The Intel SSD firmware was verified to already be up-to-date by burning an ISO (since SSD Toolbox bombs), so out-of-date firmware is not the issue:
The application brings up the GUI when run on an HP laptop with a non-Intel internal SSD.
When an Intel SSD is connected via a SATA (not USB) cable, that SSD being the problem-child internal SSD of a second laptop, the application starts to bring up the GUI, but immediately is overridden by the failure dialog.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Intel SSD Toolbox.exe
Application Version: 3.2.3.400
Application Timestamp: 53c8395c
Fault Module Name: Intel SSD Toolbox.exe
Fault Module Version: 3.2.3.400
Fault Module Timestamp: 53c8395c
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 000de447
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 0a9e
Additional Information 2: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
Additional Information 3: 0a9e
Additional Information 4: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
The Intel app has been removed and re-installed, so that is not the fix.
The laptop has been rebooted (e.g between removal and install, and after installs), so that is not the fix.