I thought I would try and older driver.
In Device Manager properties I uninstalled and deleted the driver.
I then downloaded this driver
Network_Driver_VCNY8_WN_19.0.1.0_A08
Mentioned in this thread
Intel Ethernet Connection I218-LM - Wake Up issues
I then clicked on check for new hardware and install driver and browsed to the folder where I had downloaded the above driver.
I was told that I had aldready installed the best driver (i.e. it seem to ingore my request to install the above driver
DESPITE the fact that I had instructed my PC to delete the driver. )
This I also note that driver I am using is Dated 02/07/2013 which is a long time ago and a lot older than most of the drivers
that I have been attempting to install.
I am now trying let me choose the driver from a list. There are two drivers in the list both Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I218-LM
I tried both of the two drivers and both result in the same message on the Update Driver Software dialogue
Windows found driver software for your device buy encountered an error while attempting to install it
This device cannot start (Code 10).
Installing the top one of the two drivers in the list gives the above date
Driver Date 02/07/2013 version 12.9.16.0
whereas the second in the list gives this
Driver date says 28/03/2013 12.6.47.1
They all seem very old.
Despite flipping between the two of these drivers, the "Roll Back Driver" option is not displayed (it is greyed out).
Now driver details only shows one file, the first of those mentioned in my original post.
I also tried installing the oldest driver availabel on the Intel site at
Download Intel® Network Adapter Driver for Windows 8.1*
I extracted the driver using 7-Zip to a folder. Deleted the current driver. Checked for hardware modifications. Found Ethernet card, selected install driver, browse to folder and browsed to the folder where I had downloaded the above old driver and I get the same message Driver installed but cannot be started and again I am only at a Driver date of 02/07/2013 which is still older than the date of the oldest driver above 8/6/2013.
Could it be that the fact that the device can not be started prevents any new drivers from being installed? After all it says "attempting to install it"
This is a bit of a chicken and egg situation. I may need a driver update to get the device to start, but I need to get the device to start before I can install a new driver.
Tim