Lenovo ThinkVantage Software Guide

[Playmaker]

LENOVO THINKVANTAGE SOFTWARE GUIDE


So what is ThinkVantage?
ThinkVantage is a software library preinstalled on a Lenovo ThinkPad computers. Formerly known as Access IBM, ThinkVantage is intended to maximize the business user's experience through the use of easy-to-access utilities that take advantage of the ThinkPad's hardware features.

How do I know which ones I want?
Well, being the objective guide that I am, I can't literally tell you which ones you should download and which ones you shouldn't. That would be really naughty. Hopefully, after reading the below, you'll get an idea of which utilities you want. Otherwise, ask the friendly people in the NBR forums for suggestions.

For more information about ThinkVantage, visit its official webpage.

List of ThinkVantage Software (Click the titles to link to their webpages.)


Productivity Center
This is the mothership; the amalgamation of all the ThinkVantage software on your computer on one menu activated by the light blue ThinkVantage button on the top left of your keyboard. This menu gives you quick access of all ThinkVantage utilities plus allows you to place shortucts to computer maintenance tasks, such as hard disk defragmentation and backups.

Access Connections
Replacing the Windows Wireless Connections utility, Access Connections gives you the ability to manage all wireless connections, including LAN, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and WWAN. You can set different connection profiles and security settings.

Active Protection System
This utility contains settings for the shock protection feature for the hard drive. This must be installed in order for the feature to work.

Base Software Administrator
If you don't like the bloatware that came with the Lenovo preload, you can use Base Software Administrator to customize the preload installation to only install what you want, whether it be Windows, drivers, or other software.

Client Security Solution
To take the most advantage of the fingerprint reader, CSS manages passwords for different websites you visit and can configure them to open password-protected pages with the swipe of your finger. Moreover, CSS activates the Trusted Platform Module hardware chip in your laptop to improve security.

Fingerprint Software
Necessary for the functioning of the fingerprint reader, this utility lets you enroll your different fingerprints and gives the feature of logging into Windows with a fingerprint swipe.

ImageUltra Builder
Much like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, ImageUltra Builder lets you create an exact copy of your hard drive for cloning purposes. Unlike the other utilities, this software does not come preinstalled on the computer.

Rescue and Recovery
This program is designed to back up your hard drive. You can set R&R to backup your hard drive on a schedule, and restore from those backups at any time. R&R also lets you create the recovery discs for the factory install (one-time only) and said discs can be booted from if your system is unable to on its own. The installation of R&R also enables the hidden recovery partition on your computer, which also can restore your laptop to original factory settings.

Secure Data Disposal
Did you know that deleting something from the Recycle Bin doesn't mean the data is gone forever? Windows only removes those files from your view permanently, but those 1's and 0's still exist on your drive, albeit waiting to be written over. Secure Data Disposal rewrites over your deleted files multiple times to ensure those 1's and 0's are gone for good.

System Migration Assistant
Got all those settings you love and pictures of your family on your old desktop? This utility makes it easy to transfer all those personal settings to your brand new ThinkPad.

System Update
Lenovo's drivers page is a hornet's nest. System Update finds those drivers and even most of the utilities listed above for you and you can choose which ones you want to install. Note that System Update does not always find all the software and drivers you may need.

[acaurora]

Yet another great guide. You have at least one typo "inlcuding" under Wireless. Another thing you may want to add to the description for the Active Protection system is that it works mostly independent regardless of hard drive, except for possibly the 7200.2s, as I have read there was a conflict with the built in G-Force shock protection.

Also, ImageUltra you have to buy T.T... I saw that and clicked, and saw "download trial version" =[...

EDIT: There is also the Away Manager - I have never used this, but nonetheless it is part of the suite. http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/think...ivity_ctr.html

and the Base Software Administrator - I haven't dealt with this much, I just stick with Acronis and also the LANdesk Management Suite (Trial)
All ThinkVantage downloads can be found here also:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/think...s_support.html

[Playmaker]

Originally Posted by acaurora

Yet another great guide. You have at least one typo "inlcuding" under Wireless. Another thing you may want to add to the description for the Active Protection system is that it works mostly independent regardless of hard drive, except for possibly the 7200.2s, as I have read there was a conflict with the built in G-Force shock protection.

Also, ImageUltra you have to buy T.T... I saw that and clicked, and saw "download trial version" =[...

EDIT: There is also the Away Manager - I have never used this, but nonetheless it is part of the suite. http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/think...ivity_ctr.html

and the Base Software Administrator - I haven't dealt with this much, I just stick with Acronis and also the LANdesk Management Suite (Trial)
All ThinkVantage downloads can be found here also:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/think...s_support.html

Typo noted

Away Manager isn't a standalone ThinkVantage utility- it's part of the Productivity Center.

I will add Base Software Administrator though. Thanks for the tip.

[vince_wonk]

sticky plz...great guide thanks

[JabbaJabba]

Originally Posted by vince_wonk

sticky plz...great guide thanks

It already is part of the ThinPad sticky.

[gridtalker]

I agree this should get sticky. Thanks playmaker

[JabbaJabba]

Am I missing something here? It is already part of the ThinkPad Sticky that Zaz put up. What more do you want?

[georule]

Hmm, I seem to be doing something wrong --I can't find an option to burn a set of recovery disks in Recovery and Rescue. Vista Business x64. . .help?

[ezlynx]

Regarding System Update, think twice about using it. If it ain't broke, it maybe should not be fixed.

This, from someone who decided one day to let it check for updates, installed the recommended updates, and ended up with problems. Called support and had to go through reinstalling things from separate downloads instead. Was a real pain.

I asked the Lenovo support person what people in support did - said most of his support collegues get automatic microsoft updates but not do not use Lenovo automatic updates.

[firejdl]

Are there any alternatives to CSS for using the fingerprint reader as your main method of entering password-protected areas [Web sites, Windows login, etc...]?

Thanks