Final answer:
To check if a local computer's NIC is working correctly, use the ping command with the loopback address 127.0.0.1, which tests the internal communication of the NIC.
Step-by-step explanation:
To test whether a local computer's Network Interface Card (NIC) is working correctly in an IPv4 network, you can use the ping command followed by the localhost address, which is 127.0.0.1. This serves as an internal loopback test. If the ping command succeeds, it indicates that the operating system is able to communicate with the NIC, suggesting it is functioning correctly. You would open the command prompt and type ping 127.0.0.1 and observe the results. If you get a response without any packet loss, this indicates the NIC is operational. If the ping command fails, this could mean there's a problem with the NIC or the related drivers.