Windows automatically hides devices that are not presently connected to the system, but they still exist in Windows' configuration. This is especially problematic when changing virtual network adapters and not being able to remove IP configurations from old adapters. To resolve:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER.
2. Type "set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1", and then press ENTER.
3. Type Start DEVMGMT.MSC, and then press ENTER.
4. Click View, and then click Show Hidden Devices.
5. Expand the Network Adapters tree.
6. Right-click the dimmed network adapter, and then click Uninstall.