I just updated the BIOS, so I will hold off on further updates for at least 24 hours. I am not sure what you mean when you write, "Install the Windows 7 version chipset driver, and then install the Vista version of the LAN driver." I believe that my version of the chipset driver is up-to-date, as far as Intel is concerned. From the URL
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2374&DwnldID=10884&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss I downloaded INF_allOS_9.1.2.1008_PV.exe . When I ran it (I had run it earlier), I saw the output:
"Please wait while the following setup files are extracted:"
Then a message window"
The computer currently contains software version 8.4.0.1017, which is newer than the version you are about to install. Are you sure you want to overwrite the current software with the older version 9.1.2.1008?
I replied "NO", and the install process ended. I have no idea if anything was installed; I also do not know what driver(s) would have been back-level if I had replied "YES". The install process terminated right after I replied "NO", so I do not
know if that reply terminated all of the installs, There was no output was to what was happening during the installs except for the initial list of files that were being extracted from the install package. I would like to install the latest version of e1e6032.sys, the Intel Ethernet driver for Vista, but I do not know where to get an official Intel version. My Win 7 version, e1e6232.sys, is up-to-date. Other than that, I have no idea what other Intel drivers I have installed are back-level. The UpdateMyDrivers software points to "9.3.1.1009 (9/11/2012)" and says that my installed version is "6.1.7601.17514 (06/21/2006)". This is for a number of system devices. One problem I have is this - the UMD software lists, for example, "Intel(R) ICHB Family SMBus Controller - 283E", but it does not tell me what is the name of the driver file. And, as I have written earlier, I am not sure where to find the 9.3.1.1009 driver files on the Intel website.
As is the case with much software these days, the authors assume that the end-user knows what is happening, and therefore the software does not give enough information to the end-user. I have experienced many Windows pop-up error windows where I have no idea what process produced the error window. The author assumes that his/her software is the only thing running, so the error message will easily be matched to the software.
--Barry Finkel