TVSU fails to install updates on machine with 8.3 filenames disabled

Question

Hi all,
I have experienced TSVU (4.0) failing to install updates on some machines (W7 ultimate 64 bits), but working fine on some other similar equipped machines.
I have now investigated the issue, and browsing through logfiles on a working and non-working machine reveals that system update on one machine extracts the files using the command:
os7005ww_64.exe /VERYSILENT /DIR=C:\PROGRA~2\Lenovo\SYSTEM~1\session\OS7005~2\ 
Both the "program files (x86)" and "system update" directories has been changed to their proper 8.3 names.
On the non working machine the call was:
os7005ww_64.exe /VERYSILENT /DIR=C:\PROGRA~2\Lenovo\system update\session\OS7005~2\ 
But this string seems to not be quoted properly when executed, so all the extracted files end up in a new catalog:
C:\PROGRA~2\Lenovo\system
From here all subsequent install calls then fails!
The problematic machine had the NTFS 8.3 filename creation disabled, i think this might be the culprit! I have now changed this to the deafult value, uninstalled TVSU, and rebooted.
But when i now try to install TVSU, it simply refuses It just pops up a windows installer window describing the command switches and exits.
*sigh*
I think the 8.3 filename problem could be the cause of other people experiencing TVSU installer problems, and this should propably be looked at by lenovo?
The failure to install it anew, i haven't figured out yet - anyone???
regards,
Jesper

Answer 1

Hi all
You can verify the status of the short name of the  "system update" directory  (the primary problem) by doing the commands below. The problem i think, starts when short name generaten is turned off when _installing_ TVSU. then the SYSTEM~1 shortname will not be generated, and the program will revert to use long names, but quoting them wrong!
try:
cd c:\program files (x86)\lenovo
dir /n /x
IF TVSU is installed while short name generation is turned on (short name generated on install) you will get something like:
20-01-2010  20:52    <DIR>                       .
20-01-2010  20:52    <DIR>                       ..
06-01-2011  10:30    <DIR>          ACCESS~1     Access Connections
18-08-2009  14:11    <DIR>          ACTIVE~1     Active Update
18-08-2009  14:19    <DIR>                       Dipmon
18-08-2009  14:17    <DIR>                       FPIRPOn
06-01-2011  10:25    <DIR>                       PkgMgr
25-10-2009  19:14    <DIR>          SYSTEM~1     System Update
15-10-2009  15:56            11.264              TVSU_TPC.DLL
Notice the SYSTEM~1 shortname, if installed using no short names, that place will be blank.
As an update i can tell i 'fixed' the machine having problems by enabling the short name generation and renaming, then copying the "system update" catalog, thus generating the short name for it - everything works again :-)
PS: as a side notice on a machine with short names disabled and running as a user with a space in the user name TVSU will not even install, as it messes up with the space in the temp directoy (in the users home catalog)
But somebody really should fix this, as it is very normal to read in tuning guides for SSD drives (Thinkpads with SSD anyone to disable this short name generation among other things...
regards,
Jesper