Re: PSA: Simple Wi-Fi gateway killswitch that works with OpenVPN config files

Paul wrote:
> You can try a Repair Install, using the same version of DVD as
> "winver" tells you is currently running.
> 
> There is no guarantee that will fix it, but the hardware should be
> rediscovered, and maybe the TCP/IP stack will be returned to nominal
> conditions.
> 
> Even Repair Install has its dangers. I tried to Repair Install the
> Test Machine a few weeks back, and as soon as the first phase reboot
> was attempted, the machine "bailed" on the install... without cleaning up!
> And what this means, is every subsequent attempt to Repair Install,
> will fail the same way. The cure for that, is to pretend to do a Repair
> Install, and bail out before giving it permission to proceed, and
> when it says on the screen "cleaning up", it's actually cleaning up
> the little mess that was breaking it.
> 
> Then, the next step, is you have to flatten the FAT32 ESP, and
> repopulate it.
> 
>    ESP repair:
> 
>    format K: /fs:fat32  # use "diskpart.exe" to assign partition 1 the letter K:
>    bcdboot c:\Windows /s K: /f uefi   # This rebuilds the   K:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot  folder and makes a new BCD
> 
>   Paul

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the kind-hearted helpful advice. I finally figured it out.
As you've astutely surmised, there is only one solution, unfortunately.

Funny how understanding arrives long after the moment that needed it.
I'm documenting it all here for future people who have the same issue.

 Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10
 Subject: Taskbar notification network symbol gone & Network & Internet crashes
 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2026 22:48:18 -0400
 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I understand what networking I did wrong now, but only because I had to.
-- 
I didn't find the answer as the answer found me after everything fell apart	.