I recently upgraded my setup with a Gigabyte Aorus x570 Elite motherboard, AMD 5950x CPU, and 32GB of RAM, along with a Gigabyte 7900XTX GPU. To boost my internal network speeds, I installed a pair of Intel i226 2.5G Ethernet cards. However, after installation, Windows 11 doesn't recognize the new card at all. I've checked the Device Manager and even opted to show hidden devices, but only my onboard NIC shows up. I also downloaded the latest driver from Intel, but still, no luck. Interestingly, I can see the new 2.5G NIC working on my TrueNAS server, so I'm sure it's functioning. What steps should I take to resolve this issue in Windows?
3 Answers
If the onboard LAN is still active and there's no option to turn it off, that's a hurdle. You might want to download any additional drivers from Gigabyte's website, as they may have specific recommend drivers for dual NIC scenarios. Don't forget to check that the Ethernet card is seated properly in its PCIe slot!
It's also worth considering that BIOS updates can enhance compatibility with newer hardware. Check if there's an update available for your motherboard. But remember to back up your data before making any changes to the BIOS, as it can sometimes lead to unexpected issues.
First things first, have you checked your BIOS settings? Sometimes the onboard LAN may need to be disabled for the new card to be recognized. Even if there's no direct option to turn it off, look for settings related to 'Onboard Devices' or 'Integrated Peripherals' in your BIOS. Also, if your motherboard has M.2 slots populated, try removing those temporarily and see if that helps Windows detect the new card. It can be tricky with how resources are allocated sometimes.
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