Windows 8 on a T61 7661 (intel graphics)

[pointyhat]

Has anyone tried Windows 8 x64 Pro on a T61 7661? It's an entirely stock model apart from a Samsung 840 SSD instead of the provided disk and it's got a patched middleton BIOS (2.29-1.08)

AFAIK sticking points after doing some reading so far are:

• X3100 graphics drivers aren't available from Intel so the provided ones will have to do. Not sure if there are any limitations related to that?
• It's only got a 1280x800 screen so Metro won't allow you to split the screen.

Anyone else know anything before I waste an afternoon?

[RealBlackStuff]

The T61/R61/X61 and older were not made for, and will never be supported by W8.
Nor will Lenovo make any W8 drivers or support W8 for those machines.
You will always have driver problems trying to stick W8 on older hardware.
Stop wasting your time and stick with W7 or a Linux flavor.

[pointyhat]

Fair point - what is the earlier series that supports W8 officially?

[hhmcsv]

Well, my old T60 is running W8 pro without any issues like a charm - like a new maschine, crisp and fast. Far superior to W7.

[EasyMac308]

Meh, it'll work, give or take. You're better off with Win7, IMHO. Still, if you want to try it, download the evaluation version from Microsoft and try it. What have you got to lose?

[Sandstorm83]

It works great on my T61 with Intel graphics (8 Pro X64). I installed the X3100 drivers for Windows 7 from the Lenovo site, Power Manager works also and all in all I find it faster than Windows 7. It runs all my programs as good as it did under Windows 7
Although my T61 has a resolution of 1440x900, I find Windows 8 under 1280x800 works well enough on my X200 ( I don't care about the split screen).

[pointyhat]

OK I installed it, then stuck windows 7 back on it after about an hour. Can't stand it. I'd rather use a Mac than Windows 8.

[crashnburn]

OK I installed it, then stuck windows 7 back on it after about an hour. Can't stand it. I'd rather use a Mac than Windows 8.

Should've tried it with Classic Shell

[farmall]

Classic Shell rocks. Also, you can simply turn off Metro.

Google is your friend.

I don't care enough to run 8 so I use Classic Shell on 7.

[crashnburn]

Classic Shell rocks. Also, you can simply turn off Metro.

Google is your friend.

I don't care enough to run 8 so I use Classic Shell on 7.

Me too. I'd have stuck with XP if I was not forced to Win 7 for 8G RAM access.