or network adapter later
while retaining the network configuration information. You can also install the Loopback adapter during
the unattended installation process. Article Translations
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Manual installation topics
To manually install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP, follow these steps:
How to install the
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. Microsoft loopback a...
2. If you are in Classic view, click Switch to Category View under Control Panel in the left pane.
Windows 7 loopback
3. Double-click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Next. adapter
4. Under See Also in the left pane, click Add Hardware,and then click Next.
Microsoft network
5. Click Yes, I have already connected the hardware, and then click Next. adapter
6. At the bottom of the list, click Add a new hardware device, and then click Next.
How to install ms loop
7. Click Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and then click Next. back driver on W...
8. Click Network adapters, and then click Next.
Kb 839013 Microsoft
9. In the Manufacturer box, click Microsoft.
10. In the Network Adapter box, click Microsoft Loopback Adapter, and then click Next.
11. Click Finish. Related Support Centers

After the adapter is installed successfully, you can manually configure its options, as with any other Windows XP
adapter. If the TCP/IP properties are configured to use DHCP, the adapter will eventually use an autonet
address (169.254.x.x/16) because the adapter is not actually connected to any physical media.

Note By default, TCP/IP properties are configured to use DHCP.

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Unattended installation
To install the Microsoft Loopback adapter, use the following sample Unattend.txt file as a model for your
Unattend.txt file:

[NetAdapters]

Adapter01=Params.Adapter01

[Params.Adapter01]

InfID="*msloop"

;
Microsoft
Loopback
Adapter

ConnectionName
="MS
Loopback
Adapter"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/839013[11/2/2010 1:31:46 AM]

How to install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP

[NetProtocols]

MS_TCPIP=Params.MS_TCPIP

;
TCP/IP
parameters

;
Use
parameter
values
specific
to
your
network

[Params.MS_TCPIP]

AdapterSections=params.TCPIP.Adapter01

DNS=yes

DNSSuffixSearchOrder=mycorp.com

EnableLMHosts=No

;
Adapter
Specific
TCP/IP
parameters

;
Use
parameter
values
specific
to
your
network

[params.TCPIP.Adapter01]

SpecificTo=Adapter01

DNSDomain=mycorp.com

DNSServerSearchOrder=192.168.5.251

WINS=no

DHCP=no

IPAddress=192.168.5.10

SubnetMask=255.255.255.0

DefaultGateway=192.168.5.254

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information, see the Windows XP Preinstallation Reference Help file in the
Support\Tools\Deploy.cab folder on your Windows XP CD-ROM.

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APPLIES TO

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Keywords: kbnetwork kbhowto KB839013

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/839013[11/2/2010 1:31:46 AM]

How to install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP

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