How to enable Microsoft's Loopback Adapter

[Looney429]

How to enable Microsoft's Loopback Adapter(Windows XP)​

First off lets begin with what Microsoft's Loopback adapter is and when we use it...
Mircosoft's Lookback Adapter is just a "dummy" adapter and isn't really installed as hardware, it's like a Virtual Machine, there...but not there. The Loopback adapter is like a NIC(Network Interface Card) on your computer which allows you to connect a RJ-45 Cable which is then used to connect to the internet. When you connect to the internet your ISP gives you a certain IP Address which is used to identify you on the internet. When you're not connected to any networks the Loopback adapter can be used to "act" like you're on a network and it can assign an IP Address to you(Your computer). The Loopback Adapter is used as testing purposes and therefore isn't installed by Windows Default.

The Loopback adapter is used for many programs and applications that require connection to network or interface to be installed.*

Now on to the fun part...
1. Go to the Control Panel:
Click [Start], then click [Run], and then in the pop up text box type in Control Panel.
3. Click [Printers and Other Hardware].
4. Click [Add Hardware].
5. Tick Yes, I have already connected the hardware, and then click [Next].
6. In the list Scroll all the way down, select Add a new hardware device, and then click [Next].
7. Click Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and then click [Next].
8. Select Network adapters, and then click [Next].
9. In the Manufacturer box, select Microsoft and in the Network Adapter box, select Microsoft Loopback Adapter, and then click [Next].

Now you can configure which ever programs you need to install which require Loopback.

*Some Programs that require Loopback/Network:
MySQL, Oracle...Just about every database handle applications.

 

[Trip.Fagex]

Thanks, nicely written.

 

[BRuM ToWN]

Thanks, nice little guide.

 

[Looney429]

Thanks. =D