How to uninstall CSS w/out adverse consequences?

[rmendoza]

Hey all,
I posted this in the T6X section, but nobody answered, so I will give it a shot here. Of course I thank everyone in advance for any input.



I have been thinking about uninstalling CSS in order to speed up my system (running Vista Business) and maybe get some of the quirks out of my T60. I have also thought about doing a complete restore. For the last few days I have been reading the different posts on the subject, but I still have some doubts.
First, let me give you the specifics. Vista, 2GB RAM, using the fingerprint software for Windows logon as well as power-on and hard drive passwords.

1. If I just uninstall CSS, without doing anything else, what will happen to the passwords? Will I have to enter them manually every time I turn on the computer? I have read that you can still use the pwm, but is this true for all the aforementioned passwords? Additionally, when I go to programs in the control panel, CSS does not appear to be installed, which leads me to ask how I am supposed to uninstall it in the first place.

2. What will happen to the passwords and the TPM if I do a complete restore? I have the original DVDs from Lenovo (I received 3 of them, although one of the guides in this forum says that one is supposed to have four), BUT my T60 came originally with XP Pro, and I then upgraded to Vista. I read in in a stickythat if one uses XP, then upgrades to Vista, and then attempts to do a restore with Vista DVDs, that Windows will not recognize the the serial number.

Needless to say that I am hesitant to do anything before I am absolutely positive as to what to expect (I am apprehensive that way). Any input or answers are greatly appreciated.

[Trekk69]

I don't know if this completely helps, but when I did a custom install I just didn't install CSS.
Yes I have to enter the passwords everytime. As well, I still have fingerprint capabilities

[rmendoza]

thanks Trekk, that is what I was thinking. I was just worried about Windows not recognizing the S/N from the restore disks.

On the other hand, I can't seem to find CSS to uninstall it. It doesn't show up in the add/remove programs panel (under any name). Has anyone else had this problem, of not finding CSS in order to uninstall it? Again, thanks to everyone who answers.

[ryengineer]

snip....2. What will happen to the passwords and the TPM if I do a complete restore? I have the original DVDs from Lenovo (I received 3 of them, although one of the guides in this forum says that one is supposed to have four), BUT my T60 came originally with XP Pro, and I then upgraded to Vista. I read in in a sticky that if one uses XP, then upgrades to Vista, and then attempts to do a restore with Vista DVDs, that Windows will not recognize the the serial number.....snip

I'm a little bit confused here, the recovery disks you've; are they for Windows Vista or Windows XP?

Uninstalling Client Security Solution will make TPM inactive. To benefit from the advance features of TPM you require an encryption software like CSS, Utimaco SafeGuard Easy or PrivateDisk.

You'll still be able to use Fingerprint reader and Windows logon passwords though.

Client Security Password Manager is part of CSS which is of course different than Windows logon, User Accounts and passwords.

See if you can find CSS under "ThinkVantage Client Security Solution" or simply "Client Security Solution" in the Uninstall a program in Windows Vista.

snip...I read in in a sticky that if one uses XP, then upgrades to Vista, and then attempts to do a restore with Vista DVDs, that Windows will not recognize the the serial number.....snip

That is not true and I have failed to find it in the guide. My thinkpad was eligible for Windows Vista Express Upgrade from Moduslink last year so I also have sets of recovery disks for both Windows Vista and XP but I've never experienced any problem(s) installing either Windows on my machine from them.

When you install Windows from recovery disks, they don't ask for a serial number as the license they use is Volume Licence Key (VLK), best practice is to format your HDD beforehand prior to installing Windows from them otherwise Windows can act strange and ask you for a serial key.

(One may note that I have two oem licenses sticked on the back of my machine to comply with Microsoft policy.)

[rmendoza]

Ryengineer,

Thanks for the response.
First, I can't find CSS anywhere under any name to uninstall. I can open it and it works of course, but it's not listed in the add/remove section anywhere. There is only CS PWM. So, along this line, do you mean that (if I can find it) I can just straight uninstall CSS and the only thing that will happen will be that the TPM will become innactive? I won't somehow be locked out of my machine or anything?

As to your question, what happened was I ordered my T60 with XP Pro, then upgraded to Vista B. via the express upgrade option. Later on, Lenovo kindly sent me a set of recovery DVDs with Vista on them. So, in thinking about doing a complete restore with the Lenovo-provided DVDs, I ran accros this post, which stated that if I did that, the license would not work anymore because the original key was embeded in the "BIOS ACPI tables", and since the original OS (before upgrade) was XP, I would be screwed. I am not an engineer, so I just took the poster's word for it, and forgot about it.

Now that I am actually buying a new 7k200 hdd, I am concerned about this, hence my questions. I was trying to decide whether to clone my current drive, or just start fresh and do a complete reinstall in the new drive, and then reinstall all my programs and files. It would be somewhat of a drag, but at least I would start fresh. That is why I have been hesitant to do anything if I am not positive as to the steps and possible consequences.

By the way, I have a question derived from this: If I just install the new drive (I mean physically, just take out the current hdd and put in the new one), and then pop in the recovery DVDs, can I recreate a factory image in the new drive, with the hidden partition and all?

Again, thanks a lot for your help.

[ryengineer]

snip......I won't somehow be locked out of my machine or anything?.....snip

No you won't be.

As far as your not finding the CSS in Add/Remove programs is concerned, I remember it being mentioned somewhere, I suggest you search the forum but if you can't find it then upgrade to a more latest version of CSS, maybe after that you would be able to see it as an uninstallable item in the add/remove programs.

snip....and since the original OS (before upgrade) was XP, I would be screwed. I am not an engineer, so I just took the poster's word for it, and forgot about it.

You would absolutely have no problem, Windows can ask for serial key in cases where you don't format the HDD first before installing another OS.

snip....It would be somewhat of a drag, but at least I would start fresh. That is why I have been hesitant to do anything if I am not positive as to the steps and possible consequences.....snip

Again, you won't have any issue, just pop-in the recovery disks they'll install everything for you, provided you follow on-screen instructions correctly.

snip....By the way, I have a question derived from this: If I just install the new drive (I mean physically, just take out the current hdd and put in the new one), and then pop in the recovery DVDs, can I recreate a factory image in the new drive, with the hidden partition and all?...snip

Yes x 4.

I suggest you perform a low-level-format (not necessary but just a good practice) before installing the Windows from those disks.

The recovery disks will create a hidden partition for you automatically and once you update your system with newest version of ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery 4.2, you can recreate yet another set of Product recovery disks:

Rescue and Recovery™ 4.2 for Windows Vista.

How to create recovery media using ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery.

[rmendoza]

Ryengineer,

Great! Thanks a lot for the clear response. I will give one or two of these solutions a shot, and report back, hopefully with good results.
I am genuinely thankful for your input.