Thinkpad Power Management Help

[evforme]

I'm trying to install the Thinkpad Power Management software, but right before the installer is about to load, I get an error "Cannot run on this system." I've already installed the power management driver. This is on a fresh install of Vista on a T60p.

[wallybear]

I have a T60 upgraded to Vista Business. I have noted several problems with Lenovo drivers (including Power Management) none of which are deal-breakers (Vista runs fine without them) but they are annoying. But, manually installing drivers isn't the best way, in my opinion, to use the ThinkVantage suite under Vista or XP for that matter.

I suggest that you download ONE (1) thing from Lenovo and then let it show you which other things are available for your model. That ONE thing is "System Update 3". I had gone to the trouble to download all the separate installers for Vista myself (carefully organizing them into folders ready for installation under Vista) as I was waiting for my upgrade to arrive. Fortunately, I read a suggestion from Lenovo (on their "How to Upgrade to Vista" page) that I decided to follow to much success. That suggestion was to download System Update 3 and then let it tell me what else was available. I carefully installed one thing at a time (skipping things that I didn't need and removing some later that I felt I could do without). I'm very happy with Vista on my T60 now. It runs faster and boots in 1/3 the time as XP (which I still have on a drive I can slide into the Ultrabay).

Here are the things I suggest you _avoid_ for now:

1- Access Connections (this isn't even suggested by System Update which means to me that Lenovo knows it doesn't work although you can download a "Vista-qualified" version manually).

2- Power Manager Application because it seems to conflict with Vista's Mobile power management (but do install the ThinkPad Power Driver which does work).

Here are the things which you _do_ need but which don't work flawlessly (yet):

1- Fingerprint Software

2- Client Security Solution

If you have any questions, write to me. Good luck.

[evforme]

Thanks for the tip. I've got it to install that way since it was under a recommended update by System Update.

Also, what does CSS really do? I don't plan on using this laptop to store any important data but rather to do work on and continually upload the results via a remote connection. I have no use for backups and I would like to maximize performance as much as possible. It seems like R&R runs a few processes/services and I was wondering if I would need R&R for CSS.

[wallybear]

The Client Security Solution is the "front-end" to the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip which is the hardware-level security feature of the T60 line. It offers an interface to manage all aspects of the security of the laptop...fingerprint reader (and its software)...password management....password recovery...etc., etc. Under XP, more features were available (mainly the PrivateDisk software which provides an encrypted virtual volume).

If you don't care about the fingerprint reader or any password management under Vista then you can do without CSS. However, I think the fingerprint reader (which works fine under Vista) is one of the nicest things about the T60.

R&R (Rescue and Recovery) is the name of Lenovo's auto-backup utility and pre-boot "reinstall everything as it was shipped" environment. I don't have much use for it because 1) I installed an upgrade to Vista so my pre-boot is XP anyway, and 2) I think Vista's new built-in backup solution is WAY superior.

By the way, all of the ThinkVantage suite (at least the ones I've installed) don't seem to put a "drag" on Vista they way they do on XP. Maybe it's the all-new way Vista uses memory and runs services that makes the difference. Whatever is the reason, Vista runs faster on my T60 than XP does...with almost exactly the same extras installed. This "Vista runs faster" report is becoming more frequent on this forum and elsewhere...early reports of it being much slower were apparently based on "first runs" of Vista before it's had time to utilize its SuperFetch technology to improve performance. Also, I use a ReadyBoost flash drive (2GB) which I think makes a noticable difference in normal use for me.

Any more comments or questions, let me know. Good luck.

[steveg47]

A new release for the Power Manager is available (5/16/07). It appears to fix a few annoyances.

[berlin]

Which one should I use?

Windows Mobility or Lenovo Power Management? Aren't they the same?

I'd like to uninstall one of them.

[wallybear]

No, they are not the same.

Vista has laptop power management features built in to it. You cannot remove them.

Lenovo's stuff you can remove (or just install the current build which I agree is better). Eventually Lenovo will work out the bugs in its patch to Vista's features.

If recommend that you try using your T60 for a week without Lenovo's power management software and then decide if it was useful. I suspect that you will find it helpful in terms of power conservation.

[gharris999]

I too get the "cannot run on this system" error message while trying to install the 5/16 7ku414ww.exe Power Manager software. Has anyone worked out what to do here or how to get around this?

[gt5l]

you need to have the latest Lenovo System Interface Driver (10 May 07)

[gharris999]

I've already installed the latest system interface driver (7jif09ww.exe). I STILL get the "cannot run on this system" error. WTF?

[gt5l]

I've already installed the latest system interface driver (7jif09ww.exe). I STILL get the "cannot run on this system" error. WTF?

That's o.k. my system had a brain freeze recently, what I did was uninstall the interface drivers and power mgt, then did a reg clean. Then I installed the interface driver followed by the power mgt. This seems to have gotten things back on track for me, remember to restart even if you are not prompted to do so after EACH uninstall and install.