Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

I have been waiting on my T61p for 2 and half months and it finally comes tomorrow, this is my first laptop so i want to make sure everything is in working order regarding the hardware / warranty portion of the laptop so i have decided to build a checklist, overkill? highly, but i don't like to take chances.

1) unbox it / pray
2) inspect for shipping damage / manufacturing defects
3) turn it on and check for dead pixels / check fans
4) make the Vista back up CDs
5) update all drivers
6) install stress testing software (need some recommendations for this)
7) if everything goes well, benchmark it.
8) check temps
9) format and install Windows XP Sp2 (should i nuke hidden partition if i have the Vista CD's made?)
10)repeat steps 5 to 8
11) install all my programs / activate extended warranty/record serial numbers
12) drain battery to 40% and put into storage (going to be using it anchored most of the time)

does anyone have anything i should add or look for? or am i thinking into this too much?

on another note, can someone recommend me a notebook cooler since this notebook is going to be on 24/7/365

a similar thread has already been started and answers most if not all of your questions: T61 arrives tomorrow: What should I do?

regarding #12 on your list, unless you have a UPS then i would leave the battery installed in the system in the event of a power outage.

leaving a thinkpad on 24/7 is no problem.   no additional cooling is needed unless your environment is of above-average temperatures.

Hakubi wrote:Hello,

I have been waiting on my T61p for 2 and half months and it finally comes tomorrow, this is my first laptop so i want to make sure everything is in working order regarding the hardware / warranty portion of the laptop so i have decided to build a checklist, overkill? highly, but i don't like to take chances.

1) unbox it / pray
2) inspect for shipping damage / manufacturing defects
3) turn it on and check for dead pixels / check fans
4) make the Vista back up CDs
5) update all drivers
6) install stress testing software (need some recommendations for this)
7) if everything goes well, benchmark it.
8) check temps
9) format and install Windows XP Sp2 (should i nuke hidden partition if i have the Vista CD's made?)
10)repeat steps 5 to 8
11) install all my programs / activate extended warranty/record serial numbers
12) drain battery to 40% and put into storage (going to be using it anchored most of the time)

does anyone have anything i should add or look for? or am i thinking into this too much?

on another note, can someone recommend me a notebook cooler since this notebook is going to be on 24/7/365

Why it took you so long to get the laptop ?, I ordered mine last weekend and I am expecting to get it much sooner,

brosen wrote:

Hakubi wrote:

The poster is from Canada. Shipping is slow in Canada..

Hakubi wrote:Hello,

I have been waiting on my T61p for 2 and half months and it finally comes tomorrow, this is my first laptop so i want to make sure everything is in working order can someone recommend me a notebook cooler since this notebook is going to be on 24/7/365

My, you're going to be a very busy ThinkPader there! Sounds like more work than necessary unless you like that sort of thing.

Smart move to create the factory disks. That's a two hour job and with luck you will never need them.

Spend a few dollars for a imaging program which is tons faster and makes recovery from those little "experiments" so much quicker.

I keep my ThinkPads cool by elevating the back with 1 1/2 inch plastic feet thingys and velcro so they can be taken off for putting in the bag.

Speed is better if Vista is set up in "Classic" mode and a some of the unneeded services are stopped.

I'd make a copy of the SWTools folder on the C:\ drive. It contains all the applications and driver installed on your machine, unless in case you ordered Office or something in which case they should give you a disc. It's usually a good idea to have a backup of it.

Funny. I just started a thread with a VERY similar subject title just days ago.

I recieved my T61 a couple days ago, and it is much nicer than expected in both look and feel. It doesn't look gaudy like the notebooks I see on display at Circuit City and Best Buy.

Anyway, I removed Norton and that's about it. Mine has a t9300 in it, and everything seems to be very snappy in operation. I'm using XP pro.

People talk a lot about bloatware, and I am personally shocked to see so *little* bloat in this computer. All of my previous purchases have been stacked with all kinds of doo-hickey's and trial software. As far as I am concerned, this computer comes stripped of almost all of that.

I basically started my computer, removed Norton... done.

Bfskinnerpunk wrote:Funny. I just started a thread with a VERY similar subject title just days ago.

I recieved my T61 a couple days ago, and it is much nicer than expected in both look and feel. It doesn't look gaudy like the notebooks I see on display at Circuit City and Best Buy.

Anyway, I removed Norton and that's about it. Mine has a t9300 in it, and everything seems to be very snappy in operation. I'm using XP pro.

People talk a lot about bloatware, and I am personally shocked to see so *little* bloat in this computer. All of my previous purchases have been stacked with all kinds of doo-hickey's and trial software. As far as I am concerned, this computer comes stripped of almost all of that.

I basically started my computer, removed Norton... done.

Hi, since you ordered how many days until it was shipped ?, thanks

Eight or nine days from the time I ordered it online.

Even though it said 2 day shipping, it actually takes about 4 days or so from the time they say "it shipped".

I guess it's coming from China.