IBM egatherer question

[kylake]

After doing an IBM update using installer.....on the reboot windows saw a new hardware called IBM egatherer and wants the software to run it. I don't understand this.....I didn't install any new hardware. I don't have a software to run it (egatherer). Plus after looking on the web it appears there is a security vun. by having it in my computer. I did do a security fix on it (from the IBM page) that Norton antivirus suggested. I talked to an IBM tech support guy about this and he had never heard of it but on looking suggested that I delete it completly.
What do you guys know about egatherer and if I should keep or delete. BTW, I did do a searh and find in my computer for it and found it in IBMTOOLS. I tried to run the program to see what it did but it didn't run when I clicked on the egatherer exe. I guess that is because the software isn't loaded as windows suggested.

[G-Man]

From ibm.com: "e-Gatherer is a program that collects configuration information from a user's computer to help with the diagnosis of problems reported to IBM. e-Gatherer aims to improve customer satisfaction by reducing the time a customer spends collecting data from relevant machines and by reducing the time IBM spends in resolving problems by improving the content and accuracy of information gathered."

As far as I know, the program is part of IBM Access Support. Run it. There is an option to update the program. Or just simply install this security update. This should solve your problem.

Regards,
G-Man

[kylake]

Thanks G man, I did do some research before posting. I did see that it was a program to help IBM tech support. In my post above I did mention that I did the IBM fix for the security problem.
My question is why does windows see this as hardware on bootup....If it is hardware? If it is hardware where do I get the software for it.
And lastly when I try to start it from the .exe file,,, why does nothing appear to happen.
Windows has warned me that since I did not install the software for it that it might not work properly.

[G-Man]

I just checked my T40 device manager. And when I click to show hidden devices, there is IBM Access Support. The driver for it is called EGATHDRV. So just let windows install the driver. It shouldn't make any harm. Do you have a clean or factory XP install? What TP is it?

Regards,
G-Man

[kylake]

Thanks again G man
I have a R51 Thinkpad....Model 2883
I have the factory installed XP pro and I upgraded the SP1 to SP2
Like I said before,,, the strange thing is that windows wants to treat it like a hardware,,, after an update from IBM.....I never even knew it was there before the IBM update.
You said let windows install the drivers....I have tried....win doesn't find any drivers and want a cd to install from....IBM didn't give me a cd., I have made recovery disk but I really wouldn't know which of the six or seven disks to choose from.
BTW, it (egatherer) does show up as and icon on the taskbar on boot.....but disappears when I don't try to load software for it.....the icon looks similar to two crab claws inter locked.....if that makes any sense.,,,