Question Gigabyte Z790 Auros Elite X Wifi 7 1.0 NIC won't talk to my AT&T Router

[gquiring]

I built a new PC and the onboard NIC (Intel i225-V) won't talk with my AT&T Router (5268AC FXN). If I plug the NIC into an old TrendNet switch it works fine. I am using the drivers from Gigabyte. I tried downloading the i225 drivers from Intel but when I manually try to update the drivers Windows can't find anything compatible in the directory (recurse is on).

 

[COLGeek]

Try running the Intel Driver Assistant.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html

 

[gquiring]

This is all it finds to update:


Intel® Arc™ & Iris® Xe Graphics - Windows*

 

[COLGeek]

Understood. Does the update app detect your NIC properly and show its drivers as being up to date in the system summary?

Have you tried an alternate ethernet cable?

You could also force Windows to re-install the NIC by:

- Disable the NIC in Device Manager and then uninstall it
- Restart the system and enter BIOS. Disable the NIC. Save.
- Boot into Windows and then restart
- Enter BIOS and re-enable NIC. Save.
- Boot Windows and it will detect "new hardware"
- Check to see if issue resolved

By the way, when you built this system, did you perform a full, clean install of Windows or did you recycle Windows from a previous build?

 

[gquiring]

This is what it shows. It was a clean install, fresh download from Microsoft for the image.


NETWORKING AND I/O

Intel® Ethernet Controller (3) I225-V​

• Driver Details
• ProviderIntel
• Version1.1.4.42
• Date6/29/2023

• Device Details
• ManufacturerIntel
• AvailabilityRunning at full power
• StatusThis device is working properly.
• InstalledTrue
• MAC Address <cleared>
• Service Namee2fexpress
• Device IdPCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15F3&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_03\<cleared>

 

[COLGeek]

Tracking. And the other questions/suggestion?

 

[gquiring]

Tracking. And the other questions/suggestion?

I tried another cable no change. It's like it's dead when connected to the AT&T router. The lights on the NIC are off.

 

[COLGeek]

I tried another cable no change. It's like it's dead when connected to the AT&T router. The lights on the NIC are off.

That is odd, no LEDs at all? But it does work if you have a switch between the router and the PC?

Are these cables you bought or made?

 

[gquiring]

That is odd, no LEDs at all? But it does work if you have a switch between the router and the PC?

It works perfectly on my old TrendNet $30 switch. When you Google search i225-v and 5268AC there are a bunch of complaints with this not working. I might have to get another switch next to this PC to get this going.

 

[gquiring]

Yes the TrendNet is plugged directly into the AT&T router. No lights at all on the NIC when plugged into the AT&T box.

 

[COLGeek]

I, too, saw the negative info regarding that NIC. Did you try the forced re-install procedure shared earlier?

There could be an issue with the router not liking the 2.5Gbps NIC. Your switch makes it look like a regular 1Gbps connection and resolves that "dislike".

 

[gquiring]

Understood. Does the update app detect your NIC properly and show its drivers as being up to date in the system summary?

Have you tried an alternate ethernet cable?

You could also force Windows to re-install the NIC by:

- Disable the NIC in Device Manager and then uninstall it
- Restart the system and enter BIOS. Disable the NIC. Save.
- Boot into Windows and then restart
- Enter BIOS and re-enable NIC. Save.
- Boot Windows and it will detect "new hardware"
- Check to see if issue resolved

By the way, when you built this system, did you perform a full, clean install of Windows or did you recycle Windows from a previous build?

The steps you mention, it's not going to have an internet connection since Windows can't search the Internet for upgraded drivers. So it's the same steps I originally did when I built the PC. I had the Gigabyte drivers to manually install from. I can't get Windows to see the drivers I downloaded from Intel. It says there is nothing in that driver set that is compatible.

 

[Ralston18]

Regarding:

"I can't get Windows to see the drivers I downloaded from Intel."

Question:

What was the source website URL and what specific drivers were downloaded?

 

[COLGeek]

The steps you mention, it's not going to have an internet connection since Windows can't search the Internet for upgraded drivers. So it's the same steps I originally did when I built the PC. I had the Gigabyte drivers to manually install from. I can't get Windows to see the drivers I downloaded from Intel. It says there is nothing in that driver set that is compatible.

The drivers are already on your system. The procedure will force a re-install of the drivers in the event that is the problem.

Is your wi-fi device not working?

 

[gquiring]

Wifi is not working, they don't have drivers for Windows 10. So no bluetooth either. I'm not overally concerned about the Wifi, bluetooth would be nice but I have a Logitech dongle for my keyboard/mouse.

Since this was a fresh install I did not have to worry about older drivers on the system. Win 10 loaded with no network. I downloaded the Gigabyte drivers on another computer and installed them. When I try to get Windows to see the Intel pack I downloaded it says I have the best drivers already installed. It refuses to let me use anything from the Intel pack.

So maybe this Intel pack I am missing some step? It's a large download, it's not just one driver. It's for all OS's and Intel NIC's. I don't see any global setup exe to run to do anything. When I tell Windows to search that directoy recursively it comes back and says I have the best drivers already installed.

This is where I got them:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...ntel-ethernet-controller-i225v/downloads.html

 

[COLGeek]

Why are you using Win 10 with all this new hardware?

 

[gquiring]

Why are you using Win 10 with all this new hardware?

I hate Windows 11, same as Windows 8. It stinks. Hopefully 12 will be better. From what I have the read the Win 11 won't solve the AT&T router issue.

 

[gquiring]

I found the driver directory from Intel, I can see why it won't install it. It's same exact version from Gigabyte.

[Version]
Signature = "$Windows NT$"
Class = Net
ClassGUID = {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
Provider = %Intel%
CatalogFile = e2f.cat
DriverVer = 06/29/2023,1.1.4.42
PnpLockDown = 1

 

[COLGeek]

I hate Windows 11, same as Windows 8. It stinks. Hopefully 12 will be better. From what I have the read the Win 11 won't solve the AT&T router issue.

More secure. Supports your hardware. Under the hood pretty much the same. I wouldn't hold my breath on Win 12. Likely to look very much like 11.

Up to you, but seems a fix is easily achieved here. You can tweak Win 11 to get over your dislikes and use all of your devices properly.

Just something to consider.

 

[gquiring]

I could not find a decent taskbar app to simulate what Win 10 did. I run my taskbar vertically down the left side. I prefer those Start Button tiles like Win 10 has. Plus 11 is slower. I had a PC dual boot, it was very obvious how much slower 11 is.

 

[COLGeek]

I could not find a decent taskbar app to simulate what Win 10 did. I run my taskbar vertically down the left side. I prefer those Start Button tiles like Win 10 has. Plus 11 is slower. I had a PC dual boot, it was very obvious how much slower 11 is.

Objective measures comparing the two, when properly configured, show little to no "speed" differences. Not being critical, but this seems more of a personal bias than a technical one. It is certainly okay to have a preference.

However, you are trying to force new hardware to work with an old OS. Results are going to be mixed and the question you have to ask is "whether the juice is worth the squeeze?".

To me, and I have been doing computer stuff for more than 5 decades and have seen an innumerable degree of changes, the solution is pretty straight forward at this point.

 

[bill001g]

Not sure why the ethernet port would work like that. Make sure the cables you are using are not those flat ones.
If nothing else a small switch is going to be cheaper than anything else if you only need 1gbit.

I guess you could try to verify the hardware with a linux usb boot image. It should have support for that intel ethernet chip built in. If the linux works then I would be suspect of some silly driver issue. If it still only connects with a swith in the path then I would blame hardware.

I looked your motherboard up and saw it used intel wifi chipset which does support win10. But after looking at the fine print they changed from mediatek to intel when they went to the 1.1 hardware version of the motherboard. Mediatek support is not as good as intel and many other vendors. Sometimes these drivers come out later or people find ways to force drivers from other OS to function.

Then again anything you get that is wifi7 is not offcial for a couple more weeks. It will not be until this summer that you see equipment that was not manufactured before the standard was finalized. Likely not going to be a problem but years ago when 802.11n came out all the "draft" hardware did not function properly with the final released hardware.

 

[gquiring]

Not sure why the ethernet port would work like that. Make sure the cables you are using are not those flat ones.
If nothing else a small switch is going to be cheaper than anything else if you only need 1gbit.

I guess you could try to verify the hardware with a linux usb boot image. It should have support for that intel ethernet chip built in. If the linux works then I would be suspect of some silly driver issue. If it still only connects with a swith in the path then I would blame hardware.

I looked your motherboard up and saw it used intel wifi chipset which does support win10. But after looking at the fine print they changed from mediatek to intel when they went to the 1.1 hardware version of the motherboard. Mediatek support is not as good as intel and many other vendors. Sometimes these drivers come out later or people find ways to force drivers from other OS to function.

Then again anything you get that is wifi7 is not offcial for a couple more weeks. It will not be until this summer that you see equipment that was not manufactured before the standard was finalized. Likely not going to be a problem but years ago when 802.11n came out all the "draft" hardware did not function properly with the final released hardware.

It's a problem with that AT&T Router. When you Google search it with that Intel chipset it just does not work. Multiple cables were tried, I don't use any flat ribbon stuff. The NIC works pefectly on that TrendNet switch which is connected to the AT&T Router. I just have to redo some wiring to get another switch near this PC to get rid of the long cable I temporarily ran to get it working. I could try and get a different model router from AT&T but their support stinks, it's a sesspool dealing them.

I don't use Wifi on my desktop, it would be nice to get the Bluetooth going but then again I don't have any Bluetooth mice or keyboards, I use the Logitech dongle.