Lenovo launched a systems health application for the company's ThinkPad laptops and ThinkCentre desktops.

The ThinkVantage Toolbox, built on PC-Doctor's diagnostics technology, monitors system components and notifies PC users of problems and possible remedies before components fail or data is lost. The software is pre-installed with new ThinkPad and ThinkCentre PCs running Windows 7, and a complimentary version is available for download for previously purchased systems running Windows 7, Vista and XP.

The toolbox provides contextual support messaging based on the results of system monitoring and diagnostics tests. The support messages can include offers for relevant products and services to repair a problem.

For example, if a laptop battery is past its prime ability to hold a charge, then ThinkVantage will notify the PC user of the problem and take the person to the Lenovo Web page with the correct replacement part.

"Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox is like having an on-board PC technician," Peter Schrady, VP and general manager of software, peripherals and enterprise products for Lenovo, said in a statement.

The toolbox has five information tabs. The system health tab displays the status of system components, and the security tab monitors password, anti-virus, firewall and other security-related systems.

The business tool tab presents an overview of support messages from Lenovo, and information and assistance with other ThinkVantage tools. The diagnostics tab provides system and component diagnostics to troubleshoot and resolve issues, and the Lenovo support tab displays system messages and other information from the computer maker.

The toolbox also includes a drive space manager that provides a visual analysis of file allocation on the hard drive.

Lenovo and other computer makers offer system monitoring and diagnostic software in order to provide customers with as close to a trouble-free PC as possible. While PC reliability and problem-solving software has gotten better over the years, users still often face difficult-to-trace PC problems stemming from Windows and hardware failures, electrical problems and untrappable operating system assets.

InformationWeek has published a report on troubleshootting mysterious problems.