Always look at the date when you read an article. Some of the content in this article is most likely out of date, as it was written on August 7, 2017. For newer information, see our more recent articles.
Table of Contents
We are starting to see an issue within our Support team as of August 2017 where Windows Update fails to update. The following error will display:
"Windows 10 Update Failed to install – Intel Ethernet driver NETwtw04.sys plus 16 cores present on device."
First, install this driver from Intel
Entering Bios
- Navigate to the "Advanced" Section
- Then navigate to the "CPU Configuration" section
Altering Core Count
- Once you're in the CPU Configuration, head to "Active Processor Cores"
Active Processor Cores
- Here you will disable a couple of cores. Windows Update seems to have issues detecting more than 16 cores with this update, so we want to disable Cores 0, 1, and 2.
- In this picture they're currently "Enabled", simply toggle 0, 1, and 2 to "Disabled"
- Once you've cut down the accessible cores, you're ready to run Windows Update.
Saving Temporary Profile + Optional
- Once you've updated Windows, you would need to come back to the BIOS again, and re-enable the cores you disabled. (In the example we showed, we would have to re-enable cores 0, 1, and 2 again).
- Since we are not sure how long this process will be needed, we suggest saving the BIOS profile that has lesser cores to a second BIOS profile that we can restore to/from if needed.
- To do this navigate to the Tool section of the BIOS and head to "ASUS Overclocking Profile"
Saving the Temporary Lesser-Core BIOS
- Drop down to the section labeled "Save to Profile"
- Put today's date in the "Profile Name"
- Put "2" in the "Save to Profile" section (You need to do this if you don't want to overwrite your existing BIOS profile)
- Once you have today's date and a "2" in the "Save to Profile" section, hit enter with your cursor on the "2", this will save the BIOS version with lesser cores to Profile 2.
- With Profile 2 saved, you can swap back and forth between Profiles 1 and 2 if needed.
Conclusion / Multiple Profiles
- Having both profiles should look something like this. Please don't forget to Load from Profile 1 to go back to the BIOS profile with all cores enabled.
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