What to do after installing Windows

[AEROassault]

This is my first time building a PC, so I've got a question. Will I just be able to plug in my Ethernet cable after installing Windows 10, or will I need to install a driver from, say, a USB flash drive? Thanks!

 

[ThatVietGuy]

You will need to install a driver first.

 

[Belphegore]

You'll need to pop in the CD you got with your motherboard. Ethernet ports do not work until your motherboard drivers are installed. So if you don't have the CD, put the drivers on a USB drive and load them on to your PC.

 

[Colif]

whereas last time I fresh installed win 10 with an Ethernet cable attached it was able to connect to internet without needing drivers off any DVD,,, win 10 has generic drivers in it that can run most connections, and will connect to windows update after its installed and try to get drivers for most of your hardware.

it still helps to check motherboard makers site once win 10 installed as the drivers Microsoft install are not always the best and may be old.

 

[Belphegore]

^ This did not happen for me. When I went from Windows 7 to Windows 10, I couldn't connect via my board's built in Wi-Fi OR the Ethernet connection without updating my motherboard drivers from 7 to 10.

 

[Colif]

i did fresh install in Feb onto this ssd which at time had no OS on it, so the only source of drivers at time was windows 10 DVD. I had the Ethernet cable attached entire time. I didn't even think to use the Driver DVD that came with motherboard as it didn't have any Win 10 drivers on it.

Possible difference is the upgrade process may use drivers in place instead of generic ones. windows isn't very smart, it doesn't know to check driver editions, if you had Ethernet drivers in place it probably just used those. even if they were wrong ones.

 

[azaran]

The answer is a firm maybe. It depends entirely upon what built in drivers Windows already has for your NIC. As you can see in the postings, some people have needed it, some people have not. Make life easy and download the drivers on to a USB drive from a working computer connected to the internet or use the driver disk that came with your motherboard if you have a DVD drive. Then if Windows doesn't auto detect and install your NIC you can just provide the drivers.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

you should always download and install the latest OS specific drivers from the manufacturer's product support page for your motherboard and all of your other hardware after Windows has initially setup.

when upgrading it may be a good idea to have already downloaded the necessary drivers beforehand if you have no other means of getting online to ensure USB, ethernet, w-fi, etc will be functioning.