The KB4088875 Update causes Network Adapter Issues in Windows 7

It was reported that installing KB4088875 and security update KB4088878 would remove or invalidate the virtual network card (NIC) and in some cases remove the static IP address configuration. According to Reddit’s discussion, this update also creates a ghost NIC on some systems.

KB4088875 is available for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, and the above problem is said to be encountered on both operating system versions. A Reddit user stated that deleting a virtual network card would cause the system to restore full functionality and add a new virtual network card without first removing these gray entries, which would only lead to IP conflicts.

Postponing KB4088875 and security update KB4088878 does not seem to be an option because they bring a fairly critical patch to the Windows 7 system. They include new Meltdown and Spectre protections, as well as security updates for Internet Explorer, Windows Shell, Windows Installer, and Windows Kernel.

Microsoft recognizes that Windows 7’s monthly roll-up has four different issues, including a blue screen when the update is installed on a 32-bit system that is enabled for physical address extension (PAE) mode. Microsoft is working hard to solve this problem. We have seen reports that KB4088787 is no longer available through Windows Update, but we cannot confirm it yet. If this is the case, Microsoft may be aware of this issue and the company temporarily stops updating until it releases the fix.