A similar problem with different hardware is fixed in the registry by deleting the upper and lower filters entries and letting vista rebuild them at reboot.
It's when a CD/DVD (Optical drive) is disabled or inoperable. It shows up in device manager with a splat but will not update the driver (says the driver is up to date) or uninstall it.
Below is a copy and paste of an article on fixing the optical driver/device problem that has worked for me on an XP and a Vista machine.
Read it and search if the same thing can be done for your network device drivers.
The difference may just be in a different location like drive's {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} line.
On the XP machine I had to reinstall EZ CD Creator. On Vista I had to reinstall Nero. But they came home!
Also not noted below, some machines and OS's will only have an upper, or lower, or both filters. Just delete what you have. ALWAYS EXPORT A COPY OF THE FULL REGISTRY TO A SAFE LOCATION (folder and USB drive) before editing the registry.
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Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
To resolve this behavior, follow these steps: 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate the UpperFilters value under the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
3. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.
4. Locate the LowerFilters value under the same key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
5. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.NOTE: After you remove the Upperfilters value and the Lowerfilters value, if you notice lost functionality in a particular program, such as CD recording software, you may need to reinstall that software. If the problem recurs, consult with the software vendor for assistance.