VirtualBox Host-Only adapters and bridged network

Question

After 3 hours of wasted time trying to figure out what and why, I decided to come here for help. Problem appeared after upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update.

So, before I upgraded to Windows 10 Creators Update, in Network Adapters I had one active adapter "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter" which I was using for one of my VM. After upgraded to Creators Update that adapter was gone. After that I just updated VirtualBox to version 5.1.20.

But now I'm experiencing weird problem. When I create new Host-Only adapter, it's named "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter #2". When I create second one, it's named "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter #3". What I can't figure out is why first new adapter is named with number "#2" at end. No matter where I'm creating this new adapter - using VirtualBox or adding new Network Adapter manually at Device Manager, first adapter always has number "#2" at end of name. Also I can't rename connection name, it returns error that "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter" already exists.
Links to pictures - 1, 2, 3.

But that's not why I'm here. I'm here because I can't use VirtualBox. This is what I see when I'm choosing which adapter I want to use - 4. There is no adapter with number "#2" and even no adapter with number "#3" when I have two Host-Only active adapters. When I'm trying to start VM with "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter" selected, it returns this - 5.

I have tried to uninstall VirtualBox completely, removing all VirtualBox drivers using this tutorial. After uninstall I have tried to search for this missing adapter at registry, but I can't find it anywhere. I have removed every registry entry related to "VirtualBox", "VBox". I have tried to search for "Host-Only", "Ethernet", "Adapter", but I can't find this missing adapter. Also I deleted all folders and files related to VirtualBox on C: drive. But after I installed VirtualBox version 5.1.21, it again create "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter #2" as first adapter and it still shows "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter" on available bridged network adapters.

I really need help, because I can't use my VM correctly right now. Thanks!

Answer 1

The problem is on screenshot #4, you should choose "Host-only Network" rather than "Bridged Network". It should work... you just need to live with an increasing number at the adapter name each time you upgrade virtualbox, :).

The root cause is that VB didn't remove the previous host-only adapter correctly at update, so each time a ghost connection is left in the windows system. Interestingly, VB treated them as bridged network adapters -- which is deadly wrong. You can identify these ghost connections by

VBoxManage list -l bridgedifs

Based on the GUIDs, you can manually remove these keys from registry, then reinstall virtualbox.

Answer 2

Try this.

Uninstall VirtualBox first. Next, Shift+Restart your computer into command prompt mode. In command prompt mode, type regedit. Highlight the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then Load Hive (File -> Load Hive). Open the file

C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM

and load it with any temporary name you want. (Here remember to load the SYSTEM file located in C: drive because the default folder in command prompt mode is X: drive). Then, you may just find

ControlSet001

key under the hive you have loaded. Locate

Control\NetworkSetup2\Interfaces

and find the profile of that '#2 adapter' and delete it. After that, close the regedit and type 'exit' on command prompt. Go back to Windows and reinstall VirtualBox.