How do I delete a local area connection?

Based on the provided reference, you can uninstall specific components (clients, services, or protocols) associated with a Local Area Connection, rather than deleting the connection itself.

Here are the steps from the reference dated 04-Oct-2002, which describe how to access the properties of a Local Area Connection and uninstall its installed components:

Accessing and Modifying Your Local Area Connection

To manage the components tied to your Local Area Connection using the steps outlined in the reference:

1. Click Start.
2. Select My Network Places.
3. In the upper-left pane, click View Network Connection.
4. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon.
5. Select Properties.
6. In the Properties window, select the desired client, service, or protocol from the list (e.g., "Client for Microsoft Networks," "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks," "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)").
7. Click Uninstall.

Important Note: Following these steps uninstalls the selected network component from the Local Area Connection. This action does not typically delete the Local Area Connection icon itself or disable the underlying network adapter. Deleting or disabling a connection usually involves interacting directly with the network adapter or using different operating system features depending on the version of Windows you are using. The reference describes uninstalling software components linked to the connection.