Situation: Fresh install of Windows 7 Professional SP1 on my Lenovo Thinkpad SL510. Followed by installing Avast Free Antivirus.
Problem 1: Trying to install the Lenovo Thinkpad Power Manager. PM installs, but creating new power schemes doesn't work, i.e. they aren't saved.
Problem 2: After uninstalling Lenovo Power Manager, I try to work with the built-in Windows Power Manager. Goal: Restore the default Windows Power Schemes. To do so, I open a command line interface *with admin privileges*, and enter 'powercfg -restoredefaultschemes'. Error: "You do not have the permissions required to perform this action."
Solution: Uninstalling Avast. After uninstalling Avast, both Problem 1 and Problem 2 disappear. 'Powercfg -restoredefaultschemes' works as intended, and I am also able to properly install and use the Lenovo Powermanager.
Conclusion: Avast somehow prevents changes to the power managment settings.
Additional information: Turning Avast Shields off does not solve the problem. Only after completely *removing* Avast were the two problems solved.