Registry problem

Ouch. That's sure a chunk of change.  Might try backing up the reg and then give the undo a whirl?

First:  Let me rephrase - it's Superantispyware, not Antisuper.  Second:  Too late for an 'Undo'.  SASW has been uninstalled.  Third:  The spyware thing did more than disappear the Network adapter, the computer was caught in a loop and couldn't get anywhere farther than the desktop.  I finally managed to remember how to get into Safe Mode, uninstalled the offender and sometime in that sequence did a 'Restore' to an earlier date and got out of the loop, but still no Network adapter in Device Mgr.  I ran Add New Hardware more times than I can remember and did everything I could think of short of reinstalling or repairing Windows (she has misplaced all the discs). 

I'm home now.  There were no functional computers to get online while there and all the searching has been since I got back.  All I really tried down there for a cure was a couple of 'restore' to earlier dates which did not fix the problem. 

A related question:  I did two Restores on her computer to earlier dates to when the connection was working and before the trouble.  Question is wouldn't a  System restore reset the registry to before the problem arose?

Been hearing about internet connection issues that some spyware causes when being removed.  The main solution was Complete Internet Repair by Rizonesoft.  It may be of some help.

http://www.rizonesoft.com/2011/complete-internet-repair/#more-53

Question(s) about the network adapter driver - I found notes from when I built the box that is having problems back in '04.  I found that it is a Chaintech motherboard and the model #.  I found some drivers online applicable to that particular board.  There are MOBO drivers and there is a LAN driver.  Could someone tell me which of those two (if either) would be most likely to have the Network Adapter driver? (or would it be the Ethernet card?  I'm still not clear about what a network adapter is)  I'm assuming that since it is missing in Device Manager and a restart didn't pick it up that a found driver would have to be installed.  Or from the CD that came with the Mobo or Ethernet card but she can't find that.

Wow...I think I got a headache from reading part of the MS stuff at the link. It's long. I ran across it while searching for "SuperAntiSpyware network adapter" to see if anybody else has had your problem; yep.  The only one I've ran into with a solution was a fellow who said he used the MS instructions below. Too bad he didn't mention exactly what part of it he used:

How to troubleshoot missing network connections icons in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP

Originally posted by Bob Whew!  That's a lot of "If this, then do this or If that, then  do that" on that page.  Actually I think I have some of those procedures saved on a stick to take with me nexxt trip down.  Thanks and I'm open to all suggestions.

HeeHee  Yeah....that's a lot. Usually after reading one like that is when I've saved data and just reinstalled fresh.

Actually, there was a couple of things I found interesting in that MS link. About how to check for ghost or non-working network adapters. From command line without having to boot into safe mode if I remember correctly.  And which reg keys to check. 

Wireless should be just that, wireless.

A network adapter is wired. Aka network interface card (NIC) although there are USB types and most are built in these days so they're not really cards.

I think the water got muddy when NIC's were no longer cards. Now with them being built in and also available via a USB dongle I guess that network adapter is more appropriate but I'm still a NIC kind of guy.