ACCESSIBM program will not run; have frame/outline only

[vizslaman]

I am a new owner of a used T41:
Have downloaded the AccessIBM button software and Access Help Online UserGuide software many times from the Lenovo Support site. I saved the "AccessIBM-t41-us" program to the C:\Drivers\ATP_PKG and extracted the files (I also tried saving it to the C:\Drivers\AIBM_PKG folder with the same result). Then I ran the setup.exe program (and also tried the Start/Run/ Windows installer). I have selected both "MODIFY" and "REPAIR" to no avail.

The Button is active - it brings up a shell, complete with header and tabs to the accompaniment of music and a moving button icon. But, none of the tabs are active. The remainder of the screen is blank.
I can activate the outline under each tab by pressing the computer keyboard tab key then ENTER for each tab on the top. But, the outline is also not active.
When I go to the the computers PROGRAMS list, the ACCESSIBM appears along with the HELP screen. The HELP screens will open so that I can read the information, but none of the active WIZARDS are activated. I get the message when I click on a Wizard, "File not found".
Can anyone tell me what is missing from the process? PLEASE. I am quite frustrated by now!
Thanks for your help!
Ray

[vizslaman]

Upon further digging, I found that the "accessibm-t41-us" program was marked "May have been blocked", so I pressed the "Unblock" button. After unblocking, I tried running the Setup.exe program again.
No improvement.

Doesn't anyone have any suggestions? What do I try next?

PLEASE!
Ray

[jdhurst]

On my T41, there is a folder under C:\IBMTOOLS called APPS. Under APPS is ACCESS and I think you should be able to install it from there. I have never seen any updates to this programs (unlike most others) and nothing in C:\Drivers. The installed program goes into Program Files. ... JDH

[vizslaman]

JD,Thanks for that input. Now, I am really confused, though!

When I downloaded from the Lenovo site, I used the default path, which placed the download into the C:\Drivers\AIBM_PKG folder. Of course, then I extracted and ran Setup.exe from there.

Should I create an IBM Tools\APPS folder (there is not one on my computer), then start over with a download into there?

(My C:\ drive folder list includes only these: Documents & Settings, IBM T41 Drivers, Programs (hidden files), Drivers, icons and Windows.)
Thanks for your help,
Ray

[jdhurst]

Working with downloads go to C:\DRIVERS. The IBMTOOLS folder comes with the PreLoad and contains all the initial software that was used. The previous owner probably got rid of it in the highly mistaken view that PreLoads are bad. ... JDH

[vizslaman]

JD,
I feel like an absolute idiot, but.......

I have just spent several minutes using various Search engines on the Lenovo Support & Download website trying to find the files that you refer to "C:\DRIVERS\IBMTOOLS" and have been unsuccessful. I found a bunch of "tools", but they don't seem to be the one that you refer to.

Could you be more specific, or include a link? I would really appreciate it!
Thank you,
Ray

[jdhurst]

C:\DRIVERS is a folder that is used by downloads to explode their contents to. That creates subfolders by application and you can install the application by running the setup routine in the folder.

C:\IBMTOOLS is another folder. It does not live in DRIVERS; it lives on its own as a root folder under C:\ . It is part of the preload and can easily be deleted. It probably was deleted by the prior owner.

... JDH

[vizslaman]

I didn't express myself well, and misunderstood you some also!
Sorry about that!

I just read your answer again and THINK I understand.

I do have C:\DRIVERS on my system. But, there is not a folder named C:\IBMTOOLS. You are probably right, the former owner probably deleted it. Is there a way to recover from that?

I did download the file into C:\DRIVERS creating a new folder named C:\DRIVERS\ATP_PKG on one download and C:\DRIVERS\AIBM_PKG another time. Then followed the instructions to extract, then run SETUP.exe. Neither resulted in an active ACCESSIBM system.

thanks for your patience and help
Ray

[vizslaman]

If I were to copy the contents of an C:\IBMTOOLS folder from a friend's T43, would that work on my T41?
Ray

[jdhurst]

I think so. After all, IBMTOOLS is just the folder to store all the applications and information prior to installation. I was going to suggest recovery discs, but your suggestion should work as well.
... JDH

[vizslaman]

Would I have to do anything special after copying the IBMTOOLS folder into my C:\ root folder, besides rebooting?

Ray

[vizslaman]

I have now copied the IBMTOOLS folder to my C:\ root directory from a friend's T43. And rebooted. That is the good news.

The bad news is that the ACCESSIBM program still will not run. All I get is the moving icon, music and the frame/tabs. The tabs are not active and there are no selections on the white background.

I have a hunch that there may be something that I did before when downloading, extracting, etc. needs to be undone. But, I don't know what.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Ray

[jdhurst]

IBMTOOLS is just a storage folder. You have to look in there (APPS I think) and find the ACCESS folder and run the setup program. Check the folder names carefully as I am going from memory.
... JDH

[vizslaman]

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I RAN SETUP AGAIN FROM INSIDE THE IBMTOOLS FOLDER AND IT NOW WORKS.

HOORAY!

Thanks so much for your help! I am a Happy Camper!
Ray