[SOLVED] Doing a clean install on my new build - do I need drivers for internet connection as well?

[Arne.V]

I just assembled a new build with a MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 and I'm going to do a clean install of Windows 11 on it from a flash drive (on a fresh M2 NVMe SSD).
I don't have an ethernet connection available (hence why I got the wi-fi mobo), but do I need to include drivers for the wi-fi adapters for it to work properly? Or any other drivers at all? I've never done this with a new mobo.


the other specs of the build

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Windows should install at least a generic driver for your wifi to function. Then you can go to the motherboard support site and install all the current files for the motherboard. MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 (msi.com)

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't have an ethernet connection available (hence why I got the wi-fi mobo), but do I need to include drivers for the wi-fi adapters for it to work properly? Or any other drivers at all? I've never done this with a new mobo.

Before installation acquire Intel chipset drivers and wifi drivers.
Without wifi drivers you will not be able to connect to network and download drivers.

 

[punkncat]

I am not sure how far 'down' the model stack it goes, but MSI is typically pretty good about including a USB with the pertinent drivers with the motherboard. I know they do so with the high end offerings. The Tomahawk is at least on the upper end of their products lines...I didn't check, but do you see one in the motherboard box?

 

[Arne.V]

I am not sure how far 'down' the model stack it goes, but MSI is typically pretty good about including a USB with the pertinent drivers with the motherboard. I know they do so with the high end offerings. The Tomahawk is at least on the upper end of their products lines...I didn't check, but do you see one in the motherboard box?

there was a DVD included, however I don't have a disk input on my new build. I've downloaded the latest drivers for the board from the msi website and put them on a different USB drive to install after the OS and windows updates (i also put the nvidia geforce drivers on the flash drive, might as well right? I don't think i'll be needing other drivers right off the bat?)

I've got the LAN Drivers, Chipset drivers & Audio Drivers. I assume I don't need the onboard VGA drivers (i'll be using the hdmi and displayport inputs of my gpu) & onboard SATA AHCI/RAID Drivers (i'm using a regular build with three different drives: 1x M2 SSD, 1 x SATA SSD, 1 x SATA HDD)

 

[Arne.V]

Before installation acquire Intel chipset drivers and wifi drivers.
Without wifi drivers you will not be able to connect to network and download drivers.

I thought the standard drivers included in the OS would do fine up until installing the optimal drivers? I currently have the LAN drivers and chipset drivers downloaded on a flash drive, to install after the clean OS install, just to be sure.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I thought the standard drivers included in the OS would do fine up until installing the optimal drivers?
I currently have the LAN drivers and chipset drivers downloaded on a flash drive, to install after the clean OS install, just to be sure.

Standard wifi/lan drivers included in windows installation will not necessary be compatible with your specific hardware.
That's why you have to prepare hardware specific drivers beforehand.
After you have chipset and wifi/lan drivers installed, remaining drivers you can download from internet.

 

[Arne.V]

Standard wifi/lan drivers included in windows installation will not necessary be compatible with your specific hardware.
That's why you have to prepare hardware specific drivers beforehand.
After you have chipset and wifi/lan drivers installed, remaining drivers you can download from internet.

Am I correct in assuming I won't need the onboard SATA AHCI/RAID Drivers? (i'm using a regular build with three different drives: 1x M2 SSD, 1 x SATA SSD, 1 x SATA HDD)

 

[SkyNetRising]

Depends on your hardware.
Might need them.
Might also need nvme drivers, if your M.2 drive is NVME.

 

[Arne.V]

Depends on your hardware.
Might need them.
Might also need nvme drivers, if your M.2 drive is NVME.

How will I know if I need them? There weren't any NVMe drivers listed on the msi website, does that mean they're included in the main drivers?

 

[SkyNetRising]

What is model name of your M.2 drive?
If it is sata drive, then you don't have to worry about nvme drivers.

You'll know, if you need them, when installing windows.
If the drive, you want to install windows on, is not available during install, this means, drivers are necessary.

And have only single drive connected, while installing windows.
This is necessary to avoid ending with windows on one drive and bootloader on a different drive.

 

[Arne.V]

How will I know if I need them? There weren't any NVMe drivers listed on the msi website, does that mean they're included in the main drivers?

What is model name of your M.2 drive?
If it is sata drive, then you don't have to worry about nvme drivers.

You'll know, if you need them, when installing windows.
If the drive, you want to install windows on, is not available during install, this means, drivers are necessary.

And have only single drive connected, while installing windows.
This is necessary to avoid ending with windows on one drive and bootloader on a different drive.

The one i'm installing the OS on is NVMe PCIe 4.0(samsung 980 pro)
I'll have only the nvme plugged in when doing the clean install. From what I've read, there aren't any samsung drivers for the 4.0 NVMe's, so i'll see what happens then, but they seem to just use the generic drivers.

Thanks a bunch for all the information though, helps a lot! I'll post an update in the thread when I've finished installing everything (or when the build has caught fire).

 

[SkyNetRising]

When installing windows, make sure sata controller is set to AHCI mode.
Intel RST should be turned off.

If NVME drivers are required, then you can get them from gigabyte windows USB install tool.
Doesn't matter, if your board is MSI (not Gigabyte). Drivers are generic.
Extract zip archive and find included samsung or intel nvme drivers.
https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/Utility?kw=windows&p=1

 

[Arne.V]

When installing windows, make sure sata controller is set to AHCI mode.
Intel RST should be turned off.

If NVME drivers are required, then you can get them from gigabyte windows USB install tool.
Doesn't matter, if your board is MSI (not Gigabyte). Drivers are generic.
Extract zip archive and find included samsung or intel nvme drivers.
https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/Utility?kw=windows&p=1

NVMe drivers weren't required, BIOS detected the drive without problems. Windows 11 install went without issue, had to install the wi-fi drivers myself to check for updates though, as you suggested could happen.

My system also detected my HDD drive, but my other SSD (the 2.5 inch SATA one) doesn't show up in BIOS. Not too problematic, as I was planning to use the second SSD for smaller, less demanding games and programs (so solving that problem isn't urgent). Prior to the clean install, I had formatted the other SSD drive (I used it previously for games etc. and it was getting full)

at first I thought there might be missing drivers for the SATA SSD drive, but the HDD is also connected with SATA and get's detected fine, so that can't be it right?