Windows – How to get LACP teaming and VLANs working again after Windows 10 version 1511 upgrade

lacpnetwork-adaptervlanwindows 10windows-10-v1511

I have Intel PRO/1000 PT dual port gigabit adapter. I installed Windows 7 drivers in my Windows 10 computer, and they were working fine, both LACP and multiple VLANs were working properly.

Now, my Windows 10 computer was "upgraded" to Windows 10 version 1511 today, and Intel network adapter driver was replaced by the generic Microsoft driver. Naturally I've lost both LACP and VLANs support. I tried re-installing the Intel drivers as downloaded from Intel web site, but received the following message:

There is an issue with Microsoft windows 10 that prevents the Intel Advanced Network Services feature from working correctly. You may install the feature, although you will be unable to create Intel ANS Teams and VLANs.

This is quite infuriating, since I need both teaming and VLANs, know that they worked OK in Windows 10 before this upgrade, and I cannot uninstall the Windows 10 version 1511 update.

Is there anything I can do to get both LACP teaming and VLANs working again?

Best Answer

Intel says that base drivers without VLAN are included with Windows. For VLAN it says :

image

If you don't care about bandwidth and feel adventurous, you could download the Intel Ethernet Connections CD (2.3GB) which contains all of the Intel Ethernet network drivers and software, dating to October 2015.

More practical would be to download the Intel Driver Update Utility which analyzes all Intel system drivers on your computer and could find out if a newer driver is released by Intel in the future. Keep on scanning periodically your computer, in the hope that Intel will release a new driver.

Keep also an eye on Windows Update. Drivers are included in the Optional section, so are are not automatically suggested and rather need manual installation. From the above table, it seems that Intel has abandoned this card, currently only supported by the Windows generic driver, so this is probably your best hope.

If the above does not resolve the problem to your satisfaction, and if you are not willing to wait for Intel or Microsoft to solve this Windows 10 compatibility problem (if ever), the only immediate solution I can see is downgrading back to Windows 7.

Downgrading back to Windows 7 is only easy if you have kept the Windows.old folder from when you upgraded to Windows 10 (see this answer), otherwise a reinstall is required.

Related Question