Thinkpad Update not working

[Weogo]

Hi Y'all,

I really like my X41 tablet. Not as fast as the T410, but for much of what I do it is fine, and I find the screen much easier to look at, and the keyboard seems to work better for me.

On my X41 tablet I just went back from the Samsung 60gig SSD(running very slow) to the original 40gig rotating drive.
It has Tablet XP on it.

Windows updates works.

But when I tried to run Thinkpad Updates I get an error message:
"A problem occurred while loading the System Update configuration settings. Please wait while System Update restarts."
"OK."
I clicked OK and nothing happened.
Re-booted and tried a few more times, same thing.

So I downloaded and installed latest version of System Update and get the same message.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Neil]

Seems like I've seen that error message before too, but I don't remember what the problem was. Just a guess here, but what version of dotnetfx are you using?

[sjthinkpader]

... Samsung 60gig SSD(running very slow) to the original 40gig rotating drive.
It has Tablet XP on it.
...

If you are running XP on that SS SSD, you can expect it running slower and slower due to the "dirty free space" characteristics of NAND based SSDs. There are many discussions about that in this forum and there is a cleaning method to bring back performance without TRIM support. Search for "TRIM" in this forum or that top stickie.

[Weogo]

Hi SJThinkpader,

I'm not real familiar with DotNetFX but:

I searched my hard drive for DotNetFX and what I found appears to be version 1.1.4322.573 .

Then I followed the instructions on this page:
http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-ch ... ndows.html
And clicking on the most recent version of MSCorlib.dll shows a version 2.0.50727.3623 .


I am running XP, and sort of aware of the things that can be done to regain some of the speed of the SSD.
Right now I have work I need to do with the X41T and hope to get with re-working the SSD soon.
Actually, am strongly considering removing the PATA~SATA bridge and installing a SATA SSD, either the Intel with garbage collection or possibly the OWC Mecury Aura.

Thanks for the help, Weogo

[Neil]

Here are the dotnetfx requirements from Lenovo:

Code: Select all

Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1 with Service Pack 1 or Microsoft
.NET Framework version 2.0 is required for System Update to work
correctly. Use Microsoft Windows Update to ensure that Microsoft .NET
Framework 1.1 or 2.0 is installed on your system.

But, it looks like you have the correct version installed already, so that may not be why System Update's not working.

[sjthinkpader]

Where did the System Update fail? After the progress bar started scrolling? Does the system board have a valid type model and serial numbers. Generally the later versions need .net framework version 2 and above to work.

As for cleaning dirty free space on SSD, see Oct 17th, 2009 post in this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... &start=750
It may be faster for you to fix a working image.

[Weogo]

Hi SJThinkpader,

I formatted the SSD, got Eraser working, and wrote the whole drive to a bunch of 1111s.
Earlier I had run Eraser on it but had missed the part about needing to write all 1111s.
Thanks for the help with this!


Thinkpad Update was also not running on the SSD, that's part of the reason I went back to the rotating hard drive.

Here's what's happening with the hard drive:
I click on All Programs, ThinkVantage, System Update,

ThinkVantage System Update 3 appears to start.

Then I get the error message.

Once I click OK to get out of the error message, it takes about fifteen seconds for the error message to show up again, and again, and...
The only way I have found to stop the message is to re-boot.

Any other ideas?

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Neil]

Are you certain that you have a live internet connection? Maybe the ethernet drivers are missing from your install. Only other thing I can think of is just a repeat of sjthinkpader..."Does the system board have a valid type model and serial numbers?" I don't see where you answered that question yet.

[sjthinkpader]

I would suggest trying one of the older version:
3.14.0031
3.14.0024
3.14.0017
3.10.0007

On 2nd thought, did you try a memory test?

[Weogo]

Hi Neil,

I bought this X41 Tablet new, an 1866-2CU, with a serial number and Windows COA on the bottom.
Are you asking does the computer have the correct type number and serial numbers somewhere in the BIOS or hard drive?
Ok, I just searched System Information and got a message:
"Can't Collect Information
Cannot access the Windows Maganement Instrumentation software. Windows management
files may be moved or mssing."
So I think you may be on to something.
Is there some place I can enter this information?

This computer is connecting fine for web surfing and e-mail so I think the connection is ok.


SJThinpader,
I searched the Lenovo site for a downloadable 3.14.0017 and didn't find it.
Some third party sites have it, do you trust any of them in particular?

Memory test:
Just dowloaded memory test software; later today I'll burn it to a CD and run it.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Weogo]

Hi SJThinkpader,

I ran the Microsoft Memory Test software from a boot CD and the memory in the X41T passed all six tests.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Neil]

Are you asking does the computer have the correct type number and serial numbers somewhere in the BIOS or hard drive?

Yes, in the BIOS. When you enter the BIOS, the first screen you see will have the system serial number and the system board serial number about mid-way down the page. It would be very unusual for that to be missing from a computer you purchased new, unless you had the system board replace at some point, but still possible I guess.

[Weogo]

Hi Neil,

I checked the BIOS and the model and serial numbers match the numbers on the stickers on the bottom of the laptop.

Do you know how I can tell Windows what the numbers are?


I thought Paragould sounded familiar.
My father was born and raised in Blytheville.

I live near Asheville, NC.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Neil]

Hey Weogo,

I was in Blytheville today! And, will be passing through Asheville on Tuesday next week. I'll wave to you as we drive through.

Either Windows or System Update, not sure which but most likely System Update should pick those numbers up from the BIOS and make a registry entry with those numbers. I can't remember just where in the registry it goes, but a google search (not the forum search function) of the forum should turn up an answer to that.

I'm all out of suggestions to try. The only times System Update has failed for me was either:
1) Numbers not in BIOS at all (after a motherboard swap)
2) Wrong version of .net framework installed
3) Wrong version of System Update
4) No internet connection

We've already eliminated all those, right? So now what?

[sjthinkpader]

Since System Update doesn't run, I would do the following manually:

1. Update the BIOS
2. Update WindowsXP to SP3
3. Install .net Framwork 2 and later

System Update on my X41 Tablet is 3.14.0031

If you still cannot run System Update, that OS image is bad.

[RealBlackStuff]

See this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=85444

[Weogo]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the educational posts!

I hope I can be of help to somebody in the future!

SJThinkpader, I ended up re-loading an old drive image and System Update is working, so there must have been something really wrong with the image I was using.

Thanks and good health, Weogo