T23 Now On ThinkVantage System Update

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Paul Pennington · #1 Post by **Paul Pennington** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:05 pm

I bought another T23 and while loading the drivers, I noticed that Lenovo has added the T23 to the ThinkVantage System Update program. Yea! No more fighting the drivers one at a time. I uninstalled the old programs, installed the latest version, and it downloaded 11 updated drivers automagically. In my experience, it's unheard of for computer makers to be upgrading software for 7-year old computers.

Just thought I would pass this along as I hadn't seen it mentioned here for the T23.

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:15 pm

For the record, I have been updating T23s with the System Update (formerly Software Installer) for quite some time...

Paul Pennington · #3 Post by **Paul Pennington** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:39 am

I'm not sure exactly when Lenovo added T23 support to the ThinkVantage System Update program, as I gave away my T23 to someone in my family. I do know for sure it was not there in February of 2007 when I was working on my last one.

I searched this section but did not find your announcement--perhaps I missed it. Just wanted to let everyone know so they don't waste time trying to figure out the driver matrix.

By the way, Software Installer and ThinkVantage System Update are two different programs -- many reload disks will install both. I do agree they perform the same function.

Thinkpad-Jay · #4 Post by **Thinkpad-Jay** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:42 am

I had this software but uninstalled because it added a lot of overhead. After all of this time there there is not that much that needs to be updated.

Website · #5 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:49 am

Paul Pennington wrote:By the way, Software Installer and ThinkVantage System Update are two different programs -- many reload disks will install both. I do agree they perform the same function.

Correct, they are different. Software Installer doesn't exist anymore on IBMs servers....you are now directed to System Update 3. It also requires the installation of .Net Framework 2.0 or better.

I'm not sure when IBM/Lenovo officially added the T2x systems to the list, but I used it on my first T23 when I rec'd it in November 2006.

At any rate though, it does work now, for those that weren't aware of it.

Paul Pennington · #6 Post by **Paul Pennington** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:21 pm

Not T2X -- only T23 and T30 (and newer) are supported so far. Don't want to get our friends with T20, T21, and T22's hopes up

Website · #7 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:25 pm

Paul Pennington wrote:Not T2X -- only T23 and T30 (and newer) are supported so far. Don't want to get our friends with T20, T21, and T22's hopes up

I'll test this with my T21 tonight, because I think that I used it in the past, but can't really remember...

nikki605 · #8 Post by **nikki605** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:31 pm

A little over a year ago, I was using the IBM Software Installer and while I don't now remember exactly why it no longer worked, I was redirected to the System Update 3 page. At the time, I didn't catch that it was "not supported" on the T20, T21 & T22 systems.

So, I uninstalled the IBM Software Installer and installed System Update 3. Seeing the requirement, I also installed .NET Framework 2.0 (now with SP1). Since that time, System Update 3 has always worked for me on my T21.

True, there are rarely any more Critical, Recommended or even Optional updates, but there have been a few and it makes it very easy to get and install even infrequent updates as compared to the old, more manual method.

Considering my 7-year old T21 originally shipped with Win98, I find IBM/Lenovo's ongoing support for these laptops to be amazing. When I first started exploring the IBM web site when I was thinking of upgrading to WinXP, I couldn't believe the detailed information (upgrade path) available, and the drivers/software that they developed to support WinXP.

Using System Update 3, this is my current installation history:

ThinkVantage Access Connections - Ver 4.52 - 04/13/2008
ThinkPad Power Management Driver - Ver 1.44 - 04/13/2008
ThinkPad Keyboard Customizer Utility - Ver 1.3.53.0 - 10/31/2007
ThinkPad EasyEject Utility - Ver 2.33 - 10/31/2007

I also have the Battery MaxiMiser, TrackPoint driver and Presentation Director installed, but they haven't been updated with System Update 3 and therefore do not appear in its list.

For a "not supported" program, its worked great on my T21, although, not used as much as before. I just ran it to check - no new updates!

skou · #9 Post by **skou** » Thu May 01, 2008 1:20 am

Paul Pennington wrote:Not T2X -- only T23 and T30 (and newer) are supported so far. Don't want to get our friends with T20, T21, and T22's hopes up

Well, I just (like 30 minutes ago) ran it on a T21. Worked fine, except the battery program didn't get installed.

steve

nikki605 · #10 Post by **nikki605** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:24 am

Well now, that's an interesting observation you made. On the surface of things, I guess I would never know if the System Update 3 program was not checking for an update to certain programs, like the battery maximiser.

Guess I'll have to look into that a little deeper. I'll probably have to check some of those "manually."

Paul Pennington · #11 Post by **Paul Pennington** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:22 pm

I based my statement that earlier T2x systems were not supported on the doc file for ThinkVantage System Update 3.13 here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... PDATE.html

Two possibilities:

1. The doc file needs to be updated.

2. The wrong (T23) drivers are being downloaded to the earlier systems. Most are the same, but a few are different. Can someone check to see what drivers got loaded?

T23 Now On ThinkVantage System Update

T23 Now On ThinkVantage System Update

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