Why does Windows 7 keep reinstalling my wireless adapter?

UncleDaddySwiss

Distinguished
Feb 2, 2014
101
1
18,695
I have tried googling this but google has proven worthless. Every once in a while if I shut down the computer, unplug it and carry it to the other room, when I power it back up the "Found new Hardware" wizzard pops up and reinstalls the drivers for my wireless network adapter. Now this wouldnt be such a problem, except I have it configured to use a static IP address. Every time it reinstalls the drivers, I have to re-setup the static IP address. When I went to reset it up tonight it said that the IP address I had set was already assigned to another adapter (the same one I had been using and was still using.) Also the wireless network connection in Network and Sharing Center was called "Wireless Connection 3." Why is this happening? Does this have to do with unplugging the system, because thats the only time it seems to happen.
Thank you.

Edit: also, no errors in device manager, though it had already reinstalled by the time I checked.
The name of the device in Device Manager says "netgear wnda3100v2 n600 wireless dual band usb adapter #3." The #3 caught my eye...
 

UncleDaddySwiss

Distinguished
Feb 2, 2014
101
1
18,695
What if I unplug it while the power is off, but plug it back into the same port before turning it back on? That's all I have done, but it is a problem. On the other hand, about a half hour later, it switched back to the original "installation," complete with static IP address. Strange.