Lenovo Kills Off ThinkVantage System Update

[warreng24]

I had to do a clean install on my T42 today. I really miss TVSU.

I've never used/updated the IBM Rescue and Recovery utility. Therefore, my "clean install" involved using the recovery CD's that I burned the day I un-boxed my T42.

Therefore, all my drivers and utilities date from 2004. So, off I went to the Driver Matrix to acquire the latest versions.

Boy, was that a PITA. Then, I had to carefully read all of the pre-requisites (especially for the 2200BG and Access Connections v5.21). Initially I installed things incorrectly (wrong order)! I love how the 2200BG drivers specify Access Connections as a pre-requisite and Access Connections specify the 2200BG drivers as a pre-requisite also.

Obviously something went WRONG. I ended up getting the Blue-Screen of Death during the 2200BG and Access Connections install.

After digging through fine print, I realized that I'd have to uninstall the Access Connections v3.30 first. Then install the Power Management driver update, then the Hotkey driver update, then the new 2200BG drivers, and then install Access Connections 5.21.

AUGH.

Tried things again. Now I get this lovely S24EvMon.exe error on boot. Then I remembered that previously TVSU would prompt to Uninstall the Intel Sebring driver prior to updating the 2200BG drivers.

AUGH!

If we still had TVSU, it'd have figured this out for me automatically.

[Radioguy]

I'm a manual installer, but TVSU is invaluable to double checking updates I may have missed, or ones that were posted, but not yet associated with my model type when I last checked the site.

I too, would like to see it return. To me, killing it off permanently gives off a smell of death regarding the TP line.

[hausman]

People, Lenovo heard your voice!

I just received the following Info:
• Lenovo discontinued TVSU on March 31 for individual use
– High download volumes were taxing capacity and limiting performance
– High costs for download and infrastructure improvements
• We continued to support our business customers with UR
• We heard clearly that our customers highly value TVSU
• We are pleased to announce a new version of TVSU on May 31
– Must be manually launched each time updates are required
– Improved infrastructure performance
– UR tool continues uninterrupted for enterprise users
• We value our customers’ feedback and appreciate their partnership

[killer]

@hausman: Thanks for that information. It will be interesting to see how well it works.

[Radioguy]

Unfortunately, that does not necessarily mean the US market will get it back (hopefully we will, however).

I find it odd that it says "must be manually launched". Was it possible to set TVSU for automatic updates? That would seem redundant otherwise. (Even manually, you could place a link in your startup folder or probably schedule it to run in Windows)

[asiafish]

TVSU ran in the background as a service and notified you when updates were available.

I would prefer manual, actually, as I prefer to just check once or twice per month and when a system is working perfectly, am reluctant to mess with it.

The time I use TVSU most is when reinstalling an OS or moving to a different version. I wanted to free up a Vista license so I downgraded an R61 to XP and TVSU made the task bearable.

[XCoalMiner]

It may become a moot point on May 31, but has anyone tried the combination of Update Retriever (UR) and Thin Installer (TI) as detailed in this Lenovo forum:

How to set up Update Retriever (UR) and Thin Installer (TI) in a home environment

They (the Lenovo forum) have it "stickied" and refer to it in several places as the next best alternative to TVSU.

I was getting ready to try it, but am now going to hold off until the new version of TVSU comes out on May 31.

[hausman]

am now going to hold off until the new version of TVSU comes out on May 31.

Not so fast The Lenovo spokesperson above said, "We are pleased to announce a new version of TVSU on May 31." The forthcoming announcement could specify a general availability date several months out. (And of course the May 31 may refer to some year other than 2009.)

[killer]

Not so fast The Lenovo spokesperson above said, "We are pleased to announce a new version of TVSU on May 31." The forthcoming announcement could specify a general availability date several months out. (And of course the May 31 may refer to some year other than 2009.)

Posting of the day!

[siman]

It's back!

[Harryc]

"Lenovo discontinued TVSU on March 31 for individual use
– High download volumes were taxing capacity and limiting performance
– High costs for download and infrastructure improvements
• We continued to support our business customers with UR
• We heard clearly that our customers highly value TVSU
• We are pleased to announce a new version of TVSU on May 31
– Must be manually launched each time updates are required
– Improved infrastructure performance
– UR tool continues uninterrupted for enterprise users
• We value our customers’ feedback and appreciate their partnership"

From Mark at Lenovo -

"All,
Official communication on this subject was planned for Monday.
I would prefer that we hold on some aspects of this discussion until Monday when they can be fully addressed
As it stands, there seem to be some mis-interpretations. Let me clarify the manual statement ....
This means you launch the application, it goes out, finds and installs the updates for you as before - automatically.
Support for SP2 Vista and Windows 7 are future items as they would cause further delay.
I respect the community, but I would ask that we let things progress over the next couple days and then open this up for more discussion on Monday, at which time we can be more interactive.
Thanks,
Mark"

[killer]

It works well too. Sorry I was so sceptical.

[tomtomtom]

TVSU is BACK

[asiafish]

Mine doesn't, it goes to 10% then says "An Error Occured While Gathering User Information"

Helps a lot.

[hausman]

Mine doesn't, it goes to 10% then says "An Error Occured While Gathering User Information"

The first time I ran TVSU it wanted to update itself and Message Center Plus. After I let it update those it successfully scanned my system and found several recommended plus optional updates. It`s plugging away at those as we speak.

[asiafish]

It won't let me, says Message Center Plus failed to install. I've tried reinstallation four time in different order and always same failure.

Clean install AGAIN, thanks Lenovo.

[JaneL]

Mine doesn't, it goes to 10% then says "An Error Occured While Gathering User Information"

What OS and version are you running? I get that same message using Vista SP2 which isn't supported yet, so that may be your issue.

[Brad]

To me its more of a posting of the year!

Right now I am downloading 215 mb of updates on a X300.

This is great news.

Brad

[asiafish]

Yup, Vista SP2. Maybe I should uninstall the service pack, though would likely cause more trouble than its worth.

I have the original driver load on my T400, so I'm eager to get newer video drivers.

[archer6]

If you want to be notified as soon as the new system is available see this link:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 22#p505622

The automatic noticification of the new TVSU as outlined above, worked perfectly, just as the text file said it would.

Today as soon as I went online, a dialog box popped up and asked if I wanted to download the new system update and updated message center plus. I simply clicked on OK and it self installed. Then I launched TVSU and got all the updates in one fast download. They all installed just fine and my ThinkPad is now updated. I could'nt have been any easier, faster, or smoother.

Cheers...

[jgollner]

Well, I finally convinced tech support that Vista SP2 is not yet supported with the new TVSU (they made me roll back and then apply it again before they would believe me). However, their response to "when will it be supported" was, and I quote, "whenever, we didn't even know they had turned TVSU back on. Does anyone have any idea when they plan to support Vista SP2?

[hausman]

Does anyone have any idea when they plan to support Vista SP2?

Mark_Lenovo
Administrator
Posts: 2123
Registered: 11-19-2007
# Location: RTP, North Carolina

All,

There has been a lot of interest in getting TVSU updated to formally support Vista SP2 and Windows 7.
Presently, there is a combined release planned for mid-August that will provide support for both.
The development team is also evaluating the feasibility of delivering an update to support Vista SP2 on an accelerated schedule. We should have some updates on this effort in the next two weeks.
I understand the very rational arguments being made that we should have been ready with SP2 support, and I would just ask that this group be patient with us a bit longer on this.

Thanks,
Mark
___________________________________________
Regards/Cordialement/Cordiali saluti/Mit freundlichen Grüßen/Saludos/
Mark Hopkins
Project Manager, Social Media

[mixz1]

Lenovo has released a patch to allow TVSU to run under Vista SP2. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-72758

It appears to contain the edited MappingInterface.xml that some of us modded a week ago, but at least now it's official.

[loyukfai]

Lenovo has released a patch to allow TVSU to run under Vista SP2. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-72758

It appears to contain the edited MappingInterface.xml that some of us modded a week ago, but at least now it's official.

Confirm working.

[ajb]

I have tried downloading this new patch/file several times. Every time that I click on the "agree" portion of the terms & conditions, it reloads the same screen but nothing else happens. Anyone know what gives with this?

Many thanks!

AJ

[JaneL]

Anyone know what gives with this?

It's the weekend. Try again on Monday.