Installing the Mobile Intel 915GM Express Chipset on Microsft Windows 7

When I'm not spending my hard-earned cash on alcohol, shows, and tattoos I'm generally squandering it on the latest computer hardware — new motherboards, processors, and high-end graphics cards. While most people don't have the time, money, resources or knowledge required to build or upgrade their own computers (or to outright purchase a brand new one) I hadn't given it much thought until just recently. A few days ago one of my colleagues was having quite a difficult time attempting to ghost (deploy) a Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium image across a group of older Dell Latitude D610 laptops; the main issue was the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset graphics driver — it'd install, allow the display resolution to be changed to 1024 × 768, and then revert back to 800 × 600 upon restarting.

Microsoft, or more specifically Intel, did not create a Microsoft Windows 7 video driver for the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset as the majority of units using the chipset are relatively old. More often than not the quick fix for this is to simply use the Microsoft Windows XP driver, or the Windows Vista driver in compatibility mode. Briefly searching online however, and it appears most people fail to realize this; thus below I've put together both a quick tutorial, and video walkthrough for installing the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset on Microsoft Windows 7. This tutorial should work for just about any laptop/notebook using the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset; not only the Dell Latitude D610.

Please note that due to hardware limitations on the Intel GMA 900 series chipsets the 915GM cannot support a Windows Aero user interface. All this means is that you will not be able to use the Windows Aero effects: transparent and glassy-looking windows. Other than that there shouldn't be any issues.

Tutorial: Installing the Mobile Intel 915GM Express Chipset on Microsft Windows 7

1. Make sure that your laptop/notebook runs on the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset.
2. Ensure that you're running a Microsoft Windows 7 operating system (e.g. Enterprise, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, etc), and that it's 32-bit.
3. Visit HP Business Support Center's Intel 915GM Graphics Driver for Microsoft Windows Vista.
4. Click the "Download »" button, and save "sp34749.exe" to your computer.
   • Should HP remove the download in the future I've uploaded a copy for convenience: "sp34749.exe".
5. Navigate to where you've saved "sp34749.exe", right-click the file, and select "Properties".
6. Click the "Compatibility" tab.
7. Scroll down to "Compatibility mode", and check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" option.
8. Click on the drop-down menu, and scroll down to "Windows Vista".
9. Now under "Privilege Level" area enable the "Run this program as administrator" selection.
10. Select "Apply" followed by the "OK" button.
11. Right-click the "sp34749.exe" executable once more, and choose "Run as administrator".
12. Should the "User Account Control" dialog appear just select "Yes".
13. Follow the on-screen instructions, and each prompt.
14. While not entirely necessary restart your computer upon finishing the install.
15. Your computer should now have the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset installed.

Video Walkthrough for Getting the Mobile Intel 915GM Express Chipset on Microsft Windows 7

With the Mobile Intel 915GM Express chipset installed on Microsoft Windows 7 you should now be able to maximize your experience with operating system — on the Dell Latitude D610 that means being able to utilize the native 1400 × 1050 resolution.