Thinkpads Forum

Hi: I am getting my first notebook on Monday and I was wondering what is involved in getting it setup properly? I can read and follow the instructions, but what bothers me is if they tell me to push the ThinkVantage key to check for updates...do I just let them all download? I have read stories about a new bios locking up the system because it doesn't work with certain MBs Lenovo puts in. I read someone that had a fuzzy screen and after they removed the current update, it was fine. Any and all constructive suggestions will be welcomed.

I only plan on loading MS Office XP Pro, Photoshop CS2, and a CD/DVD Burner program; or does it come with one?

Also, I use a Netgear wireless router...will I have to load the netgear program on my T60 or will the Lenovo program work with it?

Thanks, Cory

A lot of people like to nuke the service partition that comes on ThinkPads by default and reinstall Windows XPSP2 from scratch to remove all preinstalled software and the like. You certainly don't have to, though. I'm still running my pre-install XP environment, although I nuked the service partition since it didn't work anyway.

The ThinkVantage Access Connections should be able to manage your wireless connection fine. You shouldn't have to install Netgear software.

I've installed all available updates except for the Scroll Lock Indicator Utility because it sounds pointless to me, and I have no problems.

Thanks cxls...I was hoping that ThinkVantage could manage it because the netgear stuff I have on my desktop doesn't work that well. But they were VERY specific in their installation not to let XP handle it, but to use their disk.

Glad to hear that your updates went well and you had no problems.

Cory

I've been on this forum for a while and I would suggest reading through it thoroughly if you remove your service partition, there are down sides to that, one would be always having to carry the CD to reinstall with if you do travel, also while you can install XP from scratch with a retail copy you will still need quite a bit of the software already installed with the service partition to run things smoothly.

My preference is leave the factory install the way it is and remove anything that annoys or you don't need. It is recommended to run a thinkpad with the factory built OS.

If you do intall XP retail be sure to make a copy of the recovery CD's in the event you change your mind later on.

Kyocera :

Could you give examples/list of what you didn't keep and why.

Also, as for the oem os version is concerned, when vista will be released, if you want to run it, you have to buy a retail version.

I hope my T60 can cope with that (a retail version - joke)

Yes, this is what i usually get rid of to make it easier and this is by no means recommended, just what I have determined is best for how I roll it may be easier just to give a list of what I don't keep because the stuff I do is pretty basic to the operation of the machine:

Symantec >gone
Disk keeper >gone
Access Connections>gone
Help Center>gone
Google Tool bar>gone
Picasso>gone
Message Center>gone
Migration Assistant>gone
Fingerprint Software>gone
Easy Eject>gone
ThinkvantageSecurityStuff>gone
Thinkvantage Away Manager>gone

There is a few others I can't think of right now, but I only keep stuff I will use or will effect other programs that I need to use. I found it is good to use you new thinkpad for a while and see what you won't use over a period of time then get rid of it. I don't keep anything on my pc that a thief could use, other than some technical publications and documents, that would really piss a thief off if they were looking for some juicy top secret stuff So that is the rational for removing the security software and the fingerprint software.

I have a beta copy of Vista installed on one of my HD's that is sitting in a drawer right now (emphasis on sitting in a drawer) when Vista gets out and gets rolling and I need to use it to interact with the rest of the world then I'll start worrying about it.

I am curious why you got rid of the Fingerprint Software...isn't that a great way to sign-in? Are the Access Connections for the wireless stuff? You really clean house!

While I know the fingerprint is really cool and all I have no need to secure my TP, not a member of a domain, don't leave it at work, don't have anything on it that is useful. When I push the go button from hibernate I just want the desktop to appear. If I get my fingers cut off or something....then what

I use windows to manage my wireless connections because I jump around a lot and also use my machine to troubleshoot customers networks so anything third party could cause problems.

Kyocera wrote: If I get my fingers cut off or something....then what

Better enter one of your toes..Just in case

If you don't have fingers then forget to use the lappy... kyocera... (joking). There is the control+alt+del option to bypass the fingerprint reader... nevertheless I prefer it. Be cautious about what applications to kill, as I see you don't need a super fast environment, so mos of the utilities will make your life easier... Set clear type fonts, uninstall all symantec applications ... and yes it comes with an entry level DVD/CD burning software (Sonic)... good luck!

Another suggestion Cory: get a camera handy and get pictures of the whole receiving, unpacking and setting experience, and preserve it to enhance and prolong the pleasure... and for our delight too... this is the most exciting ( and short) part of buying a laptop so as Whitman said: "suck the marrow of life" and CARPE DIEM!!!

rleo25

Be cautious about what applications to kill, as I see you don't need a super fast environment, so mos of the utilities will make your life easier... Set clear type fonts, uninstall all symantec applications ... and yes it comes with an entry level DVD/CD burning software (Sonic)... good luck!

Yes this is great advice, along the lines of what I was suggesting. I like the Sonic software because all I really do is entry level stuff mostly data CD's.

I've got a retail version XP pro and have tried it, at first it flies, but ultimately I had to install stuff I needed to run the thinkpad normally, to get updates, configure power management, video, etc. I ususally wound up at a similar point that way as I did with the factory install, and did not have the option of pressing f11 to recover in case somthing really bad happened on the road. Yes you can carry around the 400 cd's (jokie) but I found a recovery from f11 is faster than with the CD's.

Kyocera wrote:Yes, this is what i usually get rid of to make it easier and this is by no means recommended, just what I have determined is best for how I roll it may be easier just to give a list of what I don't keep because the stuff I do is pretty basic to the operation of the machine:

Symantec >gone
Disk keeper >gone
Access Connections>gone
Help Center>gone
Google Tool bar>gone
Picasso>gone
Message Center>gone
Migration Assistant>gone
Fingerprint Software>gone
Easy Eject>gone
ThinkvantageSecurityStuff>gone
Thinkvantage Away Manager>gone

There is a few others I can't think of right now, but I only keep stuff I will use or will effect other programs that I need to use. I found it is good to use you new thinkpad for a while and see what you won't use over a period of time then get rid of it. I don't keep anything on my pc that a thief could use, other than some technical publications and documents, that would really piss a thief off if they were looking for some juicy top secret stuff So that is the rational for removing the security software and the fingerprint software.

I have a beta copy of Vista installed on one of my HD's that is sitting in a drawer right now (emphasis on sitting in a drawer) when Vista gets out and gets rolling and I need to use it to interact with the rest of the world then I'll start worrying about it.

Do you have a list of the sofware you keep on the t60 ?
Thx.

Yes, here is my list:

Ati-Software Uninstall Utility
Ati-Cayalyst Control Center
Ati-Display Driver
Ati Hydravision
High Definition Audio Driver Package
Intel R PRO Network Connection Drivers
Intel R PROset/Wireless Software
InterVideo WinDVD Creator
PC Doctor 5 for windows
Productivity Center Supplement for Thinkpad
Record Now Audio
Record Now Data
Record Now Multimedia Center
Thinkpad Bluetooth with Enhanced Data Rate Software
Thinkpad Configuration
Thinkpad Keyboard Customizer Utility
Thinkpad Power Management Driver
Thinkpad Power Manager
Thinkpad Presentaion Director
THinkpad Ultra Nav Driver
Thinkpad Ultra Nav Wizard
ThinkVantage Active Protection System
ThinkVantage Productivity Center
ThinkVantage System Update
Trackpoint Accessibility Features
VZAccess Manager for Lenovo

I use AVG free edition and Windows Defender (both free)

rleo25 wrote:Be cautious about what applications to kill, as I see you don't need a super fast environment, so mos of the utilities will make your life easier... Set clear type fonts, uninstall all symantec applications ... and yes it comes with an entry level DVD/CD burning software (Sonic)... good luck!

Why did you uninstall all symantec applications? Do you not like it? What virus protection did you replace it with? Thanks, Cory

rleo25 wrote:Another suggestion Cory: get a camera handy and get pictures of the whole receiving, unpacking and setting experience, and preserve it to enhance and prolong the pleasure... and for our delight too... this is the most exciting ( and short) part of buying a laptop so as Whitman said: "suck the marrow of life" and CARPE DIEM!!!

rleo...it sounds like you want me to write a review and post pictures, ha!

Symantec applications are resource hogs and can cause computer problems.

I replaced the antivirus software with NOD-32, which works amazingly. My best software investment ever.

rleo25 wrote:Another suggestion Cory: get a camera handy and get pictures of the whole receiving, unpacking and setting experience, and preserve it to enhance and prolong the pleasure... and for our delight too... this is the most exciting ( and short) part of buying a laptop so as Whitman said: "suck the marrow of life" and CARPE DIEM!!!

While I tend to discount comments involving carpe diem (because of what actually popularized the phrase and how the phrase was held in ancient Rome), I plan on putting together a little photo story when mine arrives on Wednesday.

Well you got the idea indeed martinspike... yes I am suggesting you enjoy eveery minute as of the moment you receive your lappys... these are very rewarding moments in life, that you've got with effort and hard work, and deserve to prolong the satisfaction as much as you can...

Now as your question Cory on symantec apps it has been answered allready by cxls, they ralent your equipment performance, there are other efficient anti-virus, I used kaspersky, now I have avira, seems less heavy and demanding on resources than the russian one.

Today I am developing some ideas arround design, quality, and speed of change issues in the IT industry, that leave to some interesting conclutions and debate on the notebooks life cycle and how much money should we spend in the purchase...

I'll post when finished in the corresponding forum area...

Oh yes! I am suggesting you write down a review with plenty of pictures Cory and Martin... at least the pics...

By the way I've some first hand benchmarks compared of my last 4 lappys and the T60 has surpased the T42 by 50% in Passmark and 233% in Megaflops!!! extrordinary isn't it?

marlinspike wrote:

rleo25 wrote:Another suggestion Cory: get a camera handy and get pictures of the whole receiving, unpacking and setting experience, and preserve it to enhance and prolong the pleasure... and for our delight too... this is the most exciting ( and short) part of buying a laptop so as Whitman said: "suck the marrow of life" and CARPE DIEM!!!

While I tend to discount comments involving carpe diem (because of what actually popularized the phrase and how the phrase was held in ancient Rome), I plan on putting together a little photo story when mine arrives on Wednesday.

Well marlinspike, after having UPS change my deliver from 11/6 to 11/7 and back to 11/6, it FINALLY arrived! The box is much smaller than I thought...can't wait to open it! Hope yours comes 11/7 like promised! Cory

corymcnutt wrote:Well marlinspike, after having UPS change my deliver from 11/6 to 11/7 and back to 11/6, it FINALLY arrived! The box is much smaller than I thought...can't wait to open it! Hope yours comes 11/7 like promised! Cory

Mine's promised on 11/8

'That's curious, I had the same idea when I opened the door to the mail man... oh! the box seems smaller and lighter than what I though... Well I am glad you received the toy, must be busy now... tell us your first impressions please!