DisplayLink Network Adpater NCM – Code 31 Error Solution

If you are no longer able to connect to the Internet via your docking station’s Ethernet port after upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, this blog post may help. This issue can be caused by Windows choosing the wrong Ethernet driver after the update. To confirm this problem, open Device Manager and look for “DisplayLink Network Adapter NCM.” If the error below appears in the DisplayLink Network Adapter properties page, the solution that follows should restore your Ethernet:

“This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31)”

To solve this issue, remove the DisplayLink Network Adapter NCM driver and re-install the drivers located at C:\Program Files\DisplayLink Core Software\CdcNcmDriver\Ndis6.2.Hck81

Here are step-by-step instructions:

1) Locate the Device Manager.

Step 1

2) Locate the DisplayLink Network Adapter in Device Manager and select the device properties.

Step 2

3) Select the Driver tab and uninstall the driver. On the next screen, be sure check the box for “Delete the driver software for this device.”

Step 3

4) Reinstall the appropriate driver. Using the “Browse for driver software on your computer” option, locate the driver in C:\Program Files\DisplayLink Core Software\CdcNcmDriver\Ndis6.2.Hck81 and click OK.Step 4

13 comments on “DisplayLink Network Adpater NCM – Code 31 Error Solution”

  1. Olaf

    Thanks a lot! Works for my Lenovo USB 3.0 Dock and Carbon X1…. you saved my day!

  2. Mark Spollacs

    Thank you for this solution! I only came across it after numerous hours searching for a solution. It worked for my Lenovo USB 3.0 Dock and Carbon X1. You saved me a lot of time!
    Mark Spollacs

    • Stephen McCray

      Hi Tzunoch,

      Sorry to hear that you’re still having trouble with your system’s wireless. This solution presented here is only for problems relating to an Ethernet connection post Windows 8.1 upgrade and getting an NCM Code 13 error. Please contact us at support@plugable.com and we’ll be able to assist you with your Plugable product and figure out why the wireless is not working.

      Regards,

      Stephen
      Plugable Technologies

  3. Russell Wright

    My Lenovo Yoga does not have a \Ndis6.2.Hck81 subdirectory. Any ideas why?

    • Bob Boerner

      Since this post was made several updates have been released to the DisplayLink driver, and the location of the network driver files is now simply:

      C:\Program Files\DisplayLink Core Software\CdcNcmDriver

      If that helps, great! If not please reach out to us via support@plugable.com and we will be happy to help.

      Thank you,

      Bob
      Plugable Technologies
      http://www.plugable.com/support

  4. Russell Wright

    Hey Bob, assuming you are still at Plugable, I’ve still got this issue. It also appears to be an issue with a LAN7500 USB 2.0 to Ethernet Adapter I’ve got and tried plugging in. Got any ideas? Thanks…Russ

    • Bob Boerner

      Hi Russell,

      Thanks for getting back. If the Ethernet adapter built-in to your Plugable Technologies docking station is not working, please send an email to support@plugable.com with the Amazon Order ID number for the purchase and a PlugDebug file (https://plugable.com/support/plugdebug) and we will be happy to help troubleshoot the problem (the LAN7500 unit is another manufacturer’s product, so unfortunately we won’t be able to help there).

      Thank you,

      Bob

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