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Microsoft Manageability

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kdharber
15

Updated August 2009

 

These instructions are for Windows 7 builds 7077 and beyond.

 

Several Intel based platforms contain Management Engine Interface (MEI) and Serial over LAN (SOL) devices.  Windows 7 drivers for these devices have been made available to OEMs for currently shipping platforms (2008 / 2009 model desktop and mobile PCs).  MEI and SOL Windows 7 driver support for previous generation PCs (2007 desktop and mobile) is planned for early Q1, ’10.

 

To enable Windows 7 testing and evaluation,  prior to driver availability, MEI and SOL Vista drivers, either pre-loaded on your PC or available from the OEM, can be installed on the Windows 7 Release Candidate or RTM OS builds by utilizing Windows 7 compatibility mode.  The following instructions can be used to install the MEI and SOL Vista drivers:

 

 

  1. Locate or download the released MEI and SOL Vista drivers from your OEM
  2. Locate the setup.exe file for the device to be installed
  3. Right click on the setup.exe and select properties
  4. Select the Compatibility tab
  5. In the compatibility mode section check the box “Run the program in compatibility mode for:”
  6. Select the following in the drop down “Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)”
  7. At the bottom of the properties window set the privilege level by checking the box in front of “Run the program as an administrator”
  8. Click Apply
  9. Click OK to exit out of the properties window
  10. Double click on the setup.exe and follow the normal install/setup steps
Tags: win7, troubleshoot, vpro


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Feb 25, 2009 6:00 AM Trevor Sullivan Trevor Sullivan    says:

Which version are you referring to here? I installed Windows 7 on an AMT 5.0 HP Compaq dc7900 and was able to install the Intel Manageability and Security application. All I had to do was enable Vista compatibility mode, because the Intel installer was detecting an invalid OS.
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Feb 25, 2009 10:38 AM kdharber kdharber    says in response to Trevor Sullivan:

I had to use the above workaround to install the following versions:

MEI: 5.0.1.1127

SOL: 5.5.0.1136

TPM: 6.1.7000.0

 

...and yes, I forgot to mention above that enabling Vista compatibility mode is required.
Reply
May 7, 2009 12:56 PM olc olc    says:

I tried to follw the advice here but don't quite follow it. All I can find for the drivers are executable installers so how do I modify them?

 

Her's my story: I had Windows 7 beta working great on my Intel Core2Duo motherboard (DG965RY). Then I installed the Windows 7 RC. Now it will not  connect

to the internet through my router. The strange thing is that it will connect properly to the other system on the network but not to the web. I tried reinstalling the chipset, management engine and LAN drivers with no success, even using Vista SP1 compatibility mode and  running as administrator. The management engine does seem to install OK, but the others don't. The message is that it's the wrong version of Windows.

I could understand the issue if it also didn't work with the beta, but what changed with the RC to cause this?
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Jun 9, 2009 10:58 AM Michele Gartner Michele Gartner    says:

Check out our vPro/Windows 7 wiki - we'll be posting links to all of our Win7 resources there! Intel vPro and Microsoft Windows7
Reply
Sep 13, 2009 6:20 PM curiousconsumer curiousconsumer    says:

Hi Intel Explerts,

 

I'm not sure if this is the right place for my question - but here goes.

 

what does the MEI actually do? does it interact with the SATA controller or Thermal sensors?

(dg965wh mobo, 2 WD 10,000 rpm HDD, 4 gb 800 mhz memory. Dual booting xp and win7 RC)

 

The post by kdharber was very helpful because it helped me install MEI in win7 and then using an older version of Intel Desktop Utilities in xp mode after installing the MEI according to instructions givien in the post.  I need the IDU in win 7 because my i/o controller hub runs close to overheating and i like to keep an eye on the temp. i had tried several times to install the IDU without success. but it is working now.

 

Intel has just discontinued Interactive support for my mother board. And the only windows 7 driver is the chipset info under win7 driver downloads. Which other drivers do i need? a lot of drivers come with win7.

 

thanks very much for your help
Reply
Sep 14, 2009 11:56 AM Guest kdharber  says in response to curiousconsumer:

The MEI drivers are the OS interface to Intel's managability engine.  This component isn't closely releated to the component you are having issues with.

Reply
Sep 14, 2009 3:02 PM curiousconsumer curiousconsumer    says in response to kdharber:

Thanks kdharber for the information. and quick response.

 

I realize you mostly deal with IT Pros and other experts, but if you have the time and the patience, could you please explain what a "manageability engine" does ( in laymen's terms. )

 

It seems to be essential to the intel desktop utilities which is my main concern and reason for installing the driver. Is it necessary for windows 7 as well?

 

thanks very much for your kind attention to my question.
Reply
Sep 14, 2009 6:02 PM Guest kdharber  says in response to curiousconsumer:

The managability engine is used to reduce the cost of maintainance of corporate computer systems.  It is part of the network hardware and allows remote maintenance activities when the OS is damaged or the system is off\sleeping.

Reply
Sep 14, 2009 9:44 PM curiousconsumer curiousconsumer    says in response to kdharber:

Thanks very much for the reply to my curiousity.

 

the reasoon i wanted to know what it does is that some versions of intel desktop utilitites install it as part of the its setup. and it was hanging up my computer when it tried to install the MEI.

 

but i have found a workaround. at least i think so.

thanks very much for your time and patience in answering my posts.

 

- regards ron
Reply
Oct 21, 2009 4:19 AM march4th march4th    says:

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor says upgrade from my Vista Ultimate on a Gateway DX441X desktop (a home computer, shipped Apr 08) is all OK except for one problem: my Intel Management Engine Interface (IMEI) is not compatible with Windows 7. I think this means the IMEI driver on my Vista computer will not work under Windows 7. If I read them correctly, your comments above say you have shipped OEMs the Windows 7 drivers for the IMEI for 2008-09 desktops. My search of the Gateway website did not produce any Windows 7 drivers but did produce Gateway warnings saying they do not guarantee any drivers to work with a system unless they tested that system with the given driver, and no Windows 7 driver is shown for my system. My IMEI driver version is 3.0.28.1060 dated 3/13/2007 and is built by WinDDK. Is this driver essential for a home computer under Windows 7? What would happen if I installed Windows 7 on my computer without having a compatible IMEI driver? Would I lose any functionality with any devices or any software? Is an IMEI driver available or will one be available in the near future that is compatible with Windows 7 and useable on my computer? Am I even asking the right questions about the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor problem identified above?
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Nov 5, 2009 2:39 AM Guest Yop  says in response to march4th:

yes you will be having problems, audio will not work
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Nov 9, 2009 1:48 AM Guest Joseph  says in response to Yop:

Hi I have the same proble. Suddenly my laptop audio doesn't work at all. It was fine until 1 months I installed windows 7. It says on the action center icon that there is a problem with the Intel AMT. I tried to do what kdherber" posted but when I tried to install it there always a pop-up message that says "this computer does not meet the minimum requirement for installing the software" even though I have changed the compatibility to windows vista service pack 2. By the way I'm using Lenovo Thinkpad T400 Centrino vPro. Can anyone help me please?
Reply
Nov 9, 2009 1:53 AM Guest Joseph  says:

Hi I have the same proble. Suddenly my laptop audio doesn't work at all. It was fine until 1 months I installed windows 7. It says on the action center icon that there is a problem with the Intel AMT. I tried to do what kdherber" posted but when I tried to install it there always a pop-up message that says "this computer does not meet the minimum requirement for installing the software" even though I have changed the compatibility to windows vista service pack 2. By the way I'm using Lenovo Thinkpad T400 Centrino vPro. Can anyone help me please?
Reply
Nov 17, 2009 1:05 AM Guest Stefan  says:

I have got the MEI problem. I followed the steps mentioned in the original post, but in the drop down menue there is no “Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)” to choose. What's wrong?

I'm using a system with iC2Quad Q8200, 4096MB, GF 250GTS 512MB and Vista Home Premium and I want to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium.

Can anybody support me?
Reply
Nov 17, 2009 6:58 PM Guest Jazzhead  says:

Pefect, worked like a charm.  Thanks very much.

 

Problem:

PCI Simple Communication Controller (with no driver in Device Manager)

 

Motherboard:

DG96WH

 

OS:
Windows 7 x64
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