[RESOLVED] Disconnecting from internet and network

When I am not using the internet or working with sensitive data, I disconnect the lan cable that runs from my router to my computer.

What is the equivalent from a Window perspective or is there a software to do this? Do I just disable the network adapters in Device Manager?

Thanks

Disabling the network adapter(s) works.

Thanks Doc!

Is there a shortcut or bat or vbs file that I can write to toggle enable or disable the network adapters? I believe it can be done in vbs.

Of course, disabling the network adapters will also disable all LAN activities too right? That is what I want; the equivalent to manually disconnect the cable. Nothing coming in or out.

Right now I'm on a XP box and I can simply right-click the Network icon (in the 'Notification' area near the clock) and select Disable.

And yes, that would stop all traffic through the adapter.

If applicable,
Create shortcut to Local Area Connection.

I am on windows 7. No icon next to the clock but I know what you are referring to in xp. Fastest is device manager until I figure the vbscript for it.

Regardless, thanks for the confirmation on the traffic.

To create a shortcut to "Local Area Connection" on your Desktop, click Start, type in "View Network" (without the quotes), select "View Network Connections" from the list and drag the "Local Area Connection" out onto your Desktop. You can now click this new "Local Area Connection" icon to Disable|Enable your connection.

I started this thread 2 years ago, looking for a vbs script. If anyone needs it, let me know. I am updating the status.

You can use netsh to enable/disable a connection:

1. At a cmd prompt, type:
   
   
   netsh interface show interface
   
   and press [Enter]. The response you get get back might look something like this (from my Desktop computer):
   
   
   Code:

   ---

   Admin State    State          Type            Interface Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enabled        Connected      Dedicated        Local Area Connection

   ---

   
   And on my laptop it looks like this:
   Code:

   ---

   Admin State    State          Type            Interface Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enabled        Connected      Dedicated        Wireless Network Connection 2

   ---

   
   The part you're interested in is the Name of the connection, which I've highlighted above in red.
   
   
2. Create a new shortcut on your Desktop using that Name in your shortcut command, (I'll use the name from my Desktop computer for this example), like this:
   
   
   netsh interface set interface "Local Area Connection" Disable
   
   and then name the shortcut something like "Disable Network".
   
   
3. Create another new shortcut using that same Name again in the command again, like so:
   
   
   netsh interface set interface "Local Area Connection" Enable
   
   and name it something like "Enable Network".

That's it. Now you can simply click either icon to Disable or Enable your connection.

Very cool Doc. Although I prefer your method through command prompt and shortcut, I have also been doing it through VBScript. This goes into a file with a "vbs" extension.

Code:

---

Option Explicit

Dim ws
Set ws = WScript.CreateObject( "WScript.Shell" )

Dim oWMIService
Set oWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")

Dim colAdapters
Set colAdapters = oWMIService.Execquery("SELECT * FROM Win32_NetworkAdapter WHERE NetConnectionID LIKE '%Local Area Connection%' ")

'PURPOSE: List
'Dim strNetworkAdapter
'For Each Adapter in colAdapters
'    strNetworkAdapter = strNetworkAdapter & Adapter.Name & vbCRLF
'Next
'WScript.Echo strNetworkAdapter

'(-1 is enabled, 0 is disabled)
Dim strStatus
Dim errReturn
If colAdapters.ItemIndex(0).NetEnabled = -1 Then
        'errReturn = colAdapters.ItemIndex(0).Disable()                'METHOD 1
        strStatus = "Disabled"
Else
        'errReturn = colAdapters.ItemIndex(0).Enable()                'METHOD 1
        strStatus = "Enabled"
End If

Call ws.Run("netsh interface set interface name=" & CHR(34) & "Local Area Connection" & CHR(34) & " admin=" & strStatus, 1, False)        'METHOD 2


WScript.Echo "NetEnabled = " & strStatus

Set colAdapters = Nothing
Set oWMIService = Nothing
Set ws = Nothing

---

I can also combine what you have shared, using ws.Run(command prompt), and therefore, it would be one shortcut acting as a toggle switch.

BTW... I noticed that we can use "Enabled" or "Enable". Either spelling works. Is there any reason behind this?

Thanks

1) Pretty slick. :)

2) Nary a clue. :( ;)

2) Either works probably because a search for Enable finds both in the command line. You might find that Enablex would work also. It also makes for easier use, although that is not generally thought of as a standard Microsoft practice.