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OptiPlex 790/990, PCI Serial Port driver fix, non-supported Windows 8.1/10
After 3 days of digging, I found the fix for the OptiPlex 790 and 990 PCI Serial Port Driver issue which shows as a yellow triangle under Device Manager. This trouble occurs when you upgrade from Win 7 which is fully-supported by Dell on these machines, to the unsupported Win 8 or Win 10.
Again, this trouble surfaced because Dell decided not to provide support Win 8 or Win 10 for these PC's. Intel driver detection tools also won't fix this issue.
I'd like to give John Makster about 99% of the credit, but his answer was buried in a forum thread that was tough to find. The fix he found for Win 8.1 back in 2014 works perfect for 790 and 990 under Win10.
Procedure:
* Download the following Dell driver package, and ignore the warnings that it's older than what you have currently installed: Intel_Unified-AMT-7-Manageme_A01_R298379
* Don't choose the autoinstall exe package. The package is older, but it contains the correct driver for the PCI Serial port which is missing on your machine after upgrading to Win 8 or 10
* Unzip this compressed Dell file into a folder of your choice. I created a new folder called PCI Serial Driver fix. Do not execute the file package once unzipped
* Launch Device Manager and scroll down to the "yellow trouble triangle" over your PCI Serial device
* Open the device and update drivers by pointing to the unzipped folder you just created
Voila, trouble solved. The Win 8 and 10 compatible driver is found and updated. Instead of a malfunctioning device, the Device Manager tree now shows:
Ports (COM & LPT), PORT (COM1), Intel(R) Active Management Technology (COM3)
PS: I have a Dell OptiPlex 790 MT, but this fix obviously works for 990. The same R298379 package applies to both.
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
2
March 6th, 2017 06:00
The 790/990 "serial port drivers" are not "COM port drivers" that are built into the OS all the way back to MSDOS. They are INTEL AMT SOL (Serial over LAN) drivers. These drivers are not built into windows. Since the 790/990 also has WDDM 1.0 VISTA drivers then they work from DOS to windows 7 or 8 or 10 just fine. If there are no released drivers for 10 then the vista or 7 or 8 or 10 drivers can be used. 8 came out in 2012 7 came out in 2009 vista came out in 2007 and the GX620 was released in 2006 which is why they started having the made for XP vista Capable label. There is a cost to writing new drivers and systems that are over 5 years old tend to be End of Life End of interactive support. EOL EOS. This isnt just Dell its also INTEL and HP and Apple and Toshiba and Lenovo and and and.
You can in fact buy 790/990 systems with WINDOWS 10 installed from 3rd partys. These reseller systems are not supported by Dell because they are past the 5 year System Design Life Cycle.
https://www.amazon.com/Optiplex-790-Windows-Desktop-Computer/dp/B0176VY46G
"Nobody knows where to find drivers does not apply because drivers are available all the way back to systems like the GX280 and GX620 which work fine with windows 7 or 8 or 10 when bios and sometimes cpu are upgraded"
"bundling of drivers into massive update packages really screws things up" not sure where you are going with that because there are no DELL SPECIFIC issues with drivers with XP/VISTA/7/8/10
Windows 7 recently has had windows update issues but those apply to all machines running windows not Dell or Optiplex specifically.
The 620 topic is spot on in that it proves that 10 year old systems that may not be supported. Once Proper CHIPSET drivers are installed then only sound Drivers and sometimes network drivers are needed to get EVERYTHING working. It is recommended that you update bios to latest version BEFORE Trying to install 7 or 8 or 10.
790/990 WORK JUST FINE with windows VISTA / XP / 7 or 8 or 10.
These management engine drivers are applicable to XP/VISTA/7/8/10
and show up as a yellow "PCI Serial Device !"
http://downloads.dell.com/published/pages/optiplex-790.html
http://downloads.dell.com/published/pages/optiplex-990.html
This package provides the Intel Management Engine 7.1 Components Installer and is supported on the Precision, OptiPlex and Latitude models that are running the following Windows Operating Systems: XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.More details
Windows 7 64-bit
Windows 8 32-bit
Windows 8 64-bit
Windows XP
Windows XP x64
WT64A
WT32A
This package provides the Realtek ALC269 High Definition Audio Driver and is supported on OptiPlex and Precision models that are running the following Windows Operating Systems: XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.More details
Windows 7 64-bit
Windows Vista 32-bit
Windows 8 32-bit
Windows Vista 64-bit
Windows 8 64-bit
Windows XP
Windows XP x64
WT64A
WT32A
This package provides the Dell System BIOS Update and is supported on Dell OptiPlex 990 for Windows and DOS Operating Systems.More details
This package provides the Dell System BIOS Update and is supported on Dell OptiPlex 990 for Windows and DOS Operating Systems.More details
This package provides the Dell System BIOS update and is supported on Dell OptiPlex 990 for Windows and DOS Operating Systems.More details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 system BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 system BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
This package provides the Dell System BIOS Update and is supported on Dell Optiplex 990 for Windows and DOS Operating Systems.More details
OptiPlex 990 System BIOSMore details
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
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54.2K Posts
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February 28th, 2017 07:00
Thanks for posting this workaround. Note, Dell had to draw a line in the sand somewhere concerning Windows 10 support and older (2011) systems. The Windows 8 drivers should have worked in 8.1?
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
0
February 28th, 2017 08:00
There are tons of Dell models that work fine in windows 7 or 8 or 10 that are "not supported".
Optiplex GX620 machines work from MSDOS all the way to windows 10 just fine as long as you update the bios to A11 and use a pentium D 900 series 915 to 945. Pre 2005 you have issues because the CPU'S do not support NX or CMPXCHG 128 so windows WONT INSTALL on those.
"Officially no, Dell has not listed this system for Windows Vista or Windows 7 compatibility and as such no drivers are officially available directly on the drivers and downloads page." (Actutally the Vista Drivers were listed but this has become broken)
How does Windows Vista run on legacy systems - Dell OptiPlexTM GX260s, GX270s, GX280s and GX620s? Will Windows Vista operate on these if the systems are upgraded to 1-2GB of RAM?
There ARE Vista Drivers. No Windows 7 Drivers from Dell. (Dell Officially Listed this system as Designed for Windows XP/Vista Capable)
You will be Much Happier with the Upgrade Result if you Get 4 Gigs of Ram and a radeon 6450.
48 new from $39.93
Most of the hardware uses Native Windows 7 Drivers with the exception of the Audio Codec.
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/solutions/en/winvista_faqs_rel?c=us&l=en&cs=prem#faq06
To run the premium versions of Windows Vista, including the Windows AeroTM user interface, PC's should be configured with at least 1GB system RAM and 128 MB graphics memory.
To help further optimize the Windows Vista experience Dell recommends 2 GB dual-channel (2-DIMMs) system RAM, a Dual-Core processor, a 7200 rpm Hard Drive and at least a 256 MB discrete graphics card.
http://ftp.us.dell.com/video/R140545.EXE 32bit Intel Graphics drivers
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Windows* 7 64 (exe)
File name:win7_64_1512754.exe
Version:15.12.75.4.64.1930
Date: 10/02/2009
Status:Latest
Size:22.84 MB
Language:Multi language
Operating Systems:Windows 7 (64-bit)*, Windows 7 Enterprise, 64-bit version*, Windows 7 Home Basic, 64-bit version*, Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit version*, Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit version*, Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit version*
Detailed Description
Purpose:
This driver is written specifically for the desktop Intel ® 945G, 945GZ, 945GC, 945GT, 946GZ, G965, Q963, Q965, G31, G33, G35, Q33, Q35, Express Chipsets and the Mobile Intel® 940GML, 943GML, 945GM, 945GME, 945GMS, GL960, GLE960, GM965, GME965 Express Chipsets and will not function with any other product. View the README file for installation information and the RELEASE NOTES for driver version details. This driver package contains version 15.12.75.4.1930 (8.15.10.1930) for Windows* 7.
Usage:
The software drivers provided on this page are generic versions, and can be used for general purposes. However, computer original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the software or software packaging they provide. To avoid any potential installation incompatibilities on your OEM system, Intel recommends that you check with your OEM and use the software provided via your system manufacturer.
Intel or the computer original equipment manufacturer (OEM) may not provide technical support for some or all issues that could arise from the usage of this generic version of software drivers.
win7_64_1512754.exe 64bit Intel Graphics drivers Download
Release Date: 1/24/2007
Version: A255.12.01.7010
Importance: Recommended
Download Type: Driver
File Format: Hard-Drive
File Size: 3MB
R145551.EXE 32 BIT
R145149.EXE 64 BIT
Compatibility
Systems
fixinall
3 Posts
1
March 1st, 2017 06:00
Thanks, Chris:
Yes, I realize Dell can't spend time and money supporting their PC's beyond about 5 yrs. Obsolescence is the nature of the business because they must compete with mfrs that do the same. Generic or home-built PC's have no such support, but such hardware is not bastardized (customized) for Dell. The 3rd party mfrs provide their own hardware driver support.
It's just unfortunate when the necessary drivers exist and nobody can find them. This is especially true when Dell has win 8 and 10 compatible drivers bundled (hiding) in a massive Win 7 update package. When the package is run on a win 8 or 10 machine the package shows as "old" and "wrong".
The bundling of drivers into massive update packages really screws things up when new operating systems are released, and Dell elects to end support. Too many times, I have resorted to getting dell-compatible comm drivers for bluetooth and network cards off Lenovo's support site. Lenovo does not bundle drivers to such a degree.
Speedstep,
This thread is specifically about 790/990 serial com port drivers. The GX620 and A/V driver discussion is way off-topic.