Windows 7, 32-bit ATI X1400 driver

[Marie-Anne]

I'm collecting proper drivers, prior installing Windows 7 on my T60P

Microsoft offers a windows 7 compatible ATI mobility X1400 driver, in their Microsoft Update-cataloque.
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/home.aspx (search for: ATI X1400)

Lenovo offers windows 7 Beta-drivers, including one for ATI X1400:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... -BETA.html

Which one of these 2 drivers could provide me the best performance on my notebook?

[Harryc]

Most folks choose the Microsoft update. The BETA driver is quite old now ...

[sarbin]

i concur with Harry.
i'm one of the folks who opted for the drver pack from windows update. it's working without issues on my t60p.

[Marie-Anne]

Harry & Sarbin,

Thank you both for your quick reply. I've downloaded the X1400 cab.file from Microsoft Update Cataloque-website for my planned W7 fresh install.

[sarbin]

just to clarify, i actually let windows update do the install.
please post back and let us know how things work out.

[Johan]

@ Marie-Anne:

Just FYI ("for your information"): Yesterday I installed a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Family Pack on a ThinkPad T60 model/type 2007-QPG, which is a Core 2 Duo (T7200) with the ATI X1400 GPU. This T60 was "born" with Vista Business which ran very slow in my opinion (being used to XP on a 1.8 GHz/PM745 T42 with a SSD). Before installing Windows 7 on the T60 I used the Microsoft Windows Easy Transfer and copied all user data from the old Vista installation to an external HDD (I also made a complete backup of the entire Vista HDD using Acronis True Image ver. 11, just to be on the safe side). Then, I booted the T60 using the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Family Pack CD and choose the "Custom installation" since Vista Business cannot just be migrated to Windows 7 Home Premium (see Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 - Which version of Windows 7 can I upgrade to?) - this mean that you'll have to restore all your user data and reinstall all your programs.

If you are currently running Windows XP, and wish to upgrade to Windows 7, the same applies: You'll need to first backup your own (XP) user data to e.g. an external drive, and afterwards (after having upgraded from XP to Windows 7) you'll have to restore your user data to the "new" Windows 7 laptop, and likewise you'll have to reinstall all your programs. For more information about upgradig from XP to Windows 7 see e.g. Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.

In my case, the Windows 7 installation went very smooth; no problems at all; all drivers were found, downloaded and installed automatically. After succesfully installing Windows 7 I ran the Windows Update a number of times (remember to manually run the "Search for updates" a few times), again with no problems. Windows Update downloaded a bunch of updates incl. Windows 7 Service Pack 1. Then, finally, I downloaded and installed the Lenovo ThinkVantage System Update which I downloaded via the Drivers and software - ThinkPad T60, T60p page and ran it a couple of times... no difficulties other than I manually had to select the newest drivers for a couple of things (e.g my ThinkPad 802.11a/b/g/n, 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter)... wonder why System Update didn't find/suggest all available most recent updates? Anyway, I manually downloaded and installed one by one the missing appropriate updates. Before installing the Lenovo ThinkVantage System Update I downloaded and installed the Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus (PS: If using Avira AntiVir - which I highly recommend! - you'll probably want to remove the annoying popup ads in Avira Antivir after installing it).

Bottom line is that everything - so far - has gone without difficulties. I haven't yet restored the user data (again using the Windows Easy Transfer), but I'll do that later tonight. Ooh, by the way, I forgot to say that I'm using 3 GB RAM and that I have a 120 GB Intel X25-M SSD... it is absolutely worth every cent; the T60 feels like a new laptop... boot very rapidly, all applications open instantly etc... really wonderful!

Good luck with your Windows 7 installation!

Johan

[Marie-Anne]

Johan, Harry, Sarbin,

Thank you all for your tremendous support. The installation of W7 went fine after some initial problems (see other thread of mine).

My T60 notebook, with 240 GB SSD and Windows 7 Enterprise + Office 10 is running so quickly and smooth as I've never experienced since many many years with any other system (PC or Notebook).

It's a long time ago, that I owned a PC which is as "snappy" as this noteook in its current configuration is. It is way better, speedier and snappier than my T60 was when I purchased it. Even the IPS screen is performing better (and can be tweaked, using W7 tools).

T60 with SSD and W7 means a new life for your T60!

[sarbin]

glad it's working well for you!
cheers

[Virgi44]

Dear all, I downloaded the "cab" file from windows catalogue which contains the driver itself but I cannot install it.
What should I do? I cannot choose this file during driver update.
If I unpack it, Windows do find the driver but cannot finish installing because of the following error message:
"The system cannot find the file specified."

I'm using a hungarian version of W7 HP, can it be the problem?
In windows catalogue, under the cab file specifications it shows: "supported languages: English"

Do you have any suggestion?

[Johan]

.... sorry, but I'm a bit confused here:

As you will note, the title of this thread is Windows 7, 32-bit ATI X1400 driver while you (according to your signature) are having a T61p hybrid with 15" SXGA+ Flexview, 3GB, Vertex4 128GB, Quadro FX570M. So, please clarify: Have you downloaded an ATI X1400-driver and are now trying to install it on a FX570??

Also, kindly post links to the specific file(s) that you've downloaded and which won't install. Finally, please explain what exactly is meany by "W7 HP".. is "HP" = Hewlett Packard or Home P-something or what?

Johan

[Virgi44]

Dear Johan,

Thanks for your quick reply.
I'm a bit confused too:) because, I never mentioned that I'm installing my own notebook.
Based on my signature what you've already read I'm writing this on my own T60/T61p Frankenpad (built by myself), so believe me I definitely know what is the difference between these models and which one has X1400 videocard;)

What I would like to know is the proper way of installing a driver from a cab file, mentioned in the first post.
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/ ... 85edee40ff

Thanks in advance,
Virgi44

ps: HP means Home Premium, sorry, this version is usually mentioned as HP in the forums...

[RBEmerson]

I think I'm necro-posting but I'll take a shot someone's still watching.

I have a T60 2007-BTS with the same ATI X1400 GPU. Long story short, anything involving more than text causes the machine to apparently freeze. I've tried Win7 (32-bit) and I've tried openSUSE (live and install) and Ubuntu (live and install). All of them show the same "gets only so far and... freeze!" Oddly the openSUSE (also 32-bit) installed as expected but trying to use it brought back the "gets only so far...".

There's 3G of RAM and a 320G HDD. The machine's previous owner had WinXP running but complained it was slow (1G of RAM and who knows when it was last defragged or otherwise tuned up). Memory testing shows nothing unusual. The machine just keeps on tanking.

The point here being it's hard to install the ATI driver suite if I can't even complete a Win7 install.

Ideas? Miracle fixes?

[ajkula66]

@RBEmerson:

How's the battery on that T60 of yours?

[RBEmerson]

Deader than Julius Caesar. I have a replacement on order (due Tue.??). Meanwhile I'm using a stock 110VAC "brick" into the docking station.

Aside from risking bricking the T60 if I were to update the BIOS (now 2.2.3), does the battery matter that much for plug-in use?

[ajkula66]

Aside from risking bricking the T60 if I were to update the BIOS (now 2.2.3), does the battery matter that much for plug-in use?

Yes.

Dead and aftermarket batteries have been known to cause freezing issues on T6* and X6* systems. This may very well be the cause of the problems that you've been experiencing.

I do hope that the replacement one is a genuine part.

On a somewhat different note, running a machine with a dead battery installed will eventually blow the charging circuit, so one is better off physically removing the battery and running on AC only.

Good luck.

[RBEmerson]

At the risk of jinxing myself, pulling the battery at least let me work with a live Ubuntu image far longer than I've been able to so far. Now let's see if Win7 will load fully... [/crosses fingers] At this point I'm much further than ever before.

BTW, good luck coping with the cold! However chilly it is here in the middle of Mont. Cty, it's got to be a lot colder north of the tunnel!

[ajkula66]

BTW, good luck coping with the cold! However chilly it is here in the middle of Mont. Cty, it's got to be a lot colder north of the tunnel!

Indeed.

The wind is really kicking now and it's supposed to get worse overnight.

As long as I have power we'll be OK...

[farmall]

A nice thing about Ubuntu and Linux in general is if you can connect the hard disk to any other computer you can install that way then plug it into your T60.

If your Win7 install barfs I'd try that.

[RBEmerson]

The good news is the T60 is now up and running. The only problems are seeing are the usual BS from Mickeysoft and dealing with a video card that has no clue about 3D. BTW, I assume there's zero point zero chance of fixing that? Sure would be nice to just pop one board and put in another. But having just re-greased the stuff under the heat sink, I know that'll happen only after the winter Olympics are held in Hades.

[RBEmerson]

I had a chat, with a friend, about this problem. His take on this problem is the dead battery probably pulled voltages in the machine down to the point where things got wonky. Makes sense to me...

[ajkula66]

The good news is the T60 is now up and running. The only problems are seeing are the usual BS from Mickeysoft and dealing with a video card that has no clue about 3D. BTW, I assume there's zero point zero chance of fixing that?

Have you installed the proper (Vista) driver from Lenovo's site?

[RBEmerson]

Er, driver from Vista? I'm just wrapping up doing MS' updates, including one (or more? I forget) for the ATI X1400. Am I missing something going that route?

[ajkula66]

Er, driver from Vista? I'm just wrapping up doing MS' updates, including one (or more? I forget) for the ATI X1400. Am I missing something going that route?

Maybe.

This is the package that I use:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... d533ww.exe

Good luck.

[RBEmerson]

FWIW, the updates brought the machine up to 8.561.0.0 - 1 Dec 08, which is newer than the driver in 79d533ww.exe (8.3nnn.n.n from 2007 - I forget the particulars).

[ajkula66]

The reason I'm sticking to the Vista version is that incorporates a Catalyst Control Center which I find to be an extremely important aspect...I'm not necessarily always for "latest & greatest" when it comes to drivers, stability is my key goal.

My $0.02 only...

[RBEmerson]

OK, I can see the issue about "latest & greatest". What is the Catalyst Control Center?

[ajkula66]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Catalyst

[RBEmerson]

Interestin'... the driver's (still!!!) downloading as we "speak". The server seems to be painfully slow tonight.

BTW, much to my surprise, last night we didn't break our short-term record of -6F. But it's still darn cold out and I'm resisting taking the trash tipster out tonight. Brrrr!

[ajkula66]

But it's still darn cold out and I'm resisting taking the trash tipster out tonight. Brrrr!

You and me both...

[RBEmerson]

Hmmm... it looked as though the driver installed, but, after restarting, there's no hint of anywhere. I guess it's time for "if it ain't broke..." [/smile]