Thinkpads Forum

RealBlackStuff, thanks for your feedback, you saved me some money.



@sktn77a - my IBM refurbished T60 came with XPP SP3(!) recovery partition - and when I installed the OS(using recovery partition) the installing process asked me to fill in the product key(!)(but that was not a problem, I have 2 XPP COAs on the back of the laptop ); this never happened with T41's recovery cds or recovery partition.

This is the stuff I was curious about, I want Win 7 but it seems the old saying is true.."if it is too good to be true it probably is". Looks like Academic discount is the way for me to go.

AIX wrote: @sktn77a - my IBM refurbished T60 came with XPP SP3(!) recovery partition - and when I installed the OS(using recovery partition) the installing process asked me to fill in the product key(!)(but that was not a problem, I have 2 XPP COAs on the back of the laptop ); this never happened with T41's recovery cds or recovery partition.

Strange......... Never had to enter a product key with XP recovery CDs on my T4x or T60 Thinkpads and never had to enter one with Vista recovery CDs on my T4x, T60 or T61 Thinkpads. Again, something sounds fishy with the preload you had on that computer!

The HD I used in this T60 came from a Forum member.
It contained Vista Business 32 with Restore partition intact(?) or at least present.
When I tried to normally boot from it in the T60, it said it was an illegal copy, as soon as the Desktop came up.
Never checked the Restore partition, to see if it would re-install (or let me make CDs), because I don't want Vista anyway.
As to these W7 DVDs, I don't know if they are supposed to have holograms or other specifics, to recognize if they are legal or not.
They certainly act different from other IBM/Lenovo Restore CDs, which never ask for a CD key (at least up till and incl. T60 XP-Pro).

OTOH, I'm sure that Lenovo and/or M$ are aware of these sources. If they were illegal, they'd be shut down by now...

RealBlackStuff wrote: OTOH, I'm sure that Lenovo and/or M$ are aware of these sources. If they were illegal, they'd be shut down by now...

I agree that both MS and Lenovo in particular are aware of sites selling recovery CD's. My opinion is that it is not illegal to sell them, after all the buyer should be using them on a W7 COA laptop. However, it is illegal to 'install and use' them if you do not have a valid W7 COA. See the difference?

So now that I'm sporting a spiffing T60P I want to ditch Windows Vista Business and perhaps install Win7. It sounds to me like the sweet setup is an SDD so I'll look more into that. I just don't want to spend as much on the SSD as I did on the ThinkPad itself!

So those of you actually running Win7 on your T60/61's, what's the verdict? How's it run, was it worth it, etc?

I have Windows7 running on a T60 and T60p. Have a SSD ready too but have to slim down the install a bit to fit in 64GB. Currently are 250GB and 500GB HDDs in them.

Excuse me, but FYI they have NOT released a Win7 video driver for the ATI MOBILITY FireGL V5250:
ATI Radeon/FireGL
Windows Vista N/A 4 Sep 2007
8.383.1.1-070621a-
049739C
Windows XP N/A 13 Nov 2009
8.593.100.7-
090929a
Windows 2000 N/A 31 Jan 2008
v8.442.3-080103a1-
057754C

ausmike wrote:hello Sailor !

YES = T60P = nicely runs windows 7 and lenovo HAS ALL the drivers for Tseries now.

here is a LINK
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... umentset=1

ummmm..............whateveR !

I suspect the ATI video driver should be available from Windows Update. Just run Windows Update after installing Windows 7 and look for hardware drivers. I got the Windows 7 ATI driver for my older T42 from Windows Update.

If Windows Update doesn't do it for you, try the following guide. I used it successfully on Windows 7 RC1.
http://www.bayareatechpros.com/2009/05/ ... ty-radeon/

BTW, the Lenovo driver link posted was bad.
Drivers and software - ThinkPad T60, T60p
Drivers and software - ThinkPad T60, T60p widescreen

In case this thread inspires people, I wanted just to warn people not to bother ordering Windows 7 from the Mod edit - reference removed people - the product keys have been blocked by Microsoft, so you will fail activation.

May one ask where this info comes from?

Well, not wishing to give too much away, I have some fairly direct experience!

Also, I found Mod edit - Link removed

Edit: ... a discussion on a Thinkpad-related mailing list, in which someone claims to have failed a genuine advantage test even after having successfully activated Windows some months earlier.

@tiorapatea, I removed a reference and a link containing mention of a website which is not allowed to be discussed here. Thank-you.

RE :: REFURBISHED LATOPS & PC's

sktn77a wrote:Strange......... Never had to enter a product key with XP recovery CDs on my T4x or T60 Thinkpads and never had to enter one with Vista recovery CDs on my T4x, T60 or T61 Thinkpads. Again, something sounds fishy with the preload you had on that computer!

I am not sure what info to start with re this subtopic of "REFURBISHED LATOPS"

a) The laptop is from one the various MAR (Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher).... that supplier has to follow various MS rules and guidelines...etc
AND ONE of these rules say = NO RECOVERY PARTITION from THE OEM MFG'r install . Thus no 'recovery partitions' and....
ALSOb) the INSTALL OS = will have a listed MAR COA on the machine. THIS MACHINE would than will require MANDATORY AUTHEN'TION as any 'normal' Windows retail version does.

b) if this laptop came from LENOVO OUTLET store (refub etc) than and ONLY THAN it would have a LEGAL RECOVERY PAR"TION on that machine - and no you wouldnt need to "put cd key" at recovery or reinstall from recovery part'tion.

Hope this goes towards some way explaining about te "KEYS" confusions.....

cheers everyone

I recently purchased a used, T410 only to discover that the version of Windows on the laptop came from the site that we've been discussing. Consider:

1. The site lists no phone number, no physical address. The hiding of contact information is a huge red flag.

2. They print activation keys on their CDs, but they do not also provide certificates of authenticity--another red flag.

3. The seller emailed them after I raised the issue and got back the following reply, which no legitimate company would ever send:

---begin quote---
You have placed orders with us, so you know whether we are legit or not.

Only those who have never placed orders with us say we are a scam, probably our website is not as fancy as others.

Go ahead and place your with confidence.
---end quote---

I've posted in Lenovo's own forums, asking for a direct response from Lenovo. The site makes a prominent claim to be a Lenovo partner, so I feel it's fair to put the question directly to Lenovo and see what answer I get.

The guy I purchased from claims to have upgraded hundreds of laptops for his company using CDs from the site we're talking about. I hope the guy knows what he's doing. I fear he is misguided.

I'm hoping to hear back from Lenovo. In the meantime, I'm going to phone Lenovo Support and order a recovery CD set from a legit source, having the correct version of Windows to match the original COA that is still stuck on my system.

@Jonathan.............I ALSO asked lenovo ; sometime early last year (thinka round Aug2010).... re the "LENOVO PARTNER" > to date have not got any reply from lenovo .....

Also ....here is thought !! Humnn Wonders Why ONLY LENOVO PRODUCTS....??????

......a great beleiver of '© ™' laws

ausmike wrote:@Jonathan.............I ALSO asked lenovo ; sometime early last year (thinka round Aug2010).... re the "LENOVO PARTNER" > to date have not got any reply from lenovo .....

Lenovo should respond. We are their customers. We deserve clear answers to licensing questions. Plus, the site I'm talkin about is potentially damaging Lenovo's brand.