Computers: • Windows 10 64-Bit: Validated on XPS-13-9350. Install Intel(R) Thunderbolt Controller Driver available to the system.
I have a Lenovo T570 laptop running Windows 10 which yesterday appeared to unexpectedly install a new program.
The program appears in my start menu and has also added itself to my system services which commence at Startup. It is called 'Thunderbolt Software'.
Internet searches for this program show that there is legitimate software developed by Intel with this name. What concerns me is that it installed itself with no action from my side. I did not knowingly download or install anything, I did not plug any device in, and I was not even running a Windows Update. The software is running in the background.
On the other hand, it is making no attempt to hide itself, it appears in my programs list, it displays an icon in the system tray, and it is installed to the C:Program Files (x86)Intel folder.
I have run malware scans on my PC and no problems have been found.
Has anyone else experienced this program installing itself, and is it safe?
3 Answers
Has anyone else experienced this program installing itself and is it safe?
This software was not installed by itself. It was included in a software package installed, you did install, which was either an Intel or Lenovo software package. This legitimate software can be safely removed if you are not using a Thunderbolt device.
Based on my research it was likely installed due to Thunderbolt™ Bus Driver for Intel or some equivalent previous version of the driver package.
I opened Lenovo 'System Update' and checked for updates.
System Update is a Lenovo software package that will install software packages released by Lenovo for your device. System Update can be safely removed to prevent this from happening again. System Update does not install Windows Updates, it only keeps Lenovo software packages updated, which all can be downloaded manually.
Since it installed Thunderbolt Firmware Update Utility for T-Series which install the compatible version of the Intel Thunderbolt Bus Drivers for your device. The Intel link was only used to indicate that, the Thunderbolt Software application, is due to the drivers being installed.
Thunderbolt 3 Controller Firmware Update Tool for Intel is the Intel equivalent of this tool that was pushed to you. If you need the firmware tool, you should install the one provided by Lenovo, the Intel links are being used as an illustration that the software is legitimate.
Has anyone else experienced this program installing itself, and is it safe?
First of all, yes this is a legitimate, hence safe, Intel software for a system that supports Thunderbolt. Since Lenovo T570 has 1 Thunderbolt port, you will need this software in order to use a Thunderbolt device, such as a Thunderbolt storage, external graphics, thunderbolt dock etc (https://thunderbolttechnology.net/tech). Without this software, you won't be able to use a Thunderbolt device. Thus, this 'required' software comes pre-installed.Even if you uninstall this software (from Program Uninstall or Uninstall right-clicking the app), windows update might install it again--this is not because the software is malicious, it is because windows update installs the drivers that are needed for the system to operate properly.
The software is legitimate software from Intel, and often re-packaged by different OEMs (Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc.)This software is packaged with the Thunderbolt driver which will be installed by Windows IF it hasn't been installed already, you should be able to safely remove the software, but you will not be able to use the Thunderbolt ports as Thunderbolt ports; they will be limited to the functionality of USB-C 3.1 (non PCIe and only 10 Gbps instead of 40 Gbps).
The problem I have with this software is that it requires admin rights for some odd reason, at least on our Thinkpad Carbon X1s, we set all of our devices and users for least access, which means only higher up IT staff get local admin, thus the people who use these Thunderbolt equipped devices, can't use Thunderbolt devices. No option seems to be given for 'install for all users' on either the Lenovo source, or the Intel source install media. Because it requires admin rights to run, and nearly all users do not have admin rights, we had to remove the software because of the constant prompts for admin UAC whenever a device was plugged into a TB3 port, at login, and periodically throughout the day.
TL;DR: as an institution we can't install this software or use any Thunderbolt devices at all because only we few IT have the admin rights required to run the software after install. Thankfully Thunderbolt 3 still works as USB-C without this software installed.
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Dell XPS 15 9570, Driver selection for clean install
Hello, I just received my Dell XPS 15 9570.
My setup is the following:
1 210-AOYM XPS 15 (9570)
1 486-27723 CNX97007
1 338-BOMR 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-8950HK Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.8 GHz, 6 cores)
1 391-BDSZ 15.6' 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Anti-Reflective Touch IPS100% AdobeRGB 400-Nits display
1 370-AEFR 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 2666MHz
1 400-AXKC 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Solid State Drive
1 450-AHFL 130W Power Adapter
1 451-BCGF 6-Cell 97WHr Integrated
1 555-BDEY Killer 1535 802.11ac 2x2 WiFi and Bluetooth
1 583-BCVL Backlight Keyboard (English)
1 619-ANNT Windows 10 Home 64bit English, French, Spanish
1 490-BEMR NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 1050Ti with 4GB GDDR5
As recommended in other subreddits, I did a clean install of Windows 10.
In order to do a clean install, you need Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO
And the drivers from Dell: http://www.dell.com/support/home/es/es/esdhs1/product-support/product/xps-15-9570-laptop/drivers
The thing is, not all the drivers are mandatory in order to have your computer running. Also, some other drivers are automatically installed by Windows 10.
Here is my list of drivers available at Dell's website, and what you have to do. The drivers that are not listed, are not required.
Intel Chipset Device Software Driver
10.1.17541.8066 ,A00
Intel-Chipset-Device-Software-Driver_691VF_WIN_10.1.17541.8066_A00
Download, and manual install
Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework
Versión 8.4.10500.5526, A00
Intel-Dynamic-Platform-and-Thermal-Framework_JPXGW_WIN_8.4.10500.5526_A00.EXE
Installed by Windows
Intel HID Event Filter Driver
Versión 2.2.1.369, A07
Intel-HID-Event-Filter-Driver_KK611_WIN_2.2.1.369_A07.EXE
Installed by Windows
Intel Management Engine Components Installer
Versión 1813.12.0.1121, A00
Intel-Management-Engine-Components-Installer_F0FXY_WIN_1813.12.0.1121_A00.EXE
Download, and manual install
Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver and Management Console
Versión 16.0.2.1086, A01
Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Driver-and-Management_KFRJ3_WIN_16.0.2.1086_A01.EXE
Download, and manual install
Intel Serial IO Driver
Versión 30.100.1727.1, A00
Intel-Serial-IO-Driver_JDWW7_WIN_30.100.1727.1_A00.EXE
Installed by Windows
Intel Software Guard Extensions Platform Software
Versión 1.9.100.41172, A01
Intel-Software-Guard-Extensions-Platform-Software_8HRM0_WIN64_1.9.100.41172_A01_01.EXE
Installed by Windows
Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver
Versión 17.3.73.350, A06
Intel-Thunderbolt-Controller-Driver_0XCPP_WIN_17.3.73.350_A06.EXE
Download, and manual install
Realtek ALC3266 Audio Driver
Versión 6.0.1.8428, A01
Realtek-ALC3266-Audio-Driver_04Y4G_WIN_6.0.1.8428_A01.EXE
Download, and manual install
Realtek PCIE Memory Card Reader Driver
Versión 10.0.16299.21304, A00
Realtek-PCIE-Memory-Card-Reader-Driver_6G1JT_WIN_10.0.16299.21304_A00.EXE
Download, and manual install
Dell Power Manager Service
Versión 3.0.0, A00
Dell-Power-Manager-Service_XJ50Y_WIN64_3.0.0_A00.EXE
Download, and manual install. Also install the App from the Microsoft Store
NVIDIA GTX1050 Ti
Uninstall the one that Windows installs automatically. Restart. Install the new one.
Look for 'GeForce 10 Series (Notebook)'. Perform clean install when the NVIDIA driver offers you.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience, is not necesary.
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Version: 24.20.100.6136 (Latest) Date: 6/5/2018
Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver Hp
Uninstall the one that Windows installs automatically. Restart. Install the new one.
BIOS
Dell Thunderbolt Driver Windows 10
Press 'F2' or 'F12' to get in
Sleep issue
Computer won't go to sleep.
Change atBIOS>Power Management>Sleep Mode>Force S3(not available after BIOS 1.3+. Follow the RegEdit solution below)
More information at:
Please, let me know if I'm missing something.
Thanks!