Windows 10 crashes on HP Compaq Pro 6305 sff with Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet adapter driver

[pcresearcher]

I got 3 computers, same model :

HP Compaq Pro 6305 sff

Motherboard model: E93839

BIOS Version: 02.77

Processor: AMD A8-6500B APU with Radeon HD Graphics x 4

Graphics: AMD ARUBA

Installed RAM: 8GB DDR3

All 3 computers have a common problem: After installing and updating Windows 10 (any version), the computers crashes/shuts down and restarts unexpectedly, at any moment.

If I install the O.S. and never update it/connect it to the internet, nothing happens. But the moment it updates, after restarting the computer, the problem is there.

I think, and I'm almost convinved, the problem has to do with the network adapter (Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet) driver included in the O.S. updates:

I tried installing Ubuntu (The latest LTS version) on it, to see if it worked. The problem here was different: The computer never crashed or shut down , but, after like, 5 minutes of using it, I had no internet (I always use ethernet, never wifi). Ubuntu shows I have a good internet connection, however, there is clearly a problem with the network adapter. Not only that happens, but also, on Ubuntu, it disconnects all my wireless devices (phones, laptop, etc.) from the internet, as they show a problem with the connection. Even if I unplug the ethernet cable, the problem persists. I have to restart the access point to make it go back to normal, when this happens. 

The only solution that works, that allows me to connect to internet and use the computer is by adapting an extra PCI ethernet card. This, on Ubuntu. If I do it on Windows, it still crashes the moment I least expect. This picture shows the info on the ethernet adapters as given by Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS.  The Realtek adapter is the one I installed. The Broadcom adapter is the one that came with these computers:

I think, the problem could be solved by using the right driver for the Broadcom Ethernet adapter, but I'm not sure that the one I found in this HP site for my computer model will work, given that the drivers in the page (https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-compaq-pro-6305-small-form-factor-pc/model/5296267) are for a 6305 sff with a different chip set, given that it includes nvidia drivers.

I would greatly appreciate if any of you could help me solve this problem. These are good HP computers and I don't want to let them go 😞

PS. I found a video on youtube with many comments on this problem with the same Broadcom network adapter, but none of the solutions they have posted seem to work. Some have tried installing drivers from other sources (even the uploader shares a link to his drive account where he shares the driver that works for his computer), but windows automatically updates the driver with every monthly update. Some others have tried installing a different Broadcom ethernet driver , which apparently, have worked for 1 or 2 users. It is obvious thatthese two aren't the most convenient solutions..

Thank you in advance

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If the Broadcom ethernet driver update is the culprit that causes your PC's to crash, with the working ethernet driver installed, immediately run the Microsoft Hide Windows Update utility that I zipped up and attached below:

The utility will run and should find the Broadcom ethernet driver update pending to install. 

Check the box to hide the update.

The utility will run again and report that the problem is 'Fixed.'

Close out of the utility, restart the PC and the ethernet driver update should not show up or try to install again unless you run the utility again and uncheck the update from being hidden.