Question Onboard Thunderbolt ports not getting seen by Windows, but work as USB-C ?

[foscooter]

At my wits end!

2 PC's, Asus TUF Z890 Plus WiFi & ASRock Z890 Pro-A systems. Both have (1) Thunderbolt 4 port (on rear panel) for 40 Gbps data transfer rates. Both fall back to USB4 (USB-C) and "work" when plugging in USB-C Flash Drive or iPhone (USB-C to Lightning) through cables rated for these ports. I have the 2 PCs linked via TB4 rated cables (verified directional inputs).

Windows does not list "Thunderbolt Controller" in Device Manager.

When I try to install the Thunderbolt Software Installer (from Intel), it fails. States "Your system does not require this driver."

Both PCs are on and linked via TB cable. I don't have any Thunderbolt devices (i.e. Thunderbolt SSD Drive) to plug into the ports to initiate the automatic driver install.

I have installed Thunderbolt Control Center: no devices are listed.

I have installed Thunderbolt Share (the whole reason for doing this): they won't connect.

I don't want to buy a discrete card as the motherboard has native TB4 ports. And I'd have to get a different motherboard than the ASRock (no TB Header).

Windows 11 is completely up to date, as are all the drivers for the motherboard, video, etc.

Am I going to have to ditch my wish to "network" my 2 PCs via Thunderbolt for File Sharing. 40 Gbps sure sounds nice! Better than 1 Gbps via Ethernet, which is what I do now.
And Windows 11 24H2 needs several tweaks to get the PCs set up for Home Networking via LAN.

** EDIT 01/12/23 **
Before I started all this, before I had "wired" my office with the TB cables to link the 2 PC's, I had bought an Asus ROG Z890 Maximus Hero, because it has 2 TB4 back panel ports, and a TB Header for an add-in card (TB5). This would be my 4th "Hero" motherboard, always had success with them.

Now, I'm thinking of returning the ASRock board (which I was going to do anyway in lieu of the Hero board) and the Asus Hero board to get another Asus TUF board (match the other PC) because I could put an Asus ThunderboltEX 4 add-in card in both. And the Hero board is expensive for just 1 extra TB4 port, that I probably won't use. Thought maybe for a fast external drive which I have no need of (2 backup drives in each PC already), or an install drive, but probably not.

This whole venture is getting expensive and mundane. I originally when with a budget build(s), as I am NOT a gamer. These cables are $35-50 each, the card is $129 each, motherboards are $210-700.

 

[Lutfij]

I don't want to buy a discrete card as the motherboard has native TB4 ports. And I'd have to get a different motherboard than the ASRock (no TB Header).
You might want to invite a friend, who owns a Thunderbolt device, over and have them pair their device with your platform.

Since the issue is evident on both platforms, in spite of being from different board makers and having native Thunderbolt support, sans an add-on card, the issue can and will be drivers. Did you install all drivers listed on the Asus motherboard's support site, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?

Moved thread from Components section to Motherboards section.

 

[alceryes]

It's possible you have Thunderbolt turned off in BIOS on both those MBs.

The ports will still function as USB 3/4 ports without Thunderbolt turned on. Where the setting is depends on the MB and BIOS version. On my B650E Taichi it's buried at least 3 deep in a sub menu.

 

[foscooter]

I don't want to buy a discrete card as the motherboard has native TB4 ports. And I'd have to get a different motherboard than the ASRock (no TB Header).
You might want to invite a friend, who owns a Thunderbolt device, over and have them pair their device with your platform.

Since the issue is evident on both platforms, in spite of being from different board makers and having native Thunderbolt support, sans an add-on card, the issue can and will be drivers. Did you install all drivers listed on the Asus motherboard's support site, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?

Moved thread from Components section to Motherboards section.

I don't have any friends that have or used Thunderbolt, less have any TB portable devices. I am wondering if I should get a Thunderbolt dock to put between the two PC's, but I shouldn't have to, per the instructions on Thunderbolt Share. I could, as I am using 2 10' Silkland TB4/40Gbps/240W cables from Amazon (not cheap!) with a same rated TB4 coupler between the two. The light on the coupler is on, showing correct connections (directional). I have no use for a docking hub, don't need to connect multiple devices, monitors, external drives, etc.

YES! I installed all device drivers for both boards from their drivers list from that boards website, always ran as administrator. But the ASRock doesn't have a Thunderbolt driver, and the Asus driver didn't install (nothing happened). It's the same driver from Intel, wrapped in an Asus package.

I realize it is the drivers, but I can't get the Intel version to install, says not needed. Can't manually do through Device Manager as there is no Thunderbolt device anywhere. The Asus board does show 1 "Unknown Device," but the drivers won't install when trying to update manually.

Should I uninstall all the USB/USB4 drivers from Device Manager and restart? Do I need to completely reinstall Windows, with the TB cables "in?"

 

[foscooter]

It's possible you have Thunderbolt turned off in BIOS on both those MBs.

The ports will still function as USB 3/4 ports without Thunderbolt turned on. Where the setting is depends on the MB and BIOS version. On my B650E Taichi it's buried at least 3 deep in a sub menu.

NOPE! Thunderbolt is enabled in all ways in both motherboards BIOS. Thunderbolt 5 is even enabled on the Asus board. XHCI Hand-off is also enabled, as is PCIe tunneling. Discrete TB (add in card) is off/disabled.