What is " Type C PDFW Firmware " in Vantage and why won't it install ?

[Kimberly38]

Hello there, I have both an X395 and a T495, and in both, Vantage prompts for this annoying Type C Firmware update, but upon installing and rebooting it still shows up as Critical Update... Meaning it won't deploy no matter what I do (even manual install).

Is this a major bug in Vantage that it sends improper firmwares to PC's ?

[dr_st]

The name suggests it is "USB Type-C Power Delivery Firmware". Why it suggests to install it, then fails - I don't know...

[Kimberly38]

zing
Well thanks, let's hope someone with that PC can confirm this is a problem on Vantage's end

[dr_st]

One thought that came to mind - are the systems connected to a USB-C docking station? Perhaps the update is for the dock, not the laptop.

[Kimberly38]

No Sir it is not connected to any docking station, but take a look at the .txt maybe you can get a grasp of what it's supopsed to update ?

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/r13tr04w.txt


[New functions or enhancements]
- Enable fast role swape function.

[Problem fixes]
- Fixed an issue that Travel Hub relink when hot plug adapter.

[dr_st]

So - is the issue that it won't install, or did it install successfully but still shows up on the update list?

Did you see any error messages when trying to install it manually?

[Kimberly38]

It claims it installed successfully in the installation history, and yet it still prompts that it is not installed the next bootup, as if Vantage cannot tell what's available, and as evidence, when you hover over it, it says " Currently Installed Version: Unavailable"

There aren't any fault messages, but it's installing really suspiciously. Most of the time for firmware updates, the .exe will open, extract and then open the main Firmware window where the updating is done in %- (touchpad firm, BIOS, SSD firm), but with this there is no such window, only a simple extraction, where the extraction folder shows on a .bin and a .inf files... Doens't look like firmware to me.

We also know that it's been sitting on Lenovo's servers for months now, so either they are really dumb for not recognizing a bugged upload or my hardware is faulty

[dr_st]

There aren't any fault messages, but it's installing really suspiciously. Most of the time for firmware updates, the .exe will open, extract and then open the main Firmware window where the updating is done in %- (touchpad firm, BIOS, SSD firm), but with this there is no such window, only a simple extraction, where the extraction folder shows on a .bin and a .inf files... Doens't look like firmware to me.

This firmware uses a new mode of delivery called "capsule update". Upon installation, the capsule is registered with the BIOS, and the update runs in the BIOS during the next boot. It's a security thing.

For whatever reason, the registration process does not happen, otherwise you would see something during the reboot. Perhaps you can try to rightclick the INF file and choose Install. Assuming you actually care about installing it, that is. Personally, I would probably just tell Vantage to ignore this particular update (I seem to recall there is a way to do so).

[Kimberly38]

Just tried the right click INF... no cigar.

I registered a ticket with Lenovo at this point I will update what's up