Z790-F - No network connection

[AlexiTQ]

Installing WIndows (tried with both 10 and 11) I get no network connection on this motherboard. To get it working it seems I need to have Armoury Crate enabled and do a limited setup of Windows.

Or in other words: What is this **** and how do I fix it? I mean, I can't remember issues like this since Windows 95...

[JohnAb]

Do you mean LAN or Wi-Fi? Have you installed the Windows drivers?

It sounds like the network is working with Armoury Crate installed and running, but what do you mean by a limited setup of Windows?

[AlexiTQ]

JohnAb wrote:
Do you mean LAN or Wi-Fi? Have you installed the Windows drivers?

It sounds like the network is working with Armoury Crate installed and running, but what do you mean by a limited setup of Windows?

I have neither LAN nor WiFi when installing Windows, which forces me to make a limited setup. Just tried injecting the drivers to the Windows 11 USB, which was a royal pita, but they don't install.

Armoury Crate installs the drivers from the motherboard. I could save the drivers to a USB and re-install, to avoid that horrid bloatware, but I would prefer a proper install of Windows - especially since MS is closing down the option of doing an offline install.

[Murph_9000]

These FAQs may help:

[Motherboard] Troubleshooting - How to install Windows 11 Pro/Home operate system on AM5 or Intel Z7...
[Motherboard] How to download and install LAN driver from ASUS Download Center

[icmyshadow]

Thanks for the post.  I had the exact same issue.

[JohnAb]

Thanks, think I understand now. I'm not sure why you aren't getting network support during the Windows install. That seems a bit odd - it's never happened to me before. I'm wondering if the 790 uses slightly different wi-fi or LAN hardware that Windows doesn't recognise yet by default.

Hopefully, Murph_9000's links to those instructions will get things working, but if not, here are some additional ideas:

Assuming you haven't, grab the latest Windows ISO directly from Microsoft, then you might find that full 790 support has recently been added to the Windows image. Worth a try I think.

If you don't have the latest, grab it from here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Assuming the above doesn't help, then once you are into Windows (see my second post below for Win 11), you can either use Armoury Crate to install the drivers or as you know, go to your ASUS motherboard support page and grab them from there. I know a lot of people don't like Armoury Crate, but it has been OK in my experience. I find it quite useful just to keep an eye on drivers if nothing else.

Another thing you might try is to use Intel's 'Driver and Support Assistant'. That runs a scan of your system and opens a browser window. From there, you can install any missing or outdated drivers directly. I've found it to be very good, but make sure you don't have ad blockers running when you use it. Sometimes it will identify newer drivers that aren't yet on the support pages.

Final thought - have a look at what BIOS and ME firmware version you are on. You can see the ME firmware version in the BIOS. The support pages should offer firmware and BIOS versions that 'match' each other. It's possible that an update on that front it also fix the initial network support issue. I don't know for sure, but again worth a look. If it does work, then once back into Windows, you'll need to install the ME Windows drivers as well. I just wrote a thread on Intel ME and BIOS updates if it helps.

[JohnAb]

Even on Win 11, without a network or MS Account, follow this video on YouTube. You will then have good starting point for drivers etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUO6_hHnBAg

Let us know if any of these ideas help

[AlexiTQ]

Wow, I can't believe I missed the "load driver"-button. Must be that I've installed Windows so many times that I don't even read that screen - autopilot all the way.

Anyway, the issue is solved, so thank you!

[JohnAb]

Great news. I have never needed to use that 'install driver' option, so I would have missed it as well. Great that all is solved for you 🙂 Full credit to Murph_9000

[Hopper64]

I had the same problem with my MZ790E board. No driver for this generation I guess. And I can not remember where to add the net driver during installation. Did not have the issue with Z690. Where is that load driver during installation?