IBM Update Connector

Just wondering if anyone has had this problem or found a workaround.

I've just bought a X40 (Love it!) which has IBM Update connector 6.0 installed. It cannot connect to the IBM Helpcenter. Looking at the IBM home site there is no mention of a version 6 - infact the latest download is 5.32! In addition when searching through the FAQ there is a mention of problems accessing the site through a firewall - so I turned it off on the gateway computer (Local LAN connecting to internet broadband through the main computer) but still no help.

Any ideas?

The process of updating manually seems arduous.

Cheers,
BM

 

I never tried using mine as I got rid of most of that stuff as I did not want any services like that running in the background at all times checking for updates. I also found that by running AdAware, a few of the programs that come with the IBM systems to assist in troubleshooting and updates were considered spyware, so I got rid og them all. What I did was got to the IBM site and click on "support & downloads" then click on "downloads and drivers" and then enter the model #. Like mine is 2897GAU, it will then give a list of all the drivers. You can create a shortcut to this page and check it once in a while for updates; but don't blindly do every update that comes out as most of them are just to add support to a newer model and like any software there is a chance that while fixing one thing it breaks another. If your having an issue and an update says it addresses it, by all means apply the update. But after many software updates(not from IBM, but other software/firmware) that broke something else, I'm a big believer of the old saying " if it isn't broke then don't fix it"

Good Luck
Jack

The color of justice in america is green.
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

I know where you are coming from.

One of the reasons why I wanted the connector to work is so it would update fairly seamlessly. There are a lot of updates on the site but I'm a bit reluctant to go applying things just because they are updated. However.. there may be some improvements in battery life or other things (eg. bios update) which although "isn't broke" - may be helpful.

As for getting rid of the pre-install. Well I did this on my old thinkpad and my old Dell. This was so I could get rid of the crap and use the thinkpad the way I wanted it. This time however, with the x40, my feelings have changed. The x40 isn't the supercomputer that will run Doom 3 - its a solution to a problem. Mainly a portability problem. I don't need to squeeze the last extra Mb from the HDD and don't need to overclock it. So my approach to this thinkpad is different. I figure I paid for these extra programs... might as well see what they do -

The Update connector seems cool. Like windows update. The advantage over manually downloading is that it (a) sorts it out for you (from what I can see) and (b) Has a list so you can see what updates have been applied (This is think is useful).

But as I said before - getting rid of most of the software and getting a clean install is something I can relate to.

Thanks for the input.

BM.

 

You might try to see if your browser security settings or firewall are preventing the connection to the IBM helpcenter, I've seen that kind of problem in the past. Also try call IBM support, like you said, you paid for it you might as well try it out

If you get it working let me know what you think of it.

Jack

The color of justice in america is green.
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

Just updating you on my progress....

Called IBM and they didn't know about a version 6 of the update connector - the most recent version that they could find was 5.32 which is what I had found to be the most recent version on the net. They advised me to replace version 6 with 5.32 and give that a go... it states it has a fix for failures with proxy/firewalls. So I did that (If figured that if V6 wasn't working then might as well try V5.32 - the fact that V6 is listed anywhere is... curious)

It didn't work.

Called again. The next person I talked to said it was better just to install it directly from the web. This is fair enough but I've been so spoilt with windows update I was hoping the same from IBM. (I eventually have done this with all the mucking around. I found the IBM software installer which told me all the versions of the individual software that I have which made this MUCH easier. Fairly easy in the end as long as I didn't stress about the warnings and subnotes ). When I went through the problem - that it stops at 32% with an "error contacting IBM Helpcenter" he thought he had found it on their helpdesk software. He suggested a few things and pulled out a x40 himself from the cupboard which I thought was a nice thing to do. In the end we still couldn't get this to work so he has escalated this to a higher level and I will have to contact tommorrow.

I'm curious to see where this leads so I'll give it a go.

IBM Helpcenter where reasonably helpful and approachable. They obviously have a better access to the help engine than I do on the web - has anyone noticed the convoluted path to get to a driver matrix? They are also open till 9pm in Australia which is helpful.

And they all speak english and none are named "Charles" and want to talk to me about the local weather. (I hope I never have to call HP again...)

Cheers,
Naresh.

 

Went to call tech support again.

Tried the Update connector and it worked!

I have no idea what happened.

They suggested that the server may have been down but I've been trying for several days.

Anyway... problem solved.

Little dissatisfied that I didn't get to the root of the problem.

BM.

 

Same problems here - I'm a loyal IBM Thinkpad supporter - X20/22/30/31/40 but I the Update program has consistently been poor in comparison to the Microsoft update s/w.

I'm now experiencing the same 'connector' problem (v6.0) as preloaded - gets to 66% but then hangs or says the IBM server is down. I think it's a problem with JavaW but can't see why/how. On one (just one) occassion it did seem to link all the way through and did get some updates but it hasn't worked since.

A fundamentally poor configuration it seems for such an important function.

Disappointing and Dell looks better each day...

 

does anyone know where one can download v6.0 of the update connector?

 

[ ]just a little humour[ ]

bitemebw you are #1 on google [ ] - I typed "IBM Update Connector 6.0" on google and your post is the number one suggestion by google - hehehehe

 

For those that like to use IBM Update Connector, there is a version 6.10 available here http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=AIBM-INDEX for download. I think that the update connector is a fine idea, but it would be great for IBM to depend a little less on "java" - I see that most programs from IBM (like the update connector) are java based.

 

hehe... I'm number one at something.

I actually don't mind IBM using JAVA as such. I think it follows with their philosophy. The microsoft web based process is better though - at least in design if not process.

But be grateful. IBM at least has a program that does this - and a couple of other nifty programs (thank you access connections, thank you software installer for giving version numbers of drivers, thank you battery maximizer wizard). I also have an emachines which has non existant driver support page ("i'm still waiting for a fixlet"). I've just used a toshiba which has nothing like update connector and hp/compaq isn't much better. At least the one that I had.

My 2c.

Cheers,
BM.

 

I agree that the programs are really helpful and yes like IBM Access Connections makes life VERY easy I am thankfull to IBM for those "useful" programs. I have had a few Dell Latitudes. However I do commend their product support strategie(s). (By the way I used to work right next to Dell in NSW, Australia). Anyway, they allow you to subscribe (via e-mail) to their 'file watch' allows you to simply be notified as soon as let's say a new BIOS upgrade file or new video driver is available. But yes we at least DO get support (which is in all sincerity is good technical support) from IBM.

 

This is a little off topic but i have grown to hate DELL. I bought a DELL a while ago and was initially very pleased with its performance and support overall. But then I compared it to a thinkpad at the time and I noticed where they cut corners. Little things. The power supply was smaller and more compact. More friendly to wrap the power cord around. The trackpoint - which to me is such a better idea than the clumsy window-thing. I can keep my hands on the keyboard and move the mouse. The little blank cards they put in the card slots are crap - where do you put them when you use them? And, although the support is good I found that IBM was still updating some of the obsolete models years after whereas DELL went on to other things.

And then the screen broke.

My wifes thinkpad 365XD still works.

I realise that everyone has there horror story and that dell has gone on to bigger and better things but that is the image that I always associate with DELL.

The support and quality has always impressed me about IBM and the X40 has lived up to that reputation in my eyes.

/?Fanboy off

Cheers,
BM.