How to Install Intel Chipset Drivers on Windows: Step-by-Step
When I was in my teens and started to learn about fixing computers, one of the first thing I remembered learning was the proper order to install drivers. Installing Windows now is much more simplified and easy compared to Windows 95/98 because we don’t need to use a DOS bootup floppy disk, and the vast support of devices on Windows 7. Windows 98 didn’t support a lot of drivers and we need to spend quite a lot of time searching and downloading the drivers for chipset, display, sound, modem and printer on the internet using the slow 56Kbps dial up internet connection.
A very old friend of mine just called me yesterday asking me what and how to install chipset driver. Many people call it a chipset driver but in fact it is not a driver nor does it include drivers. It contains information text files (INFs) that provides the operating system with information about a piece of hardware on the system. This allows the operating system to show the correct name for that piece of hardware in Device Manager.
As far as I can remember, the first driver that I should always install is the chipset drivers once Windows installation has been completed, followed by the rest of the drivers. If you install the Intel Chipset Software much later, you will notice that it will not install all INFs.
One method you can rely on is to use a third-party app like DriverFix.
DriverFix is a very popular driver-tracking tool that helps monitor your system drivers and ensure that it is up to date. Chipsets are responsible for controlling the regular communication that happens between different components of the system. With DriverFix, users can schedule scans of the Intel Chipset Drivers and automatically update.
Furthermore, DriverFix comes with a license key that can be used to make unique drivers and find any problems the user’s driver may have. This utility tool also has features that include; an automatic search for new drivers, reminders, and history. Additionally, DriverFix reduces the risk of losing your update due to device corruption because it makes it simple to back up and access driver downloads. To get the most out of the tool, you’ll have to sign up for its paid plans, and your operating system must be Windows.
Actually most of the time you’ll find that there is no need to install chipset software because it only gives a proper name for some Intel’s devices. If you prefer to install it but already installed Windows long ago, there is a trick to updates ALL INF drivers on all available devices even if third party drivers are currently installed. Meaning that if you’ve never installed the Intel Chipset software and would like to do it now, you can force the update by using the command below.
First you need to make sure that you have Intel chipset. You can run Intel Driver Update Utility which uses either ActiveX or Java to scan your system. Once the product detected shows that you have Intel chipset, then “manually” download the latest version of the Intel chipset software.
If you’ve downloaded the zip version, extract it and you’ll get the file name infinst_autol.exe. Instead of just running the setup file that you’ve just downloaded, you’ll need to run it with an extra command line -OVERALL switch. For example:
infinst_autol.exe -OVERALL
You will notice that the Intel Chipset software installs more INFs compared to just running the setup alone without the -OVERALL switch. Always remember the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. So don’t update your device drivers if everything is working well.
Hi, big THANKS!!
this “workaround” helped me with slightly different problem – black screen after windows boot (instead of login screen). Reinstalling intel GPU driveres never helped and I always had to disable them in safe mode and use only “microsoft vga drivers” which was terrible.
So I tried to delete/unninstall all intel chipset drivers in safe mode, /also deleting them from driverstore/windir is crucial! – than using your trick with instaling old chipset drivers (original that came preinstalled with notebook), and after that installing GPU drivers…. MAGIC ;) …windows login screen is working and everything is in order!
INF files are NOT drivers. If your motherboard is a few years old or more installing the INF files is not needed when installing Win 10. The OS will take care of that.
That’s right and we state that in paragraph two, or did you not get that far? ;)
Thanks a lot. I had “unknown error” all the time while installing Intel Chipset Driver on my Windows 10 64-bit but adding -OVERALL switch did the trick !!! Btw. the file I downloaded was SetupChipset.exe so I guess the names may differ. Thanks Raymond ! :)
1.000.000 Thanks Man!
THANK YOU SIR!
Please help! I have installed the chipset and every time it scans, it says it needs the same update. Why is my install not “sticking”?
WOW- thanks- was at my wits end as I couldnt find the proper USB drivers to install- this fixed them. I will have to reinstall the PCI drivers manually for some reason, but that is cake compared to what I went through trying to find the usb drivers- THANKS
You don’t rename the file. What he gave was the command to input in the Command Prompt program. Use the cd (change directory) command in Command Prompt to navigate to the directory with your infinst_autol.exe, then once you’re in the same directory as the infinst_autol.exe file, run the:
infinst_autol.exe -OVERALL
command in Command Prompt.
Ray
I downloaded and renamed it to infinst_autol.exe -OVERALL after that it was not exe (setup file) anymore. did not work on my Windows 7
Do not rename the file -OVERALL is a switch … use thru cmd or shortcut
Thanks raymond for the post
Pretty sure you need the driver for Turbo Boost CPUs, etc. ;)
Ray
“Actually most of the time you’ll find that there is no need to install chipset software because it only gives a proper name for some Intel’s devices. ”
I am not sure about “most of the time” but there are times when “chipset drivers” need to be installed for proper operation. The inf files tell the OS HOW to “configure the the Intel(R) chipset components” to quote Intel. I take that to mean letting the OS know the capablities of the H/W and how to talk to it. From personal experience I have seen a replacement server not function properly because the wrong “chipset drivers were installed.
Regards,
wavy
Chipset drivers are needed. Always install them. Always get the latest ones from the motherboard manufacturer’s website. This is more than just a proper name! The chipset drivers are exactly what the name says: drivers for the main chipset which is the heart of the motherboard. PCIe bridge, DMA controller, USB driver, and other very important chipset functions.
Yes, some of what you get from intel’s chipset driver installer are actual drivers. But the author is not wrong that a lot of what the installer dose is provide an INF file that simply tells the OS what to label the device in Device Manager. Just look in device manager and check some of the devices under “System Devices” and click the “Driver” tab and click the “Driver Details” button. On a lot of these devices, you’ll get the message “No drivers are required for this device”.
If you go to the “Details” tab and click the drop-down menu and select the “INF Section” it will say “Needs_NO_DRV”.
So, yes I get what the author is saying. And def agree with, if it’s not broke don’t fix it when it comes to these drivers. Something like a GPU driver should be kept up to date if you play games because they usually have optimizations for the latest games. But you don’t need worry about hunting down the latest version number of these chipset drivers.
Just install the latest chipset driver package from your motherboard vendor or OEM (if you bought a pre-built) and leave it be. I made the mistake of using one of the most popular “driver updater” apps called iobit Driver Booster. It told me it found a newer driver for “Intel SM BUS A2A3”. After installing it two of my USB ports did not work. Had to move the mouse over to a different port to get it working and roll the driver back to the previous version. Newer is not always better.
hi mr ray…. i wonder if you can help me.. i want to install windows to my pc.. what software do i have to install to make my pc fine such as reader, utility, player etc… thanks..
“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
i agree!!! :D
Raymond, there is a problem with this trick… INF will fully install but after this you will receive an error if you try to installa Rapid Storage Technology driver.
thanks for this tip :D
great tip mate, thanks!
I don’t have Intel Chipset but I really value this article which it helps many people to find a solution where it seems ‘it’s no solution’.
Best regards…
Hello Sir, Good Tip…
I still use Win 98 Bootup Disks for Formatting Drives larger then 32 GB…….. And Sir Please kindly Give me some tips for Blogging.
awsome , I have been facing the problem time and gaina thanks
Thanks for this useful trick Raymond!!!
Hi,
Thanks for the tip Raymond.
Its always good idea to install the chipset drivers because in some case you get devices showing a yellow question mark because the Operation System doesn’t know who to handle the device.
___
Rui Paz