SMBIOS drivers

[Don Phillipson]

What does SMBIOS do and must it?
The IBM 8113 "ThinkVantage" desktop installed here for "naive users" had
Lenovo management software atop WinXP (SP3) that worked
OK for nearly a year -- until a Lenovo upgrade munged the automatic
backup system (which the Lenovo web site referred to PCDoctor, its
platform, and PCDoctor energetically responded by telephone, only to
say this was a Lenovo problem PCDoctor could not help.)

So I uninstalled all the Lenovo software (and thereafter deleted numerous
leftover \Lenovo\ folders) -- only to find later in Device Manager a couple
of
SMBIOS entries, for SMBIOS and SMBUS, nonfunctional for lack of drivers.

But does it really matter? The PC seems to run just as before (except for
a broken wireless link, which I am 66% sure is a hardware fault in the old
wireless G router running the house network from the basement.)

What does SMBIOS do and do we really need it?

 

[Jim]

What does SMBIOS do and must it?
The IBM 8113 "ThinkVantage" desktop installed here for "naive users" had
Lenovo management software atop WinXP (SP3) that worked
OK for nearly a year -- until a Lenovo upgrade munged the automatic
backup system (which the Lenovo web site referred to PCDoctor, its
platform, and PCDoctor energetically responded by telephone, only to
say this was a Lenovo problem PCDoctor could not help.)

So I uninstalled all the Lenovo software (and thereafter deleted numerous
leftover \Lenovo\ folders) -- only to find later in Device Manager a couple
of
SMBIOS entries, for SMBIOS and SMBUS, nonfunctional for lack of drivers.

But does it really matter? The PC seems to run just as before (except for
a broken wireless link, which I am 66% sure is a hardware fault in the old
wireless G router running the house network from the basement.)

What does SMBIOS do and do we really need it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_BIOS

 

[glee]

What does SMBIOS do and must it?
The IBM 8113 "ThinkVantage" desktop installed here for "naive users"
had
Lenovo management software atop WinXP (SP3) that worked
OK for nearly a year -- until a Lenovo upgrade munged the automatic
backup system (which the Lenovo web site referred to PCDoctor, its
platform, and PCDoctor energetically responded by telephone, only to
say this was a Lenovo problem PCDoctor could not help.)

So I uninstalled all the Lenovo software (and thereafter deleted
numerous
leftover \Lenovo\ folders) -- only to find later in Device Manager a
couple of
SMBIOS entries, for SMBIOS and SMBUS, nonfunctional for lack of
drivers.

But does it really matter? The PC seems to run just as before
(except for
a broken wireless link, which I am 66% sure is a hardware fault in the
old
wireless G router running the house network from the basement.)

What does SMBIOS do and do we really need it?

Look in \Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo, if it exists, and execute /
install these two files if found:
psainst.exe and i2cinst.exe

If not there, try installing the National Semiconductor Trusted Platform
Module (TPM) driver for the ThinkCentre A52, M52
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-60643


System Management BIOS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_BIOS

SMBIOS FAQ
http://www.pcpitstop.com/faq/smbios.asp

 

[Paul]

What does SMBIOS do and must it?
The IBM 8113 "ThinkVantage" desktop installed here for "naive users" had
Lenovo management software atop WinXP (SP3) that worked
OK for nearly a year -- until a Lenovo upgrade munged the automatic
backup system (which the Lenovo web site referred to PCDoctor, its
platform, and PCDoctor energetically responded by telephone, only to
say this was a Lenovo problem PCDoctor could not help.)

So I uninstalled all the Lenovo software (and thereafter deleted numerous
leftover \Lenovo\ folders) -- only to find later in Device Manager a couple
of
SMBIOS entries, for SMBIOS and SMBUS, nonfunctional for lack of drivers.

But does it really matter? The PC seems to run just as before (except for
a broken wireless link, which I am 66% sure is a hardware fault in the old
wireless G router running the house network from the basement.)

What does SMBIOS do and do we really need it?

My guess would be, without an SMBUS driver, you won't be able
to get the program "CPUZ" to list timing information for
your memory modules. Normally, this is a very well behaved program,
but it should be interesting to see what happens when there is no
SMBUS. SMBUS is a serial bus off the Southbridge, that is used
to read the SPD chip on each DIMM. It is one of the slowest buses
in the computer, running at something like 10 KHz.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

You can get an SMBUS driver, by using the chipset drivers for your
motherboard. Your chipset is apparently 945G, which is an Intel
chipset. You can go to downloadcenter.intel.com and get a
chipset driver package. Note - the following link is just an
example. You should burrow down through the chipset driver section
and verify this is the right one.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...ct=Intel®+945+Express+Chipset+Family&lang=eng

*******

I guess The SMBIOS is one way for a computer program, to get a hold
of the DMI hardware inventory info. That's what it says here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMBIOS

That is quite different, than this PC feature, which also
happens to begin with SM. This is a means for the BIOS
to run in the background at all times, with the OS being
completely unaware of what it is doing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_Mode

If you had a program with a name like "DMI Explorer", perhaps
it needs SMBIOS to work ? If you have a copy of Everest (Free)
Home Edition, you can go to Computer : DMI : Chassis and
get an example of some of the info stored in DMI inside
the BIOS chip. Mine has never been populated, but a person
who builds computers for a living, would write into the
Manufacturer field, and leave their "TradeMark" there. The
first PC I ever owned, was built by a local company, and
as part of the build, they write their company name into
the "Manufacturer" field. That would stay there, until a
BIOS flashing tool was used to remove it.

(Everest)

http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Chassis Properties [these are defaults untouched on my motherboard]

Manufacturer Chassis Manufacture
Version Chassis Version
Serial Number Chassis Serial Number
Asset Tag Asset-1234567890 <---- my favorite
Chassis Type Desktop Case
Boot-Up State Safe
Power Supply State Safe
Thermal State Safe
Security Status None

I've had many a computer, with an asset value of 1234567890.
I feel right at home, when I see that.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Don Phillipson]

Look in \Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo, if it exists, and execute /
install these two files if found:
psainst.exe and i2cinst.exe

If not there, try installing the National Semiconductor Trusted Platform
Module (TPM) driver for the ThinkCentre A52, M52
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-60643

Fortunately those Lenovo INST.EXE files survived on an old backup,
used, worked OK, thank you. I am obliged to the other respondent
for homework too!