Old Microsoft Update in custom mode...

[tockki]

I was just updating my machine and came across an optional hardware update on the Microsoft website.

"Lenovo - Other Hardware - Wide viewing angle & High density FlexView Display 1400x1050"

I remember a post about this a while back but never put sight to it till now. I tried searching for that post but to no avail...

I am wondering whether anyone knows about this update and whether it will help out?
(I do have a flexview btw...)

[Marin85]

This update is only for "properly" setting the colors on your monitor (it installs a color profile from Lenovo suitable for your display). No big deal (I didn´t notice any difference, but that´s probably because I have a crappy 15.4'' compared to a Flexview display).

Marin

[jdhurst]

I strongly suggest that you not use the Microsoft update for your hardware. SP3 tried to do that and bush-wacked a number of machines including ThinkPads. Only use the Lenovo web site to update your drivers.

Further, for those of you wanting a high level of quality, only use System Update to point out required updates. Then cancel, and download and install your updates manually. If you know you are not using a particular application and are not going to use it, then don't bother updating it.

.... JDH

[Marin85]

I strongly suggest that you not use the Microsoft update for your hardware. SP3 tried to do that and bush-wacked a number of machines including ThinkPads. Only use the Lenovo web site to update your drivers.

Further, for those of you wanting a high level of quality, only use System Update to point out required updates. Then cancel, and download and install your updates manually. If you know you are not using a particular application and are not going to use it, then don't bother updating it.

I couldn´t agree more! This is what I too have been doing for more than a year and half now, though I had to learn it the hard way...

Cheers

Marin

[tockki]

Thanks and I won't be doing that download... also I took your advice about the system update and manually downloading them. Manually performing them seems to make the thinkpad more stable... I don't know the reasoning behind it but thanks!

[Marin85]

Thanks... I took your advice about the system update and manually downloading them. Manually performing them seems to make the thinkpad more stable... I don't know the reasoning behind it but anyways thanks!

The reasoning behind this is that SU is known to act up, hence the danger for it to screw up updates important to your system in any possible way... (put simply)

[tockki]

Marine,

It is way off topic but I noticed that you have a seagate harddrive... 7200.3. Just wondering how you like it? I currently have the hitachi 7200 but need more GB so was looking at your harddrive and maybe the new 7200.4 500GB that just came out...

[Marin85]

Tochize,

I like my 7K200 better than my 7200.3. The Seagate has excellent transfer speeds, but worse access times. According to the SMART readings, it came in good health and is still in good health, which is not bad, but my 7K200 has always been in excellent health. I´m not sure if that tells something or not, but I find it suspicious though. Also, there is a thread in T60/T61 forum where a forum member complains about his new 7200.4 (actually, he is complaining about the laptop, but to me it seems the drive that is the "problem"), he benchmarked it and his results are far from the specs claimed by Seagate or other users. It could be a faulty HD though... As I have experienced something similar with the 7200.3, my personal opinion is that as of now Seagate drives seem to be of varying quality (both regarding specs and failure ratio - there were quite some reports here for faulty 7200.3, so I must be of the lucky ones...). If I was you, I would stay away from Seagate as of now. Either wait for more reviews on the 7200.4 or go for Hitachi 7K320 or WD Scorpio...

Just my 0.02$

Marin

[Nameless]

According to the SMART readings, it came in good health and is still in good health, which is not bad, but my 7K200 has always been in excellent health. I´m not sure if that tells something or not, but I find it suspicious though.

I didn't even know there WAS such a thing as "excellent" health. Every time I looked up the SMART reading on a drive it always said "good". Interesting...

As for your other point, Seagate is not what it used to be IMO. I've always had good results (knock on wood) with Hitachi & WD, both performance and reliability-wise, so I tend to stick with them. Brands I have personally had trouble with include Maxtor and Toshiba, so I don't recommend them and avoid like the plague.