Error in Device Manager

[booman]

I need some help with a device...
When I go to the Device manager there is an exclamation point over
Intel (R) System Management BIOS Driver.
Here is the error:

Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19).

I'm not sure exactly what this Driver is for.
Here is the directory of the Driver:

C:\\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\SMBios.sys

Driver Provider: Intel Corporation
Driver Date: 9/11/2003
Driver version: 1.0.0.14

I tried troubleshooting it, but it doesn't help.
I also did a search on the internet for SMBios.sys and found a download, and some spyware warnings.
One site said that it could a spyware in disguise.

Is this a file that I need? or can I disable it? or delete it?
Or should I look for a newer version?

Here are my computer specs:

Custom Built
Pentium 4 3.0E Prescott 800MHz FSB socket 478
A-Bit IS7 motherboard
1 Gig RAM
GeForce 5200

let me know what you guys can come up with.
thanks

[chrisbard]

Originally Posted by booman

I need some help with a device...

This one should be an easy one ! Just reinstall mobo driver and let us know what's happening ! Right click then update driver then cd inside

[booman]

Here are the drivers I found on A-bit's website, but I don't know which one has the SMBios.sys in it.

A-Bit IS7

[MONKEYMAN]

the chipset driver i reckon.

[booman]

I downloaded the Intel Chipset drivers and installed.
The error is still in the Device Manager.
I looked through the chipset driver files and didn't see a SMBios.sys file.
I will try that update also.

[booman]

The update doesn't work either because windows will not find the right file. Even if I browse to the file I downloaded.
Is there somewhere I can download the correct file?
Or is that risky?
What about updating the bios for my motherboard?

[JimF]

The smbios support is to enable management software (read chipset info etc) - it sounds like this could be a hangover from an earlier install as I understood that XP SP2 and 2003 both have this support built in.

I'd suggest uninstalling the driver and see if windows identifies an unknown device - it may need to take the driver from the XP SP2 disk.

[booman]

Ok, I uninstalled it and its gone.
I restarted the computer and went to the device manager and it is no longer there.
Should I try to re-install it from a service pack2 disc or from windows update?

[JimF]

If there's not an 'unknown device; in device manager then IMO - you should do nothing - I suspect the device driver stems from the time before Windows had its own smbios driver.

If you've got the big yellow question mark and an unknown device my experience is that its easiest to let windows find the driver on the install disk then go to windows update (I guess it doesn't update what isn't there but this is just a guess on my part)

[booman]

I havn't had any problems yet.
Its apparently something that isn't crucial to windows.
Thanks for your help.
I have automatic updates on so my work computer will allways receive updates over night.
I don't have any notices to install updates.
I'm going to do nothing until there are some symptoms occuring.