Reminder: The New Message Center Plus (link here)

[archer6]

For those of you that are interested in the new replacement for the discontinued TVSU - ThinkVantage System Update
You have the option of removing the current "Message Center" and installing the new "Message Center Plus".

This eliminates the nagging message center icon from the system tray, and installs "Message Center Plus" without an icon in the tray. Message Center Plus is the vehicle through which Lenovo will automatically push the notice of availability of the new system to you, once it becomes available. This way you will know immediately without having to check the web site for it. I do understand that many of you may have no interest in this. But for those that do, I just thought I would remind you that this is a choice that is available to you now.

Here is the link to "Message Center Plus":
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-71139

Here is the link to the Sticky on our Forum that contains the discussion about the termination of TVSU
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 9&start=30

Cheers...

[Greg Gebhardt]

I installed the Message Center Plus but can not find it. Where would it be located on my ThinkPad?

Thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

Message Center Plus disables certain features of Message Center. After installing Message Center Plus:

1. Message Center will no longer be launched automatically when Windows starts.
2. The Message Center icon will no longer appear in the system notification area.
3. The link to Message Center will be removed from the Start menu.
4. You can still view Message Center messages by manually launching the Message Center executable from the installation folder, for example: "C:\Program Files\ThinkVantage\AMSG\Amsg.exe" /view

[yak]

As I understand it, I will be notified somehow when a replacement for TVSU is released, right?

I have the Message Center Plus installed. I don't exactly know what to look for, will it pop up some window or something? Or do I have to start the Productivity Center by pressing the ThinkVantage button and look at the "Message Center" area? It says that there are no new messages all the time. Is this correct?

[archer6]

It's all explained in the link I provided. Since it's new, I think that until we actually receive notifications, we will not know exactly what to expect. But that is simply my take on it.

[ArtShapiro]

I'm getting an intercept warning from my installed Advanced System Protector Pro for "Trojan Dropper": Trojan_dropper.Agent.awd on the file "dm.exe" invoked by the Lenovo installation.

My inclination is to allow it, but am curious if any other folks with real-time monitoring software are getting alerts.

Art

[archer6]

<snip>but am curious if any other folks with real-time monitoring software are getting alerts.

No alerts when I downloaded the app.

Cheers...

[yak]

No alerts here but I'm only using Avira AntiVir.

[killer]

No alerts using Avira and Comodo. The only problem is the new program doesn't work. OK, I'll uninstall it and try it again. More effing problems and fewer solutions ... as they used to say, SNAFU.

[RealBlackStuff]

What about TVUR, the ThinkVantage Update Retriever, has that also been killed, or is this a backdoor option?

[archer6]

What about TVUR, the ThinkVantage Update Retriever, has that also been killed, or is this a backdoor option?

To the best of my knowledge TVUR has also been discontinued.

[Harryc]

Here's a feed to notify you of driver updates...just change the machine type in the URL and subscribe to it.

http://download.lenovo.com/rss/ThinkPad_T60.rss

[archer6]

Nice Work Harry....Simply Brilliant.

I was using Google Reader anyway, so this is ideal.... Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

It's absolutely amazing, the way Lenovo ignores our complaints about killing System Update!
I went (so far) through 28 pages of complaints on the forums.lenovo.com website, and only ONE reaction in those 28 pages from a Lenovo staff member (and stating that he knew nothing more either!)
What a blatant heap of crap this is going to be!

This is the thread: http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/mess ... ad.id=4397

[tilneford]

Harry,

I second the praise of archer6. RSS feed is a nice replacement.

[loyukfai]

Just gave Message Center Plus a try and, uninstalled it already.

First of all, it's *not* a replacement of TVSU per se (at least, at this moment). Maybe it's not meant to be from the beginning. Anyway, I just want to state the perfectly obvious so to avoid mis-understanding. : )

From what I can tell, it runs in the background and has no front-end. It's not designed to be manually invoked. I couldn't find any entry in the Start Menu nor Control Panel. One may probably use the method mentioned by RealBlackStuff above through I didn't test it myself.

In my short testing period (less than 1 hour), it popped-up a message that the battery was old and I could buy a new one. That's all I got, despite the fact that the system had a bunches of out-dated Lenovo drivers and utilities installed.

So I would venture a guess that all it is basically the same as the old Message Center, but uses a new way to present the information. It's not meant to check one's system for driver nor utilities updates.

Maybe, it will let one knows when the real heir of TVSU is made available but again, it's only my guess.

Anyway, I went ahead to use the RSS feeds to check for updates. Thanks Harry!

For those who have never used RSS, Internet Explorer 7/8 and Outlook 2003/2007 has built-in support for it. Once you've subscribed one, you will be automatically informed when the RSS feed is updated, which in this case, means that a new driver or utility is released for a particular model.

Some YouTube videos...

IE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NciJsGTZdiY&fmt=18
Outlook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dMRnKLSNTw&fmt=18

And as archer6 mentioned above, Google has a feature called Google Reader which supports RSS as well. And there are a bunches of notifiers for it (e.g. Yahoo! Widget, Firefox, Windows and iGoogle.)

P.S. BTW, during my manual update process, it happened to me that Lenovo's drivers and utilities are produced by different offices. I remember one of package was signed by Lenovo Shenzhen (somewhere in China) and another in Japan. This probably explains why some of the utilities look and work quite differently from the others.

[jdhurst]

I have installed it and can see that it is installed. Otherwise no trace. No service that I can see, and nothing in the Startup folder, nor in startup programs (according to Software Explorer).

Now it does say (installation documents) that it needs Power Manager, so I guess all it will tell us is that we all have old batteries.

It has fallen from grace into the ranks of junk mail. Tell enough people they need batteries (true or not) and some people will buy. ... JDH

[archer6]

I reiterate for those of you who did not read the text file that Lenovo provided:

"WHAT THIS PACKAGE DOES"

This package installs Message Center Plus, which alerts you when
conditions arise on your computer that require your attention.

Message Center Plus enables Lenovo to communicate important messages
to you across the internet. Executing "invisibly" as a background task
each time you start your computer, Message Center Plus will
periodically scan a Lenovo server for new messages that are appropriate
for your system. When a message is available, Message Center Plus will
automatically download and display it in a popup window at the bottom
right corner of your desktop. Message Center Plus does not display
any other application windows, and currently does not have any
configurable settings. Hence, Message Center Plus does not create any
desktop or Start menu links, system notification area (tray) icon,
Control Panel applet, or any other Windows interface elements (except
for an uninstall item in Add/Remove Programs).

NOTE: Message Center Plus never collects or transmits any information
about you or your computer.

Approximately 4.29MB of space must be available on your hard drive to
download this package. Message Center Plus requires approximately
2MB to install. If this package has been installed, updating
(overwrite-installing) this package will fix problems, add new
functions, or expand functions as noted below.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
PREREQUISITES

For laptops only: Message Center Plus relies on ThinkPad Power
Manager to assess your laptop's battery health and alert you when you
need to replace your battery. To receive these alerts, you must
install ThinkPad Power Manager.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
source:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-71139

[jdhurst]

Archer - Thanks for this. I read the page you pointed to (several times) but did not read the .txt file. However, back to my post, no service is running and there was no background task when I restarted the computer. So at this point, I am not holding my breath. ... JDH

[archer6]

However, back to my post, no service is running and there was no background task when I restarted the computer. So at this point, I am not holding my breath. ... JDH

Here's my understanding (completely unofficial) based on a reliable and knowledgeable contact I have at Lenovo.

The "new system" is still being developed, therefore while we are able to install the new "Message Center Plus", we should not expect anything to come of it just yet.

Once the system is completed then Message Center Plus will be activated. At that point we will experience it's usefulness (or lack thereof ... my words...heh!)

Cheers...

[hausman]

The "new system" is still being developed, therefore while we are able to install the new "Message Center Plus", we should not expect anything to come of it just yet.

In light of this could you please ask your Lenovo contact what was the urgency to withdraw TVSU on April 1st? TVSU may have some warts but it's a much better solution that what we have now, i.e. nothing, as we wait for its replacement.

[archer6]

In light of this could you please ask your Lenovo contact what was the urgency to withdraw TVSU on April 1st? TVSU may have some warts but it's a much better solution that what we have now, i.e. nothing, as we wait for its replacement.

Suffice to say that we've already covered this question and his position is not any different than ours.

[GomJabbar]

However, back to my post, no service is running and there was no background task when I restarted the computer. So at this point, I am not holding my breath. ... JDH

Maybe they're using a rootkit!

[archer6]

Maybe they're using a rootkit!

Brilliant Humor....... just the laugh I needed.......

Lenovo might make me crazy sometimes, but this forum is the best!

Cheers...