I'm having a rough time setting up my Windows 11 laptop after a reset. I got stuck on the 'Let's connect you to a network' screen, and here's where I'm at: No WiFi networks appear, the 'Next' button is greyed out, and I had to use a command to bypass the internet to get to the desktop. However, now Device Manager shows a bunch of 'Unknown devices', the network controller driver is missing, and my USB devices aren't recognized properly. I can't run Windows Update since I have no internet, and attempts to manually install drivers haven't worked. I've tried a USB Ethernet adapter which isn't recognized either, and I've got errors with DHCP. Since this is a Snapdragon/ARM device, I think there might be a driver compatibility issue. Can someone guide me on how to install network drivers offline or suggest an Ethernet adapter that works with ARM?
3 Answers
You bypassed the initial setup, huh? That can make getting the drivers tricky. I'd suggest rebooting your device and either doing a full reset or opting for a fresh USB install of Windows. You'll need to download the necessary WiFi drivers onto a USB from another PC and then select the 'Install Driver' option during setup. That could definitely help get your WiFi going!
It’s crucial to determine whether your laptop is a home build or a manufacturer model, as that can affect where you get your drivers. If your laptop has an Ethernet port, try connecting directly using a cable. If you’re having driver issues, I recommend getting a USB wireless dongle with dual-band support; those are generally easy to plug and play.
I faced a similar issue on my ARM-based Galaxy Book. You might need to download the system restore image from the manufacturer's site if they have one available. Clean installs can be problematic without the right drivers, so that might be your best bet.
How do I actually get that restore image? My laptop is a Galaxy Book4 Edge.