T3400: Consistent install failure RE: Intel Chipset driver r257446.exe

I’d like to bring this urgent matter to the attention of Dell Support. Please be advised that the chipset software (r257446.exe) will not install on T3400 workstations running windows 7 x64. I have tried numerous times via a forced install via CMD (Setup.exe –OVERIDE –OVERALL) and at best, only INF files for #2930 & #2922 installs and none of the balance. Also bear in mind that these forced install attempts were made from a freshly installed OS; although a forced install should install anyway on an older OS even with all apps already installed. After the chipset install attempts, when you access dell support\drivers and click detect, the chipset software (r257446) continues to display as a required driver that is not installed on the system. Furthermore, I am running five T3400s in a public environment; all with the same result when force installing the chipset. Installation attempts via unforced method will not install any inf files nor will it ask for a restart.

I am suspecting the issue began as early as last year sometime when the Dell support web page changed the chipset driver available for download. If I am not mistaken, the download ID r257446.exe remained unchanged, but the icon for this .exe file, after installed, rendered a different image than the previous download. The previous chipset download, after installed, rendered the identical icon (small hammer) as the SoundMAX and Broadcom NetExtreme drivers. The previous download had no issues with installing the chipset INF files on all five T3400s and it did request for a restart.

My request to Dell support would be to investigate this matter, as I think that there is a compatibility issue with the latest file, r257446.exe that was posted in 2015. I reiterate that the previous chipset download installed flawlessly. Being that this unit is a Dell product, the correct chipset drivers must be issued from Dell and not from Intel. All T3400 systems are running the latest BIOS revision “A14” as they were when the previous chipset download was available from Dell support.

Dell Support should strongly consider getting involved with this matter if by chance that they are reading this post.

Thank you.