Re-installed Win7 Pro on T520

[MikalE]

Well, I gave it a test run. I installed Win10 Pro back in Jun17. I didn't realize it had been that long. I had to look up the post I made when I did the changeover.

I did not like the layout, the way MS hid certain functions or operations, the update issue, and several other complaints. But I did give it a chance.

I downloaded an .ISO for Win 7 Pro and reloaded it this morning. I saved all of my drivers and in particular the wi-fi driver in case everything else was junk. The install was seamless, it activated over the phone, and my T520 is up and running as good as new.

I'm downloading and installing updates currently, but have restricted any Windows 7 optional updates until I can find out which one screws up the Updater. I'm only downloading security, .Net Framework, and driver updates.

Does anyone here know that KB update number to avoid that screws up the Windows Update downloads?

I also have my KB telemetry list for those to hide so they do not get downloaded and the batch file to eliminate them in case one gets by.

[MikalE]

I've discovered that my JBL Flip4 speaker now pairs and plays correctly via Bluetooth with Windows 7. Maybe MS issued a fix for this while I was toying with Windows 10. Or the correct drivers were finally created to allow Windows 7 to work with a stereo audio device.

Apple iTunes is now once again displaying the artist and song in the header while listening to streaming Antenne Bayern internet radio. It won't do this in Windows 10.

I also have all of my hotkey icons appearing on the screen once again. They would not work in Windows 10.

[axur-delmeria]

Does anyone here know that KB update number to avoid that screws up the Windows Update downloads?

My "Windows Update speedup" folder contains http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3020369 and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3172605.
IIRC the first one is what fixes/speeds up the "scanning for updates" part. The second one is simply the update rollup up to June 2016, probably superseded by newer update rollups.

For offline (no Internet) installations, I install this massive update after the first one mentioned earlier: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3125574. It's probably not what you need though, as it might contain those telemetry stuff.

[MikalE]

Thanks. I think I have it locked down now and there are currently no updates available. I think I hid around 15 or 20 updates. Now I will just have to inspect every one from now on that is offered.

I kept checking my JBL Flip4 Bluetooth speaker after each update to see if one of them, for whatever reason, had broken this function when the system had Win7 Pro as a factory install.

I don't really understand it, but the Bluetooth speaker is working just fine now.

[axur-delmeria]

I don't really understand it, but the Bluetooth speaker is working just fine now.

Did you install the Thinkpad Bluetooth drivers, or just used what came with Windows 7?

[MikalE]

They are the TP drivers from Broadcom dated 2013.

After trying everything I could to get the Bluetooth working with this speaker, I don't know how it's working now after a Win7 reload from scratch.

I tried every trick, every driver, even some that weren't even for Lenovo, and still it wouldn't work correctly.

I'm beginning to think some Windows update trashed the original TP driver and tried to update it with one that didn't work.

I've only read of a very few instances where Windows 7 Bluetooth was working correctly with a stereo audio device.

[MikalE]

Thanks. I will check that out later this afternoon.

[MikalE]

I checked it out now and applied the recommended settings. Hopefully a future update doesn't turn all of that crap back on.

[MikalE]

Ah, I now find out my printer is working normally again instead of having to restart the print spooler every time I want to print something while using Winows 10.

[MikalE]

Once again, Bluetooth has failed after a series of updates. All updates installed on the 26th were removed as it was after these updates that Bluetooth failed to connect.

After a restart it still would not connect. So, I'm thinking it was possibly another update I missed, or not even related to an update. I just don't understand why one day it works and then it won't connect the next.

Fortunately, this time I was able to install the Toshiba BT stack drivers and it is apparently working. It connected the first time and has stayed connected.

The last time I tried this, Windows would not allow this driver stack to be installed even after deleting the Broadcom drivers. I couldn't figure that one out either. This time I didn't even have to attempt deleting the Broadcom drivers.

The Device Manager though, still shows the Broadcom driver to be installed and there is no indication that the Toshiba drivers are there. Maybe the Toshiba driver only added A2DP functionality.

??????