TP Helix II (20CG/20CH) Sierra-Chip 7345 - solution found: Win11 does it

[friedrich-eugen]

I am still trying gto make the best possible use of my spare Helix II (20CG/20CH M-5Y71 8GB plus), as it is, it is very much an expensive passtime...

The machines run Windows 11(as they did Windows 10) and will probably work properly untill 2025 (or may be longer, if additonal support is available). I use CCleaner Pro and find that its cleaning- and update-function is a help, not a problem. The speed is reduced, as the OS is asking more ressources, and it will be slow, if using MS-Office Pro plus... Traveling and having some exchange while on road is still comfortable, 2 batteries are a plus and the display is just top.

Earlier battery problems seem solved. It seems sensible letting the NB load for some hours, before changing batteries, not all batteries are dead, just nearly dead or very much down...

Open questions:

• Sierra 7345 WWAN is seen, but it will not be active and will not read a inserted SIM-Card. Is this "deactivation" (?) a consequence of Patent-disputes between Sierra and NN, owner of a patented function??

• There is a firmware-Update, that is incorporated in the latest drivers from Lenovo (2017) that will not do its job, unless ??

• Any advice on how to skip the sierra and use a different WWAN-Chip? If so, which one is recommended?

• In case there is a substitute - how to deacitvate the Blacklist / change the Whitelist of such an Thinkpad Helix II?

Any help / info / advice would be welcome!!

I've given up:
Lenovo offers software (published 2017) containing a updatetool (intel), working with OS Win8.1.
Installing 8.1. ist simply aweful, time-consuming, but possible. Installation complete, all update, all tools, ...

But: that Intel-Update-software does not work without a simcard, ok, I have a simcard, functional, loaded, telekom (Germany).
But: Sierra does not recognise, read the card. So Intel-Update does not find a simcard.
No Update, no use of firmware to 1.2, no use of simcard.

That is it...
If there is some hidden advice, i did not find, let me know...

[friedrich-eugen]

Hello all,

I think I ran over a solution, but I still do not know

why it "happens"

when it works.

First: the TP Helix 2 with Core M 5-y71 chip and TPM-Module allow to run Windows 11, at least if You have a system with
(a) 8GB RAM and
(b) enough space on Your M2-SATA (Opal!) SSD .
Installing Windows 11 proceeds smoothly. There will be very few additional drivers required.

Over here in Europe, the Sierra-Chip, capable of LTE, offers WWAN... if it works properly.
I stumbled while installing Windows 10 and the neccessary drivers as the Intel-Update to the WWAN-Chip did not proceed
and the chip remained passiv, not functional.

Installing the latest driver/software for the Sierra-chip from Lenovo's website after the first Windows installation has come
to an successful end, does help, as the intel-Update runs through and allows the chip to become potentially (SIM needed)
active and productive.

P.S.: As far as I understand the working (i.e. not much) of the updates-systems of Lenovo, Intel and MS, it helps to use
"CCleaner Pro" to make sure, all older systemfiles are up to date / will be updated to work smoothly wint Windows 11.

[friedrich-eugen]

Hello all,

Lately I have update all the Helix 2 I have "with the help of a friend" to run Windows 11 (24H2/25H2).

While installing from scratch I noticed:

(1) Only very few older drivers from Lenovo had to be added,
(2) The system runs smooth, not fast but smooth othese Helix 2 (8GB RAM/500 GB Sata SSD, new batteries UltrabookDock)
(3) Adding CCleaner Pro helps updating those drivers MS, Intel, others do not care to mention and keeping the system "clean".

And:

Sierra Chips has been properly installed & is useable (if You want to).