New HP Probook - no drivers

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#288230 15-Jun-2021 10:13

Brand new HP laptops at work (Probook 430 G8). i7 11th gen, 16GB RAM etc.

Want a clean install without HP bloatware so I boot off USB, and find no support for the keyboard or touchpad. Plug in external KB, works, do Windows install.

Still no touchpad.

Check device manager and find Windows cant find a base driver for almost ANYTHING on this laptop.

Thankfully network is installed, so do Windows Update - now installing all the drivers.

Haven't seen this sort of behavior since Windows 2000.

XPD / Gavin

zocster

1996 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 106

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2728983 15-Jun-2021 10:19

I think this should work?

clinty

1211 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 412

Lifetime subscriber

#2728989 15-Jun-2021 10:33

i've found there is little bloatware on the new HPs - maybe three or four programs/apps - just as quick to uninstall manually while setting up/updating

I wonder if there has been some chip swapping due to the shortages and the new drivers haven't been WHQL approved yet

Clint

clinty

1211 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 412

Lifetime subscriber

#2728990 15-Jun-2021 10:34

Also what version of Windows were you booting from using the USB?

Clint

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14315 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4837

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2728996 15-Jun-2021 10:47

zocster:

I think this should work?

Usually when doing HP laptops, I give them a clean install - the installer is happy to run and install most of the drivers. But with this model, the Windows installer dosent even recognize the keyboard so I cant even start the installation process - soon as I plug in an external keyboard, I can start the install.

Im wondering if the chipset on these models are so new MS hasn't had chance to add to their database :)

XPD / Gavin

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14315 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4837

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2728997 15-Jun-2021 10:48

clinty:

Also what version of Windows were you booting from using the USB?

Clint

Latest that the creator tool builds (fresh download of tool as well)

XPD / Gavin

Dynamic

4081 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1898

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2729031 15-Jun-2021 11:22

Would a Windows 10 Reset have done the trick? I've had great success with this. Drivers stay, factory software does not.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14315 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4837

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2729041 15-Jun-2021 11:50

Hmm possibly... might give that a go (have 28 laptops to build)

XPD / Gavin

1101

3148 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1149

#2729044 15-Jun-2021 11:53

The first step is always install the chipset drivers . Things often get easier after that .

The problem with HP laptops , PC's and drivers is..

HP themselves dont known what hardware is in them. :-(
Thats why I usually do a manual de-bloating .

Go the the driver page for a model of HP Pc or laptop .... (when you can actually find it in the mess of website)
Need a Network driver , HP gives you a choice of up to 5
Need a wifi drv, heres 4 , you sort it out
etc . etc .

Compare that to (I hate to say this) Dell PC/laptop
Stick in the ID no, you get the EXACT drivers for that model. Not some multichoice for you to sort out

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14315 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4837

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2729101 15-Jun-2021 13:27

Sorry seems to be some confusion... maybe my wording :D

Im doing a bare install from the Windows 10 USB stick, so deleted all partitions and starting from scratch. Boot of the USB, and at the first menu it asks for language/regional etc - touchpad/keyboard do not respond. So the Windows 10 image does not appear to have valid drivers for this laptops chipset.

Once I plug a USB keyboard in and go through the setup, Windows boots but is missing almost all drivers except wifi.

Its the first time since Windows 2000 that I've had a HP system not have supported drivers after a bare install (usually its networking/gfx/sound missing but on this model its almost everything).

Sure, going to HP site afterwards and grabbing the drivers is fine, but if I didn't have a USB keyboard/mouse to start the process, I'd be stuffed :D

XPD / Gavin

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 678

#2729109 15-Jun-2021 13:42

That's not uncommon with brand new hardware. I always grab the drivers, copy to the machine offline & install before putting it online. Most likely just running Windows Update will sort it though too, I just like knowing the 'correct' drivers are installed.

The older the machine, the more drivers (generally) Windows is going to have bundled.

The bigger question is where did you get your ProBooks from? 😅

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14315 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4837

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2729128 15-Jun-2021 14:28

LOL yeah these arent old, think theyre too new :D

I'm not releasing my suppliers name in case I need more ;)

XPD / Gavin