I just built a new PC with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB of DDR5-6400 memory, a Gigabyte B850 Eagle WiFi 7 motherboard, an Asus Radeon 9060 XT graphics card, and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. Windows installs normally, but setup stops when it requires a Wi‑Fi connection because the network adapter drivers are missing. What's the easiest way to get the drivers installed and finish setup?
4 Answers
A USB Wi‑Fi adapter that Windows already supports can also get you online temporarily, but it isn’t necessary if Ethernet, phone tethering, or a USB copy of the driver is available.
If setup is blocking you at the network screen, you can usually continue with a local Windows account by bypassing the online connection requirement. Once you reach the desktop, install the chipset and Wi‑Fi drivers from the motherboard support page, then run Windows Update.
Use another device to download the Wi‑Fi driver from the motherboard manufacturer’s support page, then copy it to a USB flash drive and run it on the new PC. If you don’t have another computer, download the driver on your phone and transfer it with a USB cable.
You may also be able to connect the phone by USB and enable USB tethering. That can give the PC temporary internet access so you can download the motherboard drivers directly.
If you have an Ethernet cable and a router nearby, connect the PC temporarily. Windows may recognize the wired connection immediately, and Windows Update can then download the correct Wi‑Fi drivers.
I don’t have a spare USB Wi‑Fi adapter, so I’ll try using my phone or downloading the driver onto a flash drive.