Thinkpads Forum

This is my first laptop. I just plugged in my new T60 and am sitting at the opening screen. I've done NOTHING! It wants me to click "Next." I figure before I dive in, I'd like to solicit comments concerning how I set this thing up. I'm sure there's a bunch I know nothing about, but what occurs to me is stuff like OS configuration, password(s), fingerprint reader. Is there anything I should really get right immediately that can't be easily changed later, or might not even find out about?

Is it considered wise (or easy) to create partitions? It seems to me that I might avoid problems including data loss if I have the OS on a different partition from my apps and data partitions. On my desktops I always have multiple partitions and I generally multiboot just for the ease of troubleshooting that this affords me.

Thanks!

The system:

T60
T5500 1.7 GHz
GMA950 video
14.1 SXGA+
60 GB 5400 HD
1.5 GB RAM
CDRW/DVD-Rom
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN
Fingerprint reader
XP Professional
6 Cell
Extra AC Adapter

I second the question on partitions. Even though I haven't received the laptop yet, my plan is to immediately create the recovery discs, delete the main windows partition, create two more in its place (probably 40GB--enough for Vista--for System and the rest for data). I have read that when the restore occurs that it will only bother the partition for the C: drive. I haven't confirmed that this will work, but it does seem plausible and would be very nice. Hopefully my partition playing will not harm the recovery partition and I will just be able to use the on-disk restore option.

I might eventually try to clean format the computer using a seperate Windows CD that can be made using the preload files, but this will wait at least until I need to reformat anyway.

I am not sure if I fully get ur question:
Partition will not harm ur restore parition part unless you decide to delete it.
When I got my T60, the first thing I did was parition coz I didnt wanna me C drive to be 100G.
creating recovery discs is not necessary unless u decide to exchange a new hard drive for your machine. hmmm, I use Norton GHOST which is my best way to backup my system drive.

You can partition it fine as long as you first secure the HPA and try to stick to only adding more partitions/shrinking the existing ones after the point at which the modified MBR looks for the HPA.

Quick question which will help me understand better, what is the default partition layout for a new ThinkPad? Does it go Recovery then Windows or Windows then Recovery? How large is the Recovery partition?

Ronan, the only reason I wanted to make sure and burn the Recovery Discs was in case I made a mistake while playing with the partitions. Also, did you delete the whole Windows partition and then create two more or did you make the Windows partition smaller and then create another partition?

The other part of the question is whether the restore will harm the partition setup? If I partition the drive with two blank partitions, will the restore just use one and I can format the other later?

christopher_wolf wrote:You can partition it fine as long as you first secure the HPA and try to stick to only adding more partitions/shrinking the existing ones after the point at which the modified MBR looks for the HPA.

HPA would be what? Host Protection Area? I've never heard of this before (looked it up at www.acronymfinder.com). What is the process here? Is there a FAQ or thread(s) than can guide me in these things? Thanks!

BTW, I'll be on the U.C.B. campus tonight, not that I want to bug you. Just an aside. You may recognize the quote in my sig as being from the book being given to incoming freshmen at Cal.

To respond to the partition question, I was just mucking with the partition table on my new T60p ...my 100gb drive had a 4gb recovery partion at the front of the disc, and the rest as a single NTFS volume.
Just FYI, the objective of my tampering is to blow away the (cheap) XP Home I orderd with with XP Pro (legitamately on a VLK) and ArchLinux dualboot) . I find it uncomfortable to run windows that I didn't set up myself, so I went ahead and wasted the HPA partition after making restore discs in case something went wrong.

simms has a Sticky in the T4x Series forum for new users. Some of the information is different for the T6x Series, but you will still probably find useful information.

GUIDE: New Owners, steps to get the most from your system!

GomJabbar wrote:simms has a Sticky in the T4x Series forum for new users. Some of the information is different for the T6x Series, but you will still probably find useful information.

GUIDE: New Owners, steps to get the most from your system!

Phew! Some ideas there but it's a real hodgepodge and it seems that more than 1/2 of it is devoted to people talking about their keyboards and if they should try to get them replaced with a superior keyboard by Lenovo. It's anything but a FAQ, just a somewhat random collection of ideas, and T43 specific for the most part. I'm sure there are some ideas there that pertain to my new T60, but I'll only find that out by poking around (on the machine and likely in these forums). Thanks anyhow.

So far, I got tired of waiting around for answers in this thread, couldn't find a way to turn the machine off (again, I'd done nothing whatsoever other than turn the thing on), so I pulled out the power plug and then removed the battery! That was sure to turn it off. Presumably, when I turn it back on I will find myself at the same screen, begging me to click "Next."

Muse, read back through this conference there are a lot of post's relative to the t60, it may take a while but I remember posting a list of what I get rid of immediately and what I keep and why. The main thing is to do what works for you and streamline your system to your particular needs.

I'll look back a ways and see if I can get some links for you.

Here's one I found way back on page 9, and reading through the titles and browsing there is a lot of others relative to your post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32806

Kyocera wrote:Muse, read back through this conference there are a lot of post's relative to the t60, it may take a while but I remember posting a list of what I get rid of immediately and what I keep and why. The main thing is to do what works for you and streamline your system to your particular needs.

I'll look back a ways and see if I can get some links for you.

Here's one I found way back on page 9, and reading through the titles and browsing there is a lot of others relative to your post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32806

Thanks, Kyocera. By "this conference" I presume you mean maybe the "ThinkPad T60 Series" collection of threads (?).

I won't have time to do anything more tonight, but will check out that link and any others provided and additions to this thread, of course. Thanks to all!

Is the mic input mono?

I go to Lenovo's site and put in my product code (1953CTO) and it can't find it. Also, CTO isn't in the dropdown list of product codes for the T60. What's up with that?

How do I find out the specifics on what's in my machine (i.e. manufacturers of specific parts, part numbers, etc.)? Is that only available from the machine itself (i.e. on screen?). TIA.

Hi..
CTO means that you customized the machine, it is not a std model. So to find out exactly what you purchased in the machine,you should have received some printout when you ordered the machine, you can also use the first 4 digits that should give you a general idea. If you have it with a working os go into system and expand everything so you can see what video, wireless, wired etc you have. Hope that helps. It will get a bit hard to update drivers if u do them manually, we just purchase off the shelf models for work.

johnp126 wrote:Hi..
CTO means that you customized the machine, it is not a std model. So to find out exactly what you purchased in the machine,you should have received some printout when you ordered the machine, you can also use the first 4 digits that should give you a general idea. If you have it with a working os go into system and expand everything so you can see what video, wireless, wired etc you have. Hope that helps. It will get a bit hard to update drivers if u do them manually, we just purchase off the shelf models for work.

Thanks. There were no part numbers given when I ordered online, and none included with the laptop. Use the first four digits of what? I suppose you mean 1953. I think that's very broad and won't tell me what specific components are in the machine.

I haven't configured the machine yet so I can't go into Windows to find out what I can find out. I suppose the part numbers won't be available there either, but presumably some identifying characteristics will be there for many of the components. I wonder how I get the rest of the info. For instance, how do I determine what keyboard I have?

What I got online is this:

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5500[1]
Genuine Windows® XP Professional[12]
14.1 SXGA+ TFT[]
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 w/o WWAN[]
1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
60 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
6 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
Express - 1 Yr Depot Warranty[7]

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN[] Integrated Wi-Fi Wireless a/b/g

Bluetooth[] Integrated Bluetooth PAN

Processor[] Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5500

Operating system[] Genuine Windows® XP Professional

Operating system language[] Microsoft Windows XP Professional US English

Display type[] 14.1 SXGA+ TFT

System graphics[] Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 w/o WWAN

Total memory[] 1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)

Keyboard[] Keyboard US English

Fingerprint reader[] Integrated fingerprint reader

Pointing device[] UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)

Hard drive[] 60 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm

Optical device[] CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim

Wireless cards[] ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ

Battery[] 6 cell Li-Ion Battery

Power cord[] Country Pack North America

Modem cable (RJ-11)[] PSTN cable

Language pack[] Language Pack US English

Thanks. There were no part numbers given when I ordered online, and none included with the laptop. Use the first four digits of what? I suppose you mean 1953. I think that's very broad and won't tell me what specific components are in the machine.

Supossedly you can go to "Parts Information" and enter the serial number of your machine to get the exact build. I haven't ordered my TP yet, still procrastinating. I would feel better about ordering if I wasn't reading so many problem threads.

Here is the link:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

deeastman wrote:

Thanks. There were no part numbers given when I ordered online, and none included with the laptop. Use the first four digits of what? I suppose you mean 1953. I think that's very broad and won't tell me what specific components are in the machine.

Supossedly you can go to "Parts Information" and enter the serial number of your machine to get the exact build. I haven't ordered my TP yet, still procrastinating. I would feel better about ordering if I wasn't reading so many problem threads.

Here is the link:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

Excellent. Thanks! Unfortunately, when I put in my product type and serial number I get this:

Information for parts lookup was not found. Please click the browser back button and try again.

- - - -
If a moderator is viewing this please explain why it says this under my user name:

User with bad email address, PLEASE fix!That email address is perfectly good and the only one I check regularly. I've been getting email notifications of posts in this thread, as well. Thanks.

Muse wrote:If a moderator is viewing this please explain why it says this under my user name:

User with bad email address, PLEASE fix!That email address is perfectly good and the only one I check regularly. I've been getting email notifications of posts in this thread, as well. Thanks.

I will pass this along to the Admins. They will be able to help you.

Hi.

there really should be some printout available from your order. I just for a test configured a nb online and it says 1953tco but then under it listed all what i selected. You should be able to get the full details there or call tech support if your serial number doesn't show. you should be able to use that to track your warranty of the tp and also to get specific drivers. The software installer or software updater also knows which drivers to download so for upgrades its easy. after it shows you what you have installed and what is available you can download it all but only selectively install so you have some choices there also.

johnp126 wrote:Hi.

there really should be some printout available from your order. I just for a test configured a nb online and it says 1953tco but then under it listed all what i selected. You should be able to get the full details there or call tech support if your serial number doesn't show. you should be able to use that to track your warranty of the tp and also to get specific drivers. The software installer or software updater also knows which drivers to download so for upgrades its easy. after it shows you what you have installed and what is available you can download it all but only selectively install so you have some choices there also.

I called Lenovo support and got transferred to entitlement. They confirmed that my machine is not in the system and was told that this will be rectified in approximately 3 business days. That should mean that by Friday, 12/22/06 I will be able to do a lookup based on my serial number.

Poking around my email I found an HTML attachment that went out the day after the system shipped and it includes the various part numbers. Is there a site I can enter a part number and find out what it is? For instance my keyboard is:

39T6476 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH

How can I determine the manufacturer and their part number, etc.? Thanks!

Edit:

Here's the specs in the HTML attachment that went out the day after the system shipped:

1953CTO TP T60 SERIES 1 YR DEPOT TS
42R9190 VBB NO INT.WIFI WL 3RD ANTENNA
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42R9313 SBB INTEL CORE DUO PROC. T5500
46P4166 VBB MICROSOFT WINXP PROFESSION
42R9249 SBB MS WINXP PROF. US ENGLISH
42R9420 SBB 14.1/SXGA+ TFT
42R9318 SBB INTEL GM-ACC. 950 W/O WWAN
41W2062 VBB 1.5GB PC2-5300 667MHZ2DIMM
39T6476 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
27R0300 VBB INTEGR. FINGERPRINT SENSOR
41W1612 SBB ULTRANAV (TRACKP&TOUCHPAD)
41W5775 SBB 60GB HDD 5400RPM
41W5782 SBB CDRW/DVDR 24X24X24X8X UB
41W1685 SBB 11ABGWIFI WL LAN USEULAANZ
41W1508 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
27R1769 SBB PSTN CABLE
42R9212 SBB LANG.PACK US ENGLISH
41W1592 SBB PACKAGING US
39T6440 SBB 56K V.92 DESIGNED MODEM
41W1711 SBB CLEAR PLATE T60 WLAN+BT
41W1721 SBB FCC LABEL
41W1744 SBB MT 1953 SYSTEM LABEL
41W1749 SBB GEO LABEL US WLAN BT
41W1774 SBB LOGO PLATE
41W2082 SBB MS LBL INTEL DUAL CORE
42R8988 SBB MS LABEL ( VISTA CAPABLE )
42T7135 SBB INTEL LABEL CORE-2
41W2070 SBB 512MB PC2-5300 667MHZ MEM.
41W2071 SBB 1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ MEM.

Hi..

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

the link above will get you to a site at lenovo that if you put in your serial number and model number should (when its in their system) show you details on the system. I tried searching their site and the problem is they have 2 part numbers for every part. A FRU (Field replaceable unit) and PN for Part number (as would be shipped inside your pc or for parts and accessories you'd buy.)

I haven't been able to find anything that would reference the info they gave you and give you some really useful info.

For now, once they put you in the system you should be ok

johnp126 wrote:Hi..

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

the link above will get you to a site at lenovo that if you put in your serial number and model number should (when its in their system) show you details on the system.

Thank you. I will be patient and wait until they get me in the database... hopefully later in the week.

It's forum protocol to keep quotes short, snip what is relevent and use that.

Moderator

Kyocera wrote:It's forum protocol to keep quotes short -snip-

Moderator

Gotcha. I went back and shortened it up....

Yours in brevity,

Muse

PS I still haven't a clue what's wrong with my email address.

I think bill is checking on yours and a couple others, it'll get sorted out.

I have ordered my T60, but it hasn't shipped yet or anything...I just have the confirm. email - is there a way to see my serial number from that?

Muse wrote:PS I still haven't a clue what's wrong with my email address.

PM sent.

TwoSteppin4140 wrote:I have ordered my T60, but it hasn't shipped yet or anything...I just have the confirm. email - is there a way to see my serial number from that?

I doubt it. My serial number was on the last page of the 3-page packing list affixed to the outer box. It's also on the labeling of the inner box, which contains everything. The email confirmation of shipment only contained my order number.

TwoSteppin4140 wrote:I have ordered my T60, but it hasn't shipped yet or anything...I just have the confirm. email - is there a way to see my serial number from that?

If it hasn't shipped then it hasn't been built or selected from prebuilt inventory, ergo, no serial number.

TwoSteppin4140 wrote:I have ordered my T60, but it hasn't shipped yet or anything...I just have the confirm. email - is there a way to see my serial number from that?

When it ships you can look up the status and get a serial number, I think.