What chipset do I have?

[idata]

Hi, I need to determine which chipset is installed in my Lenovo Thinkpad laptop.

I am trying to upgrade Win Vista Ultimate x64 to Win7 Ultimate x64, but one hour into the upgrade, I get the http://www.faultwire.com/solutions-fatal_error/BAD-POOL-HEADER-0x00000019-*1040.html?order=date Blue Screen of Death with a BAD_POOL_HEADER and the following technical information:

Technical Information:

***STOP: 0x00000019 (0x000000000022, 0x000000000000, 0x000000000000, 0x000000000000)

I am using upgrade disks which came with the PC. I am told my problems are likely due to Intel Chipset drivers and that I should update them. I have updated to the latest version Lenovo has, but I still get the error. I would like to see if Intel has a http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Default.aspx more recent version here, but I don't know what chipset I have.

Note that I have updated the wireless and wired networking using the Intel Driver Update Utility. The Update Utility doesn't recognize my NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M, nor does it recognize my Audio Driver.

I uninstalled Intel AMT because the Win7 Upgrade Advisor said it wasn't compatible (I'll just reinstall it after the upgrade). Right now, the upgrade advisor says it doesn't have compatibility information for Intem Active Management Technology - SOL or for Intel Management Engine Interface (or for my printer, which is not connected, anyway).

How can I find out what chipset I have and download the absolute latest drivers for them? Any other ideas on what might be causing my upgrade to fail?

Thank you.

[idata]

Regardless of what chipset you have (in fact that shouldn't be a problem unless your CPU is not 64bit or your laptop is to old seeing that I don't have that info like the model number) an upgrade install are the most troublesome things to do when going from one OS to another OS. The only way most of the time that this can be done is to backup your files format, reinstall your old OS then install the upgrade OS.

[idata]

>I don't have that info like the model number

This machine was new back in October 2009. It was purchased as Win7 compatible and Lenovo included the upgrade disks with the PC. It is a Thinkpad W700, type 2757.

>The only way most of the time that this can be done is to backup your files format, reinstall your old OS then install the upgrade OS.

Well, if my PC doesn't work with Win7, then this new OS won't install at all and I'll have a $2000 paperweight.

[idata]

Ok it has a Intel PM45 chipset so it should be ok for windows 7 drivers are here.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18494&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18494&lang=eng

but like I said you will likely have to backup format reinstall the OS the laptop comes with then use the windows 7 upgrade disc to get the upgrade.

[idata]

Thanks for the info, Peter.

How can you tell that just from a Make and model number? How can I confirm that on my PC? I found the Intel's Chipset Identification Utility, but it does not run under Win7 x64. Also, excuse my obtuseness, but where on the page you link me to does it say that download is for the chipset you mention? Thanks

Message was edited by: StupidUser

[John_S_Intel]

You can find out what chipset you have in Windows* by looking in Device Manager under "System Devices." I would imagine that chipset identification information is also available in the BIOS, but checking the BIOS doesn't tend to be the most user friendly way to find out such information.

John S.

Intel Customer Support*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

[idata]

Thanks, but the names given in System devices do not conform to anything on Intel's download page. I see things like the following:

However, on the http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Default.aspx Drivers and Downloads page, when I select Chipsets - Laptop Chipsets, I don't see anything that looks like "ICH9 Family...", or "ACPI-Compliant..", etc. I see things on that page like "3 Series Chipsets", "4 Series..", "810 Chipset family", etc. But I don't see anything like that anywhere in Device Driver (or anywhere on my laptop).

If there is no correlation between what my laptop and the web page shows, then it does not help me. (Of course, I realize I'm a little more obtuse - and a little less experienced - than most people on this site.)

[John_S_Intel]

I can understand your frustration with the download center page if you aren't sure what you are looking for.

In your screenshot, the chipset is actually identified:

The system is reporting a Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Chipset within Device Manager.

In Download Center, you would use this information from the Windows* Device Manager to identify the list of drivers (applications, utilities, drivers, software tools ...etc) by selecting: Chipsets --> Laptop Chipsets --> Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Chipset Family.

An important thing to know about drivers on the Intel download center web site is that many of the drivers that are available for download are "reference" or generic drivers, and that the actual drivers that were validated for your particular system should be found on the support CD, DVD, or web site of your OEM or system manufacturer (Lenovo in your case). Most Intel generic or reference drivers are designed so that they will not install or upgrade when an OEM specific driver is should be used. For OEM systems (in general), the Intel download center site should be used as a last resort - used only if you cannot find drivers or software from your OEM / system manufacturer.

John S.

[idata]

Thanks, John. It looked like all the device names started with the manufacturer's name, so I never looked down to the Ms in the list. Also, since I am not really sure what most of that list is, I wasn't even certain that System Devices was the place to look.

But I made the selections you recommend, then chose Win7 x64, Drivers and cannot find the chipset drivers:

I see driver choices for Graphics Media Accelerator and Rapid Storage Technology and Matrix Storage Manager, but none for the chipsets. Also, the version numbers look suspicious.

The latest version of chip drivers that Lenovo provides is 9.1.1, a program called Driver Genius provides driver number 9.1.2. Device Manager shows v9.1.0.1003 (huh?) and none of the drivers in the download list are anywhere in the range of 9.x.

Also, is "Intel PM45" Intel short-hand for Mobile 4 Series?

[John_S_Intel]

Here are a few more tidbits for you:

"....is "Intel PM45" Intel short-hand for Mobile 4 Series?" ---> Yes. We should work on a decoder ring of sorts for all the different ways one might refer to our chipsets. I'll see what I can do to get something like this added to our support web site. The "PM" basically means that the system in question uses a discrete graphics solution (which would agree with fact that you have an NVIDIA* graphics card according to your first post). The "45" is part of the 4 Series chipset.

I will see if we have any web support documents that explain how to find out what chipet you have. If we don't have such information or if what we have is not adequate, I will see about getting some additional information added to our support web site. We do have a chipset identification utility that you might find helpful. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Chipset+Software+Installation+Utility&ProdId=816&LineId=1090&FamilyId=40 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Chipset+Software+Installation+Utility&ProdId=816&LineId=1090&FamilyId=40

Chipset Software support site: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/chpsts/inf http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/chpsts/inf

Do I need the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility? http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009270.htm http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009270.htm

Do I need to upgrade to the latest version? http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009278.htm http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009278.htm

What is the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility? http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-030865.htm http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-030865.htm

More confusion? I think that what you are looking for when searching for "chipset drivers" is the Intel® Chipset Device Software. The Intel download center link for the "Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility" goes to a list of downloads that includes "INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets." The "INF Update Utility - Primarily for Intel® 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipsets" is apparently the "Intel® Chipset Device Software," which is the new name for the "Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility." Clear as mud? Doesn't make much sense to me either. You are better off getting this software for your system from Lenovo*. The version on Intel's site is 9.1.1.1025, but I am not sure how this translates to what Lenovo has posted.

"The latest version of chip drivers that Lenovo provides is 9.1.1, a program called Driver Genius provides driver number 9.1.2. Device Manager shows v9.1.0.1003 (huh?) and none of the drivers in the download list are anywhere in the range of 9.x." ---> I would defer questions about chipset software (drivers) for your laptop to Lenovo. They are going to have the latest version of chipset software and drivers that they have validated for your system. The key word is validated. Intel may or may not have newer chipset software available, but if Lenovo has not validated any "newer" chipset software you may find elsewhere (on a site other than Lenovo), then Lenovo most likely will not help you if you encounter problems. I would ask Lenovo why their latest driver is 9.1.1, Driver Genious call it 9.1.2, and Device Manger calls it v9.1.0.1003. I too would think that these are three different versions. Seems strange.

John S.

[idata]

Thanks John. Between you and Peter, I have everything I need now.

I marked the last post as the "correct" answer; I hope that doesn't screw up some score keeping or something as all answers were 'correct', and in toto gave me what I needed.

I found the Chipset Identification Utility before, but it didn't have Win7 x64 as an option. It must have just been added.