Thinkpads Forum

Just received an x61s as an upgrade to a x40.

I installed all latest upgrades to XP. 2GB ram. 160GB 7200 rmp drive.

I am running the x40 right next to the x61.

1. the x40 wireless card (atheros) consistently locates more local locations than the Intel 4965AGN...strange...

2. IE7 startup time on the x61 is slower than on the x40. I found some advice in [http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=9890] but it did not help much....any advice?

3. what is awaysch.exe?

thanks in advance.[/url]

Awaysched belongs to Away Manager. Here's the skinny.. yippee..

Away Manager
The Away Manager application allows you preselect and run routine tasks to maintain your system's performance:

* NEW! Improved scheduling so you can set Away Manager to run when it is convenient for you, or start it immediately:
o Maintenance tasks run based on the user-defined order
o The user can lock the tasks
* NEW! Away Manager settings can be restricted so only the Windows Administrator can change the configuration
* Allows users or corporate IT to schedule tedious maintenance tasks to be completed at the user's convenience
* Can be customized to run your preferred brand of anti-virus or other utilities
* Autonomic "Whisper Mode" technology forces system maintenance tasks to run quietly in the background, minimizing the impact on your other applications so you can get your work done

Incidentally.. when I got my X61 I ran MSCONFIG, disabled EVERYTHING, then worked my way through each item so I only had running what I needed. Suffice, my X61 is highly efficient now without all the BS running.

So is it safe to remove awaysch from the startup list than?

uninstall it anyway, it seem useless to me at all

chait wrote:Just received an x61s as an upgrade to a x40.

I installed all latest upgrades to XP. 2GB ram. 160GB 7200 rmp drive.

I am running the x40 right next to the x61.

1. the x40 wireless card (atheros) consistently locates more local locations than the Intel 4965AGN...strange...

2. IE7 startup time on the x61 is slower than on the x40. I found some advice in http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=9890 but it did not help much....any advice?

thanks in advance.

The consensus seems to be that the Atheros cards have better range their Intel counterparts. I got a good boost from switching out my Intel 3945abg for an Atheros abg card. If it bugs you, a replacement Atheros card is about $30 and installation takes only about 20 minutes.

Don't know why IE 7 would be slower. Proxy settings? You might try Firefox you know...

Thanks,
is there any other of the pointless startup Lenovo utilities you guys stopped from running?

chait wrote:Just received an x61s as an upgrade to a x40.

I installed all latest upgrades to XP. 2GB ram. 160GB 7200 rmp drive.

I am running the x40 right next to the x61.

2. IE7 startup time on the x61 is slower than on the x40.[/url]

I experienced the same problem both in regards to IE6 and IE7. I updated from an ultra portable Pentium M 1.4 GHz to an X61s C2D 1.6 GHz with 4GB RAM and Windows XP.

Not only did the start-up take longer. Opening a new IE-tab or opening a new IE-window took noticeable longer time.

This was really annoying and I could not determine the cause despite extensive investigation. I finally gave up and installed Firefox. Boy, I should have done that long ago. Compared to IE, Firefox flies and I have a bunch of excellent add-ins that have vastly improved my browsing experience.

Bummer I also ordred the Intel N card...it was more expensive so i thought it would be better

Justintoxicated wrote:Bummer I also ordred the Intel N card...it was more expensive so i thought it would be better

It is better in numerous respects!

The Atheros cards may interfer with Bluetooth operation, and also create heat problems in X6x ThinkPads as well.... see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=55706

Cheers,

Bill B.