Thinkpads Forum

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad E430 (14") which I have had for years. It came with Windows 7 Pro (64 bit). I recently updated it to run Windows 10 Pro (now Version 21H1). It seems to work just fine: in fact the colors are much better and the icons larger than on a new Thinkpad T14 I just purchased with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed.

But now every time I boot the E430, I get this error message: "Lenovo Solutions for Small Business discarded some configuration data because the information could not be properly authenticated."

I have never used the Linovo added software except to change from an Ethernet connection to Wi-Fi, and vice versa. I just checked the Lenovo apps installed on this computer, and Windows 10 gave me the following (the first word in each file name except the last is Lenovo, which I am not repeating, except for the last one): On Screen Display ( 8/29/2021), Registration (6/19/2012), Solution Center (8/10/2013), Solutions for Small Business (8/29/2021), Solutions for Small Business Customization (6/19/2012), System Update (1/15/2020), User Guide (6/19/2012), Warranty Information (6/19/2012), Welcome (6/19/2012), and Windows Driver Package-Lenovo 1.65.05.20 (8/29/2021).

I have two questions regarding my E430. First, can I delete all (or some) of these files without affecting my ability to use this computer? Second, I believe that the E430 (and other Thinkpads) have some memory reserved for backup tied in with some of the above apps. If I delete these files, will that memory be released for my general use?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Harry

Looks like Solutions for Small Business Customization (6/19/2012) is the sinner.
Uninstall it via Control Panel/Programs or whatever else Micro$haft concocted on W10.
I guess you "upgraded" from W7 to W10, rather than fresh install W10?
Maybe you should do the latter.

RealBlackStuff:

Thanks for the rapid response. I uninstalled Solutions for Small Business. The message disappeared.

Is there any reason that I cannot uninstall ALL of those Lenovo related items on my list?

Yes, I did an upgrade. I also purchased a new Thinkpad T14, which came with Win 10 Pro installed. I find the upgraded E430 text much easier to read than the new T14, because the upgraded E430 maintains the same font types, colors and text sizes that I set up in Win 7, whereas the T14 with Win 10 does not allow the user to set specific text styles/sizes (or if it does I haven't found it).

Harry

I can't (and won't) say anything useful about W10.
All my machines (except T23 with XP) are sill running W7 and will continue to do so.
Any Lenovo-specific rubbish has been uninstalled long time ago.
To get some idea, read Suggested Lenovo (and ms) bloatware that can be removed.

After reading that link, I got rid of almost everything from Lenovo. I have temporarily kept Lenovo Vantage Service on my new T14, because it appears to have a few useful features. So I plan to look at it a little more closely.

Thanks for all your help in sorting out the Lenovo addons.


Harry

Is it not risky to keep using W7? I dual boot Manjaro and W8.1. 8.1 seemed the best alternative to W10/11 once W7 was no longer supported. Think I'd prefer W7 though.

VanZan:

Life is a risk. I have a new Win 10 Pro laptop, a Win 7 Pro laptop upgraded to Win 10 Pro, and a Win 7 Pro tower. I also have an XP tower which I still run for a couple of very specific programs.

I may try to upgrade the Win 7 tower to Win 10 in the future, but I want to make sure that the current converted laptop works OK. All else being equal, Win 7 is the best Windows version I have owned. It was a shame that M'soft had to tinker with a good thing.

Harry