Windows 11 lacks necessary drivers.
Windows 11 lacks necessary drivers.
Reinstalling initially won't automatically add those drivers if Windows lacks its own native ones. Allow the operating system to perform an automatic update to obtain and install the required drivers for your hardware. This should resolve the issue. (Note, sometimes a few updates are needed since Windows may need to restart after certain ones to function correctly.) Once drivers are installed, restart the system to ensure completion and clear any caches. If problems persist with missing drivers later, you can obtain them from the manufacturers of individual components.
The issue is that I lack internet access due to missing network drivers, and I can't execute Windows Update. Since Windows already has a driver for my previous laptop's Wi-Fi adapter, it seems the same should apply here. What steps should I take?
You essentially need to download the network driver for another device, such as a computer or Android phone, copy the installer to a USB drive, and then install it from there.
You might also connect via Ethernet, or use a converter if your computer lacks one. These connections typically don't require drivers.
There should be standard drivers ready to link to the internet through your network adapter. Since you already had them installed, it doesn’t mean you need them again after reinstalling the operating system. It’s possible the new OS doesn’t detect the network card you have, so the built-in Windows drivers won’t function. As suggested by @BlueChinchillaEatingDorito, you might want to look for a compatible driver and download it from another computer using a USB drive. This process can be time-consuming but occurs occasionally. The issue appears to be that the network card isn’t being recognized with the default drivers.
I notice Windows sometimes lacks certain drivers, especially some Intel chipset ones, and the update packages aren't always reliable—they can even fail completely at times. Regarding networking, it depends on the specific Windows version you have; that's why I consistently use the newest ISO from Microsoft’s site.