Some fool forgot to connect Ethernet while installing Windows 10

[KublaiKhan]

On a NEW DESKTOP PC BUILD, I accidentally installed Windows 10 without connecting the Ethernet cable.

Do I start over and reinstall Windows 10, download drivers and install them via USB, or run the motherboard setup disc and hope for the best?

 

[why_wolf]

I don't understand what the problem is. Just plug the cable in, if it doesn't work go to a 2nd computer and download the Ethernet drivers for you motherboard and install them.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi
Go into device manager
See if a network controller device is seen and if it has a driver or not
If not get a win 10 version of driver from motherboard manufacturers web site
(if possible)

If the network controller has its device driver then log off
connect network ethernet cable and log in again

Network and router should be connected automatically

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[KublaiKhan]

Device Manager sees all the devices, but they are not working, as no device drivers are installed.

So do I run the setup disc that came with the motherboard, or reinstall Windows 10? Who knows what other problems this had caused.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

Does motherboard driver disk include drivers for windows 10?

If not get drivers from motherboard makers web site
If not on motherboard makers web site you need a utility to find make and model of motherboard chipset intel or amd for motherboard chipset drivers and network driver details

Piriform speccy is a us full reliable and free system information program

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[KublaiKhan]

Yes, all the various drivers for Windows 10 are on the manufacturer's web site.

But have I caused other issues best resolved by starting over?

 

[KublaiKhan]

Anyone?

Will this sort itself out if I install the drivers manually, or should I delete the installation and start over?

 

[CountMike]

Just install missing or obsolete drivers. If you want same effect as if you had internet while installing Windows, just do all the updates, that will bring down and install MS supplied drivers. Actually it's a bit of hassle to convince W10 not to download and install their drivers anyway.

 

[mbarnes86]

No need to start over

just install device drivers for :-
Motherboard chipset
Usb 3.0
Network
Sound
(Optionally additional hard disk controllers)
Graphics integrated or pci-e slot card

Above the main one for desktop motherboard

Laptops frequently include:-
Power management
Wifi

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[KublaiKhan]

OK, thanks, guys. Let me get started. I downloaded everything on another PC.

Sorry for being such a spaz.

 

[KublaiKhan]

Well, the INF driver locked up toward the end, after the scale of windows and desktop icons jumped up to the maximum. Maybe because I ran it off the USB drive, rather than the hard drive? No idea.

 

[KublaiKhan]

I installed network drivers for this Gigabyte motherboard. Required two downloads:

BigFoot LAN driver

Intel LAN driver

Computer immediately connected to the Internet with those drivers installed, and all manner of new features sprung into play. Like Cortana, which I thought I'd have a shot to disable during the OS installation.

 

[KublaiKhan]

Back in the day, when XP would get overrun by malware every other week, reinstalling the OS was habitual. I could do it in my sleep.

I have this old printer, a Hewlett-Packard Laserject 1000. If that printer was connected to the computer during Windows installation, before the device drivers were installed, it would never work, and there was no way to fix it without reinstalling the OS.

If I had a dollar for every time I forgot and made that mistake....