New Laptop HP 15-fc0018nq missing network adapter drivers

[Wandering8maggo]

Newly bought a laptop with FreeDos, and started installing Windows 11 Pro from a USB. Hit a wall when Win11 setup asked me to connect to a network, because there simply were no networks. I ran around in circles for 8 hours or so trying almost everything I could think of, until I finally found out about the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command, which allowed me to finish installing Win11 without an internet connection.

Finally having access to a proper system I ran troubleshooting and found out what I was already suspecting to be the case: there are no network adapter drivers on the device.

What I would like to know are two things. 

1. From where and how can I install them ? Can I download them on an USB then set them up on the laptop? I can keep banging my head against the wall with this one and probably manage to solve this by myself with enough time, but some pointers would be greatly appreciated.

2. Just one bit of personal curiosity: is this normal ? Are missing network adapters a norm for this model or did something happen along the way ? I did see some other threads about missing drivers, but those seemed to be from people who already had a working and set up computer. 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

It's normal if you buy a notebook with FreeDOS because W11 doesn't have the Realtek or Mediatek Wi-Fi 6 drivers as part of its driver database.

When you buy a notebook with Windows from HP, all the drivers have been installed since HP preinstalls a factory image on the notebook with all of the software and drivers included.

The product specs for your notebook indicate that it has a Realtek Wi-Fi 6 (1x1) and Bluetooth® wireless card 5.3 wifi adapter, which is why the driver is not automatically installed by W11.

Below is the link to the latest Wi-Fi driver you need for that model Wi-Fi adapter:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp153001-153500/sp153227.exe

Yes, you will have to download the driver from another PC that has internet access, copy it to a USB flash drive, plug the flash drive into your notebook, copy the file to your notebook's Windows desktop and run it from there.

You can run it from the flash drive, but it may take longer for the file to transfer to the hard drive where it sets up the driver folder.

The rest of the drivers can be installed from the model series' support page at the link below.

HP 15.6 inch Laptop PC 15-fc0000 (733M2AV) Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

[Wandering8maggo]

Thanks for the quick reply and info ! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.