I just built my first PC today, but I'm having a tough time getting it online. I can't seem to find any Wi-Fi networks, and when I plug in my Ethernet cable, I only get a connection for about a minute before it drops out completely. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be missing some drivers, which is common when building a new PC. Try pressing the Windows key + R, type in 'devmgmt.msc', and take a screenshot of the Device Manager. It’s likely you need to install drivers from your motherboard's website. Make sure to download the chipset drivers first and any others related to networking to help get your Ethernet and Wi-Fi working again.
Most modern drivers should install automatically once you have an internet connection. Just make sure to check your device manager after you've done the initial installs!
Check the Device Manager for your network adapters. Make sure everything looks installed properly. If you press Win + R, open cmd with admin rights (Ctrl + Shift + Enter), and type 'netsh wlan show networks', it’ll show you if any networks are available nearby.
It seems like all my drivers are installed now. I checked the vendor website, and it looks like I'm using the Realtek 8852 Wi-Fi device. I might need to make sure that driver is properly installed. Is there any other way to verify?
If you haven't already, make sure to download the specific driver for that Realtek device from the manufacturer's website. That might solve your issues!
Honestly, I preferred the internet stability on Windows 10 compared to Windows 11. Just a personal take!
If you can't use Ethernet or Wi-Fi, consider getting a USB dongle and download the drivers using a thumb drive from your phone. It's a hassle, but it’ll help you get the drivers you need!