Windows 11 Autopilot Issue

Question

We use intune at my job to setup our windows 11 machines using autopilot. As of the last few months, when we setup a "old" windows 10 device to reinstall windows 11 to it, and setup it up using autopilot after importing the hash to my jobs intune tenant we been running into an issue. I dont know where else to turn. Basically what happens, is we install windows 11 on a former windows 10 computer. All works well, then one signs in with a company account, it completes the provisioning process and the user finally gets into the laptop. After a little bit, after the majority of the company data is put it, or some of the apps get installed, a user will need to restart the computer, so that some updates install, and the company logo appears in the background, and the time syncs up. After this restart, the drivers for the wifi, and ethernet, or sometimes just wifi, uninstall themselves. The adapters are clearly recognized, but it loses all internet drivers most of the time. What can we do to fix this, without having to constantly one, by one, Ctrl+shift+f3 to go to audit mode and run windows updates, before getting to the sign in screen for the first time (this is the only thing I have tried so far that makes it so the drivers will not delete themselves). We never had this issue, but all the sudden it is happening within that last 2 months. I am just looking for recommended options that will help us fix this, as resources are limited with the volume of computers we send out, and cannot devote all the time to constantly 1 by 1 enter audit mode and update. This only happens with older models, and doesn't happen with brand new computers purchased from Dell. We primarily use Latitudes. The older models we use are 5420, 5430, 5530, 5520, 7420, 7430, 3561 and 3571. Looking for possible fixes. I also tried, for the models during my tests, updated the BIOS to the latest Dell Bios for each model when I test them. Im just running out of ideas. We are also using 23H2 Windows 11.

Answer 1

It is hard to believe that drivers would just uninstall themselves suddently, this cannot happen just by Windows itself. Is it possible that you get updated driver which is bad? What is the status of Wifi adapter in Driver Management? Unknown device? Do you utilize built-in Driver management/update mechanizm in Intune? If so, try to turn it off or change automatic to manual approach. You could also try to use my tool/script for driver updates which will get more fresh drivers directly from MS update catalog: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/intune-advanced-automation-part-2-installing-pavel-mirochnitchenko

Also one reason could be, that you have now some install or uninstall deployment assigned that does this, try to identify what that could be.

Answer 2

Are you preprovisioning those devices or the regular autopilot flow? It looks like the fact that when you are logging in the microsoft store is updating those apps/drivers, just like i mentioned here

https://call4cloud.nl/2021/06/those-magnificent-drivers-in-their-flying-microsoft-store-or-how-i-flew-from-the-enrolment-status-page-to-paris-in-25-hours-11-minutes/#part4

Maybe an option you have is to package those drivers and make them as required during the autopilot setup.

https://call4cloud.nl/2021/05/the-windows-driver-games/

Or maybe a better idea is to make sure you stream those uptodate drivers for those devices in your base image you use to deploy those devices.