Intel and weird drivers for win 7 x64 and xps 420

The 2007 XPS 420 was never tested/validated by Dell with Windows 7. You can try to run the free Intel Driver Update utility and see if it installs a Chipset and a 82566 Gigabit Ethernet controller driver.

So my first question is where did you get these drivers?  Everything on the Dell.com site is for XP or Vista as Windows 7 was not supported.  You could try the Vista drivers from Dell.com but they may or may not work.  If you are trying drivers from Intel, half the time they will not install due to 'customizations' done to the chipsets etc., by OEMs.  You also have to install the drivers in a specific order example being Chipset drivers, then SATA drivers, then Audio etc.  

Hi Chris, have ran the Intel app and comes back with nothing, i presume that's because there are no Intel drivers on the system yet, I have tried the latest chipset drivers but at the end of the install it comes up saying there was an error and just stops

Then the only other option is to try to install the supported Vista Chipset driver in "compatibility mode". Of course, Dell never tested this because Windows 7 was never tested on this model.

Its been a while since we covered a Windows 7 64 Bit installation on the XPS 420:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=R280817 

I believe this driver worked with the Intel Ethernet. However some systems had a Realtek Ethernet and this driver should work:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=XFP1D 

This should work with the Intel Chipset:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/20775 

OK Thanks for this i have tried the intel links andn get same error message, here is a copy  of that log.

[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i001: Burn v3.10.0.1519, Windows v6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1), path: D:\SetupChipset.exe, cmdline: ''
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Initializing string variable 'CHIPSET_PRODUCT_VERSION' to value '10.1.1.42'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Initializing string variable 'INSTALLER_BUILD_VERSION' to value '3.1'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Initializing string variable 'IIF_ExtractionMapping_SetupChipsetx86.msi' to value ';NullDrivers.cab;NOT VersionNT64'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Initializing string variable 'IIF_ExtractionMapping_SetupChipsetx64.msi' to value ';NullDrivers.cab;VersionNT64'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleLog' to value 'C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp\Intel\Logs\Chipset_20170804183128.log'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleOriginalSource' to value 'D:\SetupChipset.exe'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleOriginalSourceFolder' to value 'D:\'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i052: Condition 'VersionNT >= v6.1 OR (VersionNT = v6.0 AND NTProductType = 3)' evaluates to true.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleName' to value 'Intel(R) Chipset Device Software'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:28]i000: Loading managed bootstrapper application.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Creating BA thread to run asynchronously.
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: ** MBA ** Command line:
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleName' to value 'Intel(R) Chipset Device Software'
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: ** MBA ** Calling Engine.Detect()
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i100: Detect begin, 3 packages
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Setting string variable 'DotNet35' to value '1'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Setting string variable 'DotNet40Client' to value '1'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Setting string variable 'DotNet40Full' to value '1'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i000: Setting string variable 'DotNet45' to value '460805'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i052: Condition 'DotNet35 OR DotNet40Client OR DotNet40Full OR (DotNet45 >= 378389)' evaluates to true.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i101: Detected package: DotNet45, state: Present, cached: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i101: Detected package: SetupChipsetx86.msi, state: Absent, cached: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx86.msi, feature: NullDriverFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx86.msi, feature: PackageVersionFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx86.msi, feature: LicenseAgreementFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i101: Detected package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, state: Absent, cached: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, feature: NullDriverFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, feature: PackageVersionFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i104: Detected package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, feature: LicenseAgreementFeature, state: Absent
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:29]i199: Detect complete, result: 0x0
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i200: Plan begin, 3 packages, action: Install
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]w321: Skipping dependency registration on package with no dependency providers: DotNet45
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i052: Condition 'NOT VersionNT64' evaluates to false.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i204: Plan 3 msi features for package: SetupChipsetx86.msi
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: NullDriverFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: PackageVersionFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: LicenseAgreementFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i052: Condition 'VersionNT64' evaluates to true.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i204: Plan 3 msi features for package: SetupChipsetx64.msi
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: NullDriverFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: PackageVersionFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i203: Planned feature: LicenseAgreementFeature, state: Absent, default requested: Unknown, ba requested: Unknown, execute action: None, rollback action: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleRollbackLog_SetupChipsetx64.msi' to value 'C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp\Intel\Logs\Chipset_20170804183128_000_SetupChipsetx64.msi_rollback.log'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i000: Setting string variable 'WixBundleLog_SetupChipsetx64.msi' to value 'C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp\Intel\Logs\Chipset_20170804183128_000_SetupChipsetx64.msi.log'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i201: Planned package: DotNet45, state: Present, default requested: Present, ba requested: Present, execute: None, rollback: None, cache: No, uncache: No, dependency: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i201: Planned package: SetupChipsetx86.msi, state: Absent, default requested: Absent, ba requested: Absent, execute: None, rollback: None, cache: No, uncache: No, dependency: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i201: Planned package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, state: Absent, default requested: Present, ba requested: Present, execute: Install, rollback: Uninstall, cache: Yes, uncache: No, dependency: Register
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i299: Plan complete, result: 0x0
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i000: Setting string variable 'IIF_MSI_SWITCHES' to value ''
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i000: ** MBA ** Getting window handle.
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i000: ** MBA ** Calling Engine.Apply(). Window handle: 393676
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:45]i300: Apply begin
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i370: Session begin, registration key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, options: 0x7, disable resume: No
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i000: Caching bundle from: 'C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}\.be\SetupChipset.exe' to: 'C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}\SetupChipset.exe'
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i320: Registering bundle dependency provider: {49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, version: 10.1.1.42
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i371: Updating session, registration key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, resume: Active, restart initiated: No, disable resume: No
[09C8:0F6C][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i305: Verified acquired payload: SetupChipsetx64.msi at path: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\.unverified\SetupChipsetx64.msi, moving to: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}v10.1.1.42\SetupChipsetx64.msi.
[09C8:0F6C][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i305: Verified acquired payload: cab4FADBDD6DC6637E75E196F741A3F14D1 at path: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\.unverified\cab4FADBDD6DC6637E75E196F741A3F14D1, moving to: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}v10.1.1.42\media1.cab.
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i323: Registering package dependency provider: {36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}, version: 10.1.1.42, package: SetupChipsetx64.msi
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:53]i301: Applying execute package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, action: Install, path: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}v10.1.1.42\SetupChipsetx64.msi, arguments: ' MSIFASTINSTALL="7" IIF_MSI_SWITCHES="" ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT="1"'
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:56]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to install MSI package.
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:56]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to execute MSI package.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:56]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to configure per-machine MSI package.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:56]i319: Applied execute package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, result: 0x80070643, restart: None
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:56]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to execute MSI package.
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:56]i301: Applying rollback package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, action: Uninstall, path: (null), arguments: ' MSIFASTINSTALL="7" IIF_MSI_SWITCHES="" ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT="1"'
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to uninstall MSI package.
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to execute MSI package.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:57]e000: Error 0x80070643: Failed to configure per-machine MSI package.
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i319: Applied rollback package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, result: 0x80070643, restart: None
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i329: Removed package dependency provider: {36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}, package: SetupChipsetx64.msi
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i351: Removing cached package: SetupChipsetx64.msi, from path: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{36A16AC6-68D4-44C3-B224-608601D6B353}v10.1.1.42\
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i329: Removed package dependency provider: {1B02E5E5-D964-4018-9CB0-9836B78BB375}, package: SetupChipsetx86.msi
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i372: Session end, registration key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, resume: None, restart: None, disable resume: No
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i330: Removed bundle dependency provider: {49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i352: Removing cached bundle: {49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, from path: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}\
[09C8:0FD8][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i371: Updating session, registration key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{49bc1e38-39b4-4728-9e75-cbe67ba9a329}, resume: None, restart initiated: No, disable resume: No
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i000: ** MBA ** Apply complete. Status: '-2147023293' Restart: 'None' Result: 'None'
[0FB4:0FDC][2017-08-04T18:31:57]i399: Apply complete, result: 0x80070643, restart: None, ba requested restart:  No
[0FB4:0F60][2017-08-04T18:31:57]e000: ** MBA ** Unknown error.

All1

Visa chipset failed to work as well, going nowhere fast with this one.

Guy of ebay uk who has sold tons of them and get decent feedback, it's on of those discs that come in white envelope then a blue envelope inside that.

I had installed windows from this disc done all the windows updates then went about chipset drivers etc but after windows update i took an image so it's been a simple case of just going back on that image and one of my other failed chipset attempt made comment about failing after .net4.5 or something on those lines so i thought maybe first whole instal and updates were at fault so i bite the bullet and reinstalled from scratch and still the same issue, i do have another win 7 disc here for my machine which i know works fine so i may give that ago to see if my disc is at fault but it's a *** of a lot of messing about.

Question on chipset drivers will they make much differnce to a x38 machine running a ssd?

Seems more like you have a corrupt base installation or incomplete downloads opposed to actual driver faults...

Where did you get your Windows 7 installation .iso from and product key?