The "What ThinkPad software should I keep?" Thread

[K. Eng]

The default IBM Windows XP install has some nice software, but some of it is redundant or doesn't work all that well. Here is my list of what I kept, and what I ditched:

--- Keep & Use ---

1. IBM Access Connections (using 3.21) - I often switch between up to 3 wireless networks per day, each with unique settings & security requirements. It's nice having everything managed in one program. 3.21 is noticeably faster than any of the 2.x series, and the interface is slighly tweaked.

2. Battery Maximizer (using 1.36a) - Power management schemes are more flexible and easier to apply using this taskbar applet. The gauge is also easier to read and IMO more accurate than the Windows Gauge. You can also see the status (Watt/hrs left, Voltage, Current) of the Battery as well its health status.

3. Keyboard Customizer - I admit it, sometimes I want a Windows key for shortcuts (Windows + M and Windows + L are my favorites). The latest keyboard customizer allows for some other handy things like optical drive eject and volume.

4. ThinkPad Configuration - I don't use this a whole lot, but it's a nice all around program for quickly configuring ThinkPad specific hardware.

5. ThinkPad Software Installer - Being able to see at a glance what versions of IBM software are installed and what packages are available on disk can be handy. Switching back and forth between driver packages is fairly seemless and fast.


--- Uninstall ---

1. IBM Message Center - I can't recall receiving a single useful message from this program, only unsolicited tips on using the included software. It wasn't worth the few MB of RAM it was occupying on startup.

2. IBM EZ Eject Utility - This program also ate up 2-3 MB of RAM, but it didn't seem to do anything that Windows didn't do (Windows already has a tray icon that makes removable of optical bays and USB devices easy).

3. Screen Magnifier Utility - Another 2-3 MB of RAM down the tubes. I never used screen magnifier.

4. Norton Antivirus - The version that shipped with my T40 was pretty slow to load on bootup and only had a 90 day update period. I replaced it with my own copy of Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.60.926, which is much much faster and less of a resource hog.

--- I Never Use ---

1. IBM Update Connector - After a single use, I decided that this software was slow and not really up to date compared to the driver matrix on IBM's site. Since it doesn't load on bootup and eat RAM, I just left it on my ThinkPad.

2. IBM Rapid Restore - In theory this sounds like a good program, but I think people had problems with it and it has been replaced by something else. I may consider using the sucessor program if anyone can vouch for its effectiveness.

[ibmuser]

I urge you to try Rapid Restore Ultra 4 - much, much better than previous versions. Big download mind you. One drawback too if you backup on local hard drive is that it uses up some space of course, but I rather need the backup on my X31 when I don't have my external optical drive handy.
Backups are quick (once you have the base image).
I have three partitions on my X31 and have had no issues restoring my system (have done about 6 or .

[Leon]

Does a backup of your hard drive end up in the same "protected" partition as the IBM factory image stuff? If so, is the space for that preallocated in the protected partiton based on the size of your hard drive? Or does the partition expand? Or does your backup end up in another partiton. Is it "protected"?

[ibmuser]

Leon>

I got rid the protected factory area to save some space. Then installed rapid restore and created a base image that I can restore - that way when I can choose to restore to the base image I created, I have the whole setup with all my programs, settings, and operating system. The area is safe, I think, and restoring boots into it. You can chosse to backup files can on your hard disk drive, recordable CD/DVD, network
drive, or some other USB device. You can rescue files and restore the whole system. I have the recovery disks so I don't need the option to restore to factory contents.

[Leon]

can someone verify, ibmuser said "I THINK it's a "protected area"... if you do it this way, is it?

[s0larian]

The "protected area" he is referring to is a hidden folder called "minint" on the c:\ drive. When you installed Rescue and Recovery you can boot into this minint to restore data, browse online, copy data to usb or 2nd HD, but it is not a separat partition. Backups done with RR4 are not stored in minint, they can be stored on the local disk, usb-drive or 2nd HD-adapter. RR4 doesn't create an additional Partition as RR3 did.

[s0larian]

In my opinion IBM's Top Thinkpad-Apps on my T40p are:
- AccessConnections 3.21 (great!)
- Battery Maximizer (shows battery health)
- Thinkpad Software Installer (the way I do updates)
- Presentation Director (usefull)
- Rapid Restore 4 (much better than RR3)
- IBM Security (my absolutely No.1 IBM software)

Not really needed:
- Thinkpad Configuration
- Keyboard Customizer (but it would be nice to customize additional fn key shortcuts)
- PC Doctor
- Easy Eject
- Ultra Nav Wizard

I have uninstalled:
- CD Burn Program (I use Nero)
- CD Burn Updater (slows down shutdown)
- DLA (burned CD's not compatible with other drives)
- IBM Messenger (I look at the IBM Web Site for news myself)
- Access Support (never really works)
- Access IBM (just boring infos)
- IBM update connector (mostly too slow or offline)
- Norton AV

[leland]

question: i uninstalled access ibm, is there anyway that i can use that blue button for anything?

It will still pop up the bios, right?

BTW, has anyone ever gotten the ibm update connector to work?

Have you guys gone and removed the corresponding setup directories from the ibmtools area?

I can just go and trash all of those, right? It doesn't seem necessary when everything that I want is installed, or just waiting on the recovery partition. I'm planning to keep that since the cds they sent me were burned last March.

I've got a t42p 2373-gvu.

[s0larian]

Your blue IBM Access button still pops up the bios of course.

You can delete almost everything under /ibmtools/apps, but I would burn it on CD first to have quick access for recovery. Some software like the DVD player you can't download from IBM. If you download new drivers they are stored in the /driver directory, so you don't need the original drivers stored under /ibmtools anymore. But some software in /ibmtools is needed, i.e. the Rescue and Recovery stuff. So take care.