Proper ethernet drivers for Windows 7 x64?

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Proper ethernet drivers for Windows 7 x64?

Hi all,

I have both a 24" iMac and a 15" MacBook Pro. I am using Boot Camp to run Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on both of them. My problem is with the Ethernet driver supplied with Boot Camp. On both machines, the Ethernet port is described as "NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet", but I can only get 10/100 speeds on both machines. When I go to the Ethernet port's settings in Device Manager, there is no selection for 1000 Mbps, only 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps. I can boot into OS X and get the full 1000 Mbps speed, so I am pretty certain that it is an issue with the Windows driver. Any suggestions? I just got a Gigabit network installed in my house, and am currently unable to use it to it's full potential!

Thanks!

Tim

24" iMac/15" MacBook Pro, Windows 7

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 6:06 PM

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Answer 1

Toocool4

Level 2

365 points

Feb 19, 2010 5:27 AM in response to Tjohns34

How old is your MacBook Pro? I am running my 15” MacBook Pro which is a early 2009 model and the boot camp drivers are just fine .
Have you tried to download the latest drivers from Nvidia’s site?

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Answer 2

Tjohns34 Author

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Feb 20, 2010 2:43 PM in response to Toocool4

Hi, and thanks for the reply! I got my MacBook Pro in mid-2009. I downloaded the latest nForce drivers from nVidia, but upon installing them, there is no change in my Ethernet port. There is a day & night difference between transferring files on my network when I boot into OS X, compared to Windows 7. I get roughly 300 Mbps writing file/500 Mbps reading files in Windows 7. In OS X I get roughly 900 Mbps writing files/1200 Mbps reading files.

Tim

P.S.- Incidentally, I sent nVidia an email about the issue, and they replied:

Hello Tim,

Thank you for contacting NVIDIA Customer care.

This is Shailendra, assisting you in troubleshooting the issue you are experiencing.

I understand that you are experiencing issue with Ethernet speed on your Macbook (laptop).

This issue may occur due to motherboard drivers including ethernet driver and I am sorry to inform you that we don't have motherboard driver or Ethernet driver for Macbook or laptop therefore for getting updated driver for motherboard you have to contact laptop manufacturer.

The nForce motherboard drivers on NVIDIA website are only for nForce chipset for desktop computers and we don't have motherboard driver for laptop motherboard chipset.

We can only provide graphics driver for notebooks graphics card.

Please let us know if you need any further clarifications.

Regards,
Shailendra
NVIDIA Customer Care

Message was edited by: Tjohns34

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Answer 3

Toocool4

Level 2

365 points

Feb 21, 2010 3:18 PM in response to Tjohns34

The Nvidia driver version i'm using is 67.8.6.0 driver date 08/07/2008 and it's provided by Nvidia. Now the above works on my 15" MacBook Pro, see if you can get the same drivers for your MacBook Pro.

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Answer 4

Tjohns34 Author

Level 1

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Feb 26, 2010 9:50 AM in response to Toocool4

Thanks, Toocool4. Are you getting gigabit speeds on your MacBook Pro? I will search for that driver version and see if it has any effect on mine.

Tim

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Answer 5

Toocool4

Level 2

365 points

Mar 15, 2010 5:34 AM in response to Tjohns34

Yes i am.

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