The Intel NUC10iFN is a powerful little System from Intel with an Intel 10th Gen i7-10710U Processor.
This device would be optimal to run as a Server for virtualization.
Unfortunately, Intel only provides Drivers for Windows 10. A Server Operating System like Windows Server 2019 would be more suitable.
You can install Windows Server 2019, but you will have struggles with some Drivers. A lot of Drivers from the official Driverpack are supported, but some are not.
I created some custom Drivers (some hacks in the INF Files) for the missing ones.
Here is how you can install (almost) all the Drivers in Windows Server 2019
- Download the newest Windows10 Driver Bundle and try to install all the Drivers in the bundle manually (some will fail, just ignore this for the moment).
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/188811/Intel-NUC-10-Performance-kit-NUC10i7FNH
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Download all the content from this repository's "Drivers" Folder
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Disable Driver Signature Enforcement (since this CustomDrivers have no valid signature anymore)
- Open Windows Settings --> Update&Security --> Recovery --> Restart now (you will restart into the Recovery Mode)
- Select "Troubleshoot"
- Select "Startup Settings and klick Restart
- On the boot screen select "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and press Enter
You will now start into advanced mode.
- Now start Windows Device Manager and select the Device under "Other Devices" with the missing Drivers.
Open Device Properties, switch to "Details" and select the property "Hardware-ID". There should be 5 Devices with missing Drivers:
VEN_8086&DEV_0D4F
Driver: Network (LAN)
Custom Driver: .\Drivers\CustomNIC
Version: 24.3
VEN_8086&DEV_15E8
Driver: Thunderbolt 3
Custom Driver: .\Drivers\CustomThunderbolt
Version: 17.4.77.400
BTH\MS_BTHPAN
Driver: Bluetooth PAN
Custom Driver: -
This is the Bluetooth Personal Area Network Driver.
Select this Device in devmgr --> Update Driver --> Choose driver from my computer --> Choose from List:
Scroll down to the provider "Microsoft" and select the Driver with the name "Personal Area Network Service".
VEN_8086&DEV_02F0
Driver: Wireless-AC 9560 Driver
Custom Driver: -
This Driver is a bit special. You first have to add the Windows Wireless Feature to your Server with the following Powershell cmd:
Add-WindowsFeature -Name Wireless-Networking
Then restart your NUC and install the normal Driver file (wifi_21.x.x_driver64_win10.exe) again, this should now succeed.
VEN_INT&DEV_34BB
Driver: Serial IO GPIO Host Controller (INT34BB)
Custom Driver: -
This one is also a bit special.
- Download the SIO Driver for NUC8 from here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28103/Intel-Serial-IO-Driver-for-Intel-NUC
- unzip it
- In device manager click on the device, select update from file and select the unzipped folder
- the driver should now be installed
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Now for the other Drivers - click on a Device with missing Driver, select "Update Driver" and choose "Driver on Filesystem". Head to the corresponding Folder where you downloaded the custom Drivers and install it.
If you get a "Driver not signed" warning message, just ignore it and click "install anyway". -
After you installed all the missing Drivers restart your NUC to exit the Recovery mode.
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All except one driver (BT-PAN) should now be installed, congrats!
I was not able to get the Bluetooth PAN Driver working till this day. But I did not notice any downsides for now
https://www.niallbrady.com/2019/06/26/how-to-enable-thunderbolt-on-windows-server-2019/
https://www.reddit.com/r/intelnuc/comments/b0emtf/windows_server_2019_core_on_nuc8/