[T61p] ThinkVantage System Update has encountered a problem and needs to close....

[sparkie49]

Start System Updater and almost immediately  (at 3% progress) get:

ThinkVantage System Update has encountered a problem and needs to close....

and it just won't run. All I can do is hit close.

 I've removed it from the system, rebooted, cleaned the registry, rebooted,
reinstalled, rebooted and it just continually does this.

The system is totally up to date with Windows XP Pro SP3.
ThinkPad T61p
Mod 6459
Microsoft .NET Framewok 2.0  Ver: 2.1.21022

Any pointers? I'm about ready to drop-kick this thing for distance....

I did a search on it but nothing I saw seemed to fit what I'm seeing