Is it me or is System Update 3 rubbish?!

[USSS]

Here are two locations you can check for the downloaded files:
C:\DRIVERS or C:\Program Files\Lenovo

BTW, I've never heard of Security Task Manager before. What does it do? Is it an IBM/Lenovo product?

[bobstockler]

Other places to look are:

C:\SWTOOLS

and:

C:\IBMTOOLS

and , on my system:

C:\Temp

[Johan]

Software Installer version 3.60.0608 for Windows 2000/XP was available to download from here as of 25 Sep 07.

I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want Software Installer version 3.x when version 4.01.0615 is available on the link I provided above. Besides, IIRC, Software Installer will update itself if you go to the internet to retrieve updates.

The link referenced to above for Software Installer ver. 4.01.0615 unfortunately is now gone The link will in stead take you to the (in-) famous System Update page.... not much fun!

So - since System Update does neither work for me, I have been Googling a bit, I finally found the Software Installer ver. 4.01.0615 (as of Nov. 15, 2006) at an official Lenovo site --> here - and immediatelty downloaded, installed and ran it - works fine on a T42p w/Win XP SP2! Actually, I believe that IBM has forgotten to remove the SI ver. 4 from that site, so better get it while you can...

... and still wonder when "System Update" will (ever) be (-come) worth using?

Best regards,

Johan

[Nick Y]

Johan: Thanks for the link; got it.

Out of interest I tried installing a simple update with SI4 and it did not want to install Security Task Manager, unlike the latest versions of SU3.

[TribesMan]

Hi,

I have replaced the system board in my Thinkpad T42 (GPU problems) and since then the System Update doesn't want to do anything. It just returns an "Error 75 received from the Package Index Server. Please contact the Support Center." message.

Have anyone of you got any idea what might be the problem?
I noticed when I replaced the motherboard that the system serial number is not written in the BIOS when you go there. And also if I run Thinkpad Configuration and click System Information. The value for Machine Type-Model is empty... I think it should say 2373-9XG.
Is there any way to modify those serial number and macine type values?

[Johan]

As already said, I suggest you uninstall System Update and in stead install Software Installer - and see if that helps.

The S/N and type number can be modified using the IBM Hardware Maintenance Diskette - search for these words in this forum, or see the thread: T43P - Incorrect serial number in bios (I assume) or Setting S/N and TYPE on motherboard (need program)!?.

Best regards,

Johan

[TribesMan]

Johan thanks for the info about diskette... will try it as soon as I get home

[uberT]

So - since System Update does neither work for me, I have been Googling a bit, I finally found the Software Installer ver. 4.01.0615 (as of Nov. 15, 2006) at an official Lenovo site --> here - and immediatelty downloaded, installed and ran it - works fine on a T42p w/Win XP SP2! Actually, I believe that IBM has forgotten to remove the SI ver. 4 from that site, so better get it while you can...

thanks for posting the link. I attempted to re-install Software Installer yesterday on one of our machines (the one that receveived the "sunset" file) and it still will not run. The program appears to re-install, but I just get a warning message when I attempt to start the program.

[RWDPLZ]

I installed Software Installer from that Chinese link a few weeks ago, and it worked fine. I tried it again today since I upgraded the hard drive again, and now it forces you to download System Update. [censored] you, Lenovo, and your crappy software!

[bobstockler]

And on a NetVista I have, where both Software Installer and System Update
used to be installed, I recently installed the latest version of System Update
and it removed the already installed version of Software Installer ! ! !

Now I can no longer use it to see what's already installed.

A lost feature. Pissy ! ! !

[USSS]

Folks, I rue the demise of Software Installer as much as anyone else here. But we're fighting a losing battle. SI is history.

Keep sending bug reports and complaints to Lenovo and perhaps we can, collectively, help build a better System Update. Let's dispense with the whining and try to do something constructive for a change.

[jdhurst]

Folks, I rue the demise of Software Installer as much as anyone else here. But we're fighting a losing battle. SI is history. <snip>

Let me assure everyone that I am attempting to get Lenovo to either resurrect SI or fix SU (SU looks unfixable to me).

In the meantime, if you have SI installed (I do), it is worth retaining because it alone can do what Add/Remove programs sometimes cannot and what SU cannot and that is: It can uninstall IBM drivers if need be. Just uncheck the box to search the internet and proceed. SI will no longer hook up to anything so you cannot use it anymore to update.

I have now gone full circle to the method of the late 1990's. I pull up the web page for my machine, check for updates, download and install manually. Tried, true, works and is unassailable by Lenovo.
... JDH

[USSS]

I have now gone full circle to the method of the late 1990's. I pull up the web page for my machine, check for updates, download and install manually. Tried, true, works and is unassailable by Lenovo.
... JDH

JD, thanks for your efforts.

I know the frustration is beginning to boil over for some users on this issue, and your update technique is probably the most practical for now. I've done very little programming, but I wonder if a batch file could be developed for individual machines to download the updates in a semi-automated manner? Or would it really be worth the effort to develop such a utility?

[gator]

Add me to the list of users frustated with SU 3.

I have the latest version of SU 3 on my T60. I fired it up today since I haven't updated my T60 in quite a while. SU 3 showed me 2 critical updates (a hotfix for SU 3, BIOS) and a lot of optional updates. I decided to get the hotfix and the latest power management driver since everything is working fine at the moment on my comp. SU 3 downloaded the items but displayed an error message saying that the installation failed.

I looked and looked all possible places (including the system temp folder) for the downloaded packages, but could not locate them. Eiter I am blind, or the items are downloaded with exceedingly cryptic names (more than the usual 72kswww32.exe style naming) or they are downloaded to some (hidden?) location or both.

I decided to search for these updates online on Lenovo's site, and I amd sad to report that the hotfix CANNOT be located on Lenovo's website (through the built-in search or with google). I decided against installing the latest power manager since I did not want to break anything - I had a horrible experience earlier when my hotkeys stopped working when I updated something and I had to turn to our beloved forum for help.

I am deeply disappointed with SU 3 for the following issues:
1. Lack of documentation where the updates are downloaded.
2. Lack of documentation as the what updates are 'linked' and what all items needs to be updated inorder not to break anything like the hotkeys.
3. The time taken to fix these very frustating issues - forum users have reported these issues quite a while back and still nothing.

I never had any issues with Software Installer EVER on any of the thinkpads I have used. It has a great interface and manages packages intelligently. I am really sad to see that it is not supported/developed anymore.

I wish Lenovo would release a new version of SU that will work as it should.