Can't install network drivers that I got from HP

[syfy001]

Hi there, I received a HP Envy 17-CW0023DX from eBay and wanted a fresh install of Windows 11. I got the OS installed but the computer will not recognize either of the network drivers I got from the HP website: sp100298.exe and sp950075.exe.  I've tried extracting them and pointing the install driver from Device Manager setup and the system can't see them. I tried using the    *.cat, *.inf and *.sys file. These are he correct files for this computer according to the HP website. Why won't they install? I used OOBE\BYPASSNRO to bypass the network requirements and finish the Win 11 install. But even then the Envy would not recognize the drivers. Help? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The parts list for your notebook indicates that it comes with a Realtek Wi-Fi 6 adapter.

https://partsurfer.hp.com/?searchtext=7H1T2UA

This is the latest driver HP has for the Realtek Wi-Fi 6 adapters:

Realtek RTL8xxx Wireless LAN Drivers 

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp155501-156000/sp155596.exe 

Below is the link to the driver page for your notebook, where you can find the rest of the drivers you may need:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-envy-17.3-inch-laptop-pc-17-cw0000/model/2101549693 

[syfy001]

Hi Paul, those are the drivers I'm attempting to install. They aren't being recognized by the system. To summarize, I've got Win 11 installed, I have no cat 5 port to hook up directly to the network, so I 'm needing the network card to work. I placed the required drivers unzipped onto the C: drive (the rt640x64.sys, rt640x64.inf and the rt640x64.cat files) in a folder as a first try. Then by using the HPSetup.exe file to try to install and neither work. I know the network does work as the system came with the default HP Win 11 setup on a 1TB M.2. I'm trying for a clean, fresh install on a 4TB M.2. I'm puzzled why the drivers aren't seen. I go to "Device Manager", next choose "Other devices" as the Network card is listed as "Network Controller" and choose to install updated drivers, point it to where I decompressed them, and they aren't seen. Double clicking on the HP install.exe creates a folder (SWsetup/sp100298/base/rt640x64.sys, rt640x64.ct, and rt640x64.inf.) which also does no good after a reboot. No functioning network card seen. Seems odd. Bluetooth and many WANminiports are listed under "Network Adapters", but not the Realtek Adapter. Is HP stopping people from installing windows without their software bundle?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You indicated that you are trying to install drivers from sp100298.exe and sp950075.exe.

Those driver files are for much older Realtek Wi-Fi adapters and the Wi-Fi adapter your notebook came with didn't even exist when those drivers were released.

That is why they won't install.

There is no support for the hardware ID your notebook's Realtek Wi-Fi adapter has.

The driver I supplied is from October of this year and contains driver support for the model Wi-Fi adapter the parts list indicates your notebook has.

If the driver I posted doesn't work, it is possible that HP substituted an equivalent model Wi-Fi adapter for the Realtek one it was supposed to have.

So, if you have not tried sp155596 copy it to a USB flash drive, plug the flash drive into your notebook, copy the file from the flash drive to your notebook's Windows desktop and run it from there.

If it doesn't work, please post the hardware ID for the Network Controller device you see listed in the device manager.

That would be the name Windows gives the Wi-Fi adapter when the driver is not installed.

Use this guide for how to find the hardware ID for a device:

How to Find Drivers for Unknown Devices in the Device Manager

[syfy001]

Paul, I'm sure you hear his everyday, you're a genius! That driver fixed me right up. Thank you very much.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad to have been of assistance.

[syfy001]

You're number one my friend, you are number one.¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Peace.