How to install a loopback adapter on Windows 2003

A loopback adapter can be very useful for testing networking features on a server that doesn’t have a network adapter already installed, and Microsoft provides this feature in Windows Server 2003.

To install the Microsoft Loopback Adapter, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start | Control Panel | Add Hardware.
2. In the introductory dialog box, click Next.
3. Select Yes, I Have Already Connected The Hardware, and click Next.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the Installed Hardware list box, select Add A New Hardware Device, and click Next.
5. Select the Install The Hardware That I Manually Select From A List (Advanced) option, and click Next.
6. Under Hardware Types, select Network Adapters, and click Next.
7. Under Manufacturer, select Microsoft.
8. Under Network Adapter, select Microsoft Loopback Adapter.
9. Click Next twice, and click Finish.

Unless there are already existing adapters, Windows will install the loopback adapter with the name Local Area Connection. If other adapters exist, Windows will name it Local Area Connection <next number>.