Just got an X201.. Questions and Comments

[maxboost]

Hi guys, i just got a great deal on an x201 with the 540m processor and 4gb's of ram (2.96 usable, 32bit sucks?), and 320 7200rpm drive, windows 7 proff 32bit.

I absolutely love this laptop but having some concerns about performance. I've tried unchecking pretty much almost every possible thing in the startup menu. But opening applications and running the browser doesnt seem nearly as snappy as i expected it to.
The HP laptop I have with similar but lesser specs seems noticeably quicker. Even when browsing, i notice myself having to hit the enter button twice to get the page to load. It is not PAINFULLY slow or anything, but just not as quick as i expected it to be. Im not sure if the fact that i cant use 1gb of ram thats installed has anything to do with it, but its not like im running tons of apps. I just do basic browsing and run basic apps like itunes.

Any suggestions? Tips?

Also, I created discs from control panel>backup and restore. It made 4 total discs. 3+1. Are the 3 discs a fresh copy of windows 7? Or is it a "backup" of the configuration i currently was running at the time of the IMG creation? Just a bit confused with the terminology used ("backup").

Thanks!

[Paul Unger]

Yeah, like maxboost said. Same specs (x201, 540m, 4GB RAM, 320GB 7200 HD). Only difference is I'm running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. And I was really expecting it to be snappier. Alas, I think my T42 with its PM 1.7GHz running XP Pro would beat it with some things (one biggie: "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media"--this is PAINFULLY slow).

[erik]

if you want your systems to be snappier, buy a good SSD.   the bottleneck is the storage device, not the processor.

[underclocker]

Win 7 should be quite snappy on that machine. To keep things quick, I always remove all excess Lenovo software like Access Connections, System Migration tool, ToolBox and other software like Windows Live, Picassa, full system indexing, etc. I also disable autoupdates of everything. Windows, Acrobat, Flash, Java, Anti-virus, etc. They are routinely trying to update themselves. I just check the important ones for updates once a month or so.

Also, make sure the power profile has the CPU at "adaptive" or faster, and make sure the wireless setting is on "maximum performance".

Ensure the BIOS, drivers and Windows are up to date, too.

Laptops do not come tuned for performance. They come tuned for "safety" and for selling you more software or peripherals.

P.S. Welcome to the forum!
P.P.S. And yes, swapping in an SSD would do the trick, too!

[maxboost]

Win 7 should be quite snappy on that machine. To keep things quick, I always remove all excess Lenovo software like Access Connections, System Migration tool, ToolBox and other software like Windows Live, Picassa, full system indexing, etc. I also disable autoupdates of everything. Windows, Acrobat, Flash, Java, Anti-virus, etc. They are routinely trying to update themselves. I just check the important ones for updates once a month or so.

Also, make sure the power profile has the CPU at "adaptive" or faster, and make sure the wireless setting is on "maximum performance".

Ensure the BIOS, drivers and Windows are up to date, too.

Laptops do not come tuned for performance. They come tuned for "safety" and for selling you more software or peripherals.

P.S. Welcome to the forum!
P.P.S. And yes, swapping in an SSD would do the trick, too!

Thanks, these all seem like legitimate points that may make a difference. I'll try this as soon as i get home tonight. I have went into msconfig and unchecked pretty much everything. Do i need to "uninstall" for it to actually make a difference?

Can someone please answer my question about making a backup of the windows OS? This is really bugging me. Im used to getting actual discs along with my pc, and im not sure if i have correctly made a copy of windows, just incase i need to reformat my machine. I am trying to make a clean and fresh copy of windows. I go into, control panel>backup and restore>create image.....

All i know is that I connected an external drive with a dvdr in it , it reformatted the disc and asked me to enter 2 more and title them with the specific date when each finished.
Then they asked me to put in my 4th and final disc and told me to label it recovery disc.

So I just wanna know if teh 1st 3 are windows discs? If so, are they a fresh copy or a backup of everything that was on my pc at the time of the creation? And what is the difference between the 3 discs and the single recover disc?


Thanks!

[ThinkRob]

Can someone please answer my question about making a backup of the windows OS? This is really bugging me.

I wouldn't bother TBH. You can download the Windows 7 ISOs from legitimate sources, and if you have a valid license then you're all set.

[underclocker]

Also, I created discs from control panel>backup and restore. It made 4 total discs. 3+1. Are the 3 discs a fresh copy of windows 7? Or is it a "backup" of the configuration i currently was running at the time of the IMG creation? Just a bit confused with the terminology used ("backup").

It is the factory preload of Windows 7 plus all the Lenovo drivers and other preloaded software, like MS Office trial and Symantec Anti-Virus trial, etc. It will restore your machine (or one like it) to factory fresh.

[Bibin]

The factory pre-load is in my opinion unusable. I'd do a fresh install.

You can download a legitimate OEM copy off the internet and use the key on the bottom of the laptop. i'm fairly sure you could also use the 64-bit version with your key; I don't think they have separate keys.

[maxboost]

Any places you would recommend to download "legit" copy of the 64bit or 32bit?

Dont wanna think im getting a legit copy, then be caught in a situation without having a copy in my hand to reformat right away.

[ThinkRob]

Any places you would recommend to download "legit" copy of the 64bit or 32bit?

Dont wanna think im getting a legit copy, then be caught in a situation without having a copy in my hand to reformat right away.

No need for the quotes, it really is legitimate. You can grab the Windows 7 ISOs from DigitalRiver's servers:

Windows 7 Home Premium x86 - http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net ... -65732.iso

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net ... -65733.iso

Windows 7 Professional x86 - http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net ... -65804.iso

Windows 7 Professional x64 - http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net ... -65805.iso

(I used to have a link for Ultimate lying around as well, but I've since lost it.)

[jvarszegi]

The same key will definitely work for 32-bit and 64-bit.

[underclocker]

The same key will definitely work for 32-bit and 64-bit.

I just confirmed this too, with a Lenovo Win 7 upgrade COA. The COA came with Win 7 Pro 32-bit media. However, I downloaded and installed Win 7 Pro 64-bit media and entered the key on the COA. It successfully activated immediately.

This is permitted by Microsoft and it is nice that it does work.

[maxboost]

Hmm if this is the case, it would be great if i could just install ULTIMATE 64 bit on the x201. I appreciate the links for the Professional versions, and will just go with that if i cant find a copy of ultimate online or if nobody here can point me in the right direction with a download.

Couple questions though. When I install a fresh copy of windows, do i just leave the SYSTEM_DRV and LENOVO Recovery partitions? I know there are 3 partitions setup for these machines. Are those partitions i should delete in order to get a "fresh" windows install? Or is it recommended i leave those alone?

And does anybody know which driver on the lenovo site allows on-screen view of the volume and brightness control levels? I remember with my previous thinkpad I never got this feature back.

[jvarszegi]

The Seagate Momentus hybrid SSD drives look like an excellent value.

[Paul Unger]

And does anybody know which driver on the lenovo site allows on-screen view of the volume and brightness control levels? I remember with my previous thinkpad I never got this feature back.

I'm pretty sure it's called Hotkey Features.

[penartur]

Hmm if this is the case, it would be great if i could just install ULTIMATE 64 bit on the x201.

Because your laptop came with Professional edition pre-installed, there are only two ways of getting Ultimate edition on your laptop. You either buy it or steal/crack it.
As i understand, links given there were on images of official Microsoft DVDs. You are able to install Professional edition on your laptop from these DVDs only because you have Professional edition serial key printed on COA attached to the bottom of your machine. Even if you will download official microsoft Ultimate edition DVD, you won't be able to install it (except for 30 days trial mode) because you don't have an appropriate serial key.

[ThinkRob]

Because your laptop came with Professional edition pre-installed, there are only two ways of getting Ultimate edition on your laptop. You either buy it or steal/crack it.
As i understand, links given there were on images of official Microsoft DVDs. You are able to install Professional edition on your laptop from these DVDs only because you have Professional edition serial key printed on COA attached to the bottom of your machine. Even if you will download official microsoft Ultimate edition DVD, you won't be able to install it (except for 30 days trial mode) because you don't have an appropriate serial key.

This is correct.

Yes, you can download any of the ISOs you like (legitimately or otherwise), but you will only be able to use your serial number of activate the version to which it corresponds.

(Ugh... this whole thing is another reminder why I *hate* modern software licensing...)

[fatpolomanjr]

To restore your key, you can try orev's ABR utility for Windows 7 (the beta) to backup the activation, but I was unable to get it to work for my X201i with win7 pro.

After clean installing win7 (went from 32bit to 64bit), all I did was use the product key on the bottom of my laptop. To do this, skip activation the first time when windows 7 asks you, then later on after installing all necessary system drivers, just change the product key (once you have an internet connection) to the one on the sticker.

[penartur]

Yes, you can download any of the ISOs you like (legitimately or otherwise), but you will only be able to use your serial number of activate the version to which it corresponds.

(Ugh... this whole thing is another reminder why I *hate* modern software licensing...)

And what exact do you hate in this thing?

[penartur]

After clean installing win7 (went from 32bit to 64bit), all I did was use the product key on the bottom of my laptop. To do this, skip activation the first time when windows 7 asks you, then later on after installing all necessary system drivers, just change the product key (once you have an internet connection) to the one on the sticker.

I've always entered key from COA sticker on windows install, and there never was any problem with activation.

[ThinkRob]

And what exact do you hate in this thing?

Activation and license keys.

Think about it: it's a problem imposed solely on people who are honest and morally-upstanding enough to purchase a license. It is software that (when it operates correctly) serves only to make life more difficult for the people who chose to pay for the product.

With Linux or BSD I can grab an ISO from any one of a number of sources, burn it, and install it on pretty much any machine that can actually boot the thing. I never have to "activate" it. I don't have to type in long series of characters, or fork out even more money to activate features that are built in to the OS, but intentionally disabled. I can upgrade or even replace my machine as many times as I'd like without having to call and explain/beg some customer service rep. for more "activations"; I don't have to justify my hardware choices to anyone.

Contrast that to Windows. I have to pay -- a lot, in this case -- for an "edition" that supports what I want. I can only use it on a limited number of computers. I can't upgrade my machine too much, or replace it too many times without having to call up Microsoft and explain myself in the hope that they'll deign to give me more chances to use the disc that I already paid for. I can't give the CD to a friend or family member when I'm done with it. I can't even modify the OS installed on my own computer so as to remove the annoying "features" of activation, WGA, etc. without commission of a felony!

The worst part about it is that I'm subjected to this only because I try to play by the rules. If I were to "pirate" Windows, I'd never have to deal with any of that. I could simply download an ISO, burn it, and install Windows. I wouldn't have to worry about activation. WGA would never bother me. With some of the releases, I wouldn't even have to enter a serial number. I could pass the disk on to as many people as I like. I could upgrade or replace my machine as often as I like and never run into problems.

So yes, software licensing has gotten out of control. The practices of a number of vendors (not just Microsoft) are actively hostile towards their customers and serve only to punish people who pay them.

[jvarszegi]

I guess one question would be, do Windows activation, "Genuine Advantage", etc. reduce piracy, thus increasing Microsoft profits? If so, it's perfectly understandable that they have gone with that approach. Most of the problems or differences you note stem from the fact that you're comparing Windows to free OSes. It doesn't make sense that because some pirates exist in the world, a software maker should not seek to protect its product with a licensing scheme, throwing it open to pirates and everyone else; that would actually encourage piracy.

Of course, licensing schemes can become extremely intrusive; witness Spore. I don't think Microsoft's qualifies. How often do home users install new operating systems on an average basis, anyway? I usually do it once per machine at most.

[ThinkRob]

I guess one question would be, do Windows activation, "Genuine Advantage", etc. reduce piracy, thus increasing Microsoft profits? If so, it's perfectly understandable that they have gone with that approach.

While it's impossible to provide definitive proof, I would doubt it, given the wide availability of copies devoid of all that nonsense. One need only walk around the electronics district of several major cities to see first-hand how little it prevents piracy...

Most of the problems or differences you note stem from the fact that you're comparing Windows to free OSes.

And yet Mac OS X (a proprietary OS) has no such features. Neither do any number of commercial Linux distros that are available only to paying customers.

It doesn't make sense that because some pirates exist in the world, a software maker should not seek to protect its product with a licensing scheme, throwing it open to pirates and everyone else; that would actually encourage piracy.

That's something of a logical fallacy.

The theory goes something like this: "If we add all these roadblocks, it becomes harder for people to pirate Windows". And that's true... but only once. You see after the first guy's cracked and distributed it, the "cost" (in terms of time/effort) to pirate Windows goes down. Way down. In fact, after the protection's been cracked, it becomes *less* effort to pirate it than to obtain it legitimately. As soon as that "protection" is cracked, Microsoft is now competing against a product that is not only cheaper than their own, but is also significantly easier to deal with; they've actually ensured that the legitimate version is inferior to the illegitimate one!

I don't think Microsoft's qualifies. How often do home users install new operating systems on an average basis, anyway? I usually do it once per machine at most.

Wait until your dev. box spontaneously starts failing WGA for no reason at all and get back to me...

Yes, it's not much hassle -- provided you don't have to re-install your OS or upgrade your hardware too much, or simply have the misfortune to have WGA fail to validate your machine. But if you ever do run into trouble it can be a headache to get things straightened out.

Now I should mention that I haven't written any commercial software intended for mass distribution. I have written a good bit of custom software at the request of clients. Would I be upset if a client started distributing such software to the world for free? Sure. Would I hate it if they were to resell it without authorization? Absolutely. I'd probably pursue legal action if possible. The one thing I *wouldn't* do would be to deliberately cripple future versions of software or otherwise harm the experience of other legitimate users.

[jvarszegi]

quote="jvarszegi": I guess one question would be, do Windows activation, "Genuine Advantage", etc. reduce piracy, thus increasing Microsoft profits? If so, it's perfectly understandable that they have gone with that approach.

While it's impossible to provide definitive proof, I would doubt it, given the wide availability of copies devoid of all that nonsense. One need only walk around the electronics district of several major cities to see first-hand how little it prevents piracy...

I don't buy it, honestly, and of course you can't provide any proof. You're suggesting that the methods Microsoft uses deter at most a negligible number of potential users of pirated software, compared to a world where they freely distributed their software with no protection whatsoever; that's the question, not whether pirated versions exist. FWIW, I have strolled all districts of at least Hartford and Boston and to my knowledge have never seen a pirated version of Windows for sale (I'm talking too-good-to-be-true prices of course, as well as openly labeled pirated versions). The US isn't Hong Kong, where you might have a working argument.

quote="jvarszegi": Most of the problems or differences you note stem from the fact that you're comparing Windows to free OSes.

And yet Mac OS X (a proprietary OS) has no such features. Neither do any number of commercial Linux distros that are available only to paying customers.

A poorly chosen example, and not comparable in any way. If you're running OS X, you've already bought the hardware from Apple. And Macolytes typically want that Apple hardware; people who run Hackintosh represent an infinitesimal sliver of computer users worldwide. The piracy isn't really a huge threat to Apple the way it is to Microsoft.

quote="jvarszegi": It doesn't make sense that because some pirates exist in the world, a software maker should not seek to protect its product with a licensing scheme, throwing it open to pirates and everyone else; that would actually encourage piracy.

That's something of a logical fallacy.

Nope. Your own theory goes something like this: "Making something freely available for the taking, without any controls whatsoever, results in zero theft."

If you're just griping, that's one thing. But if you mean to imply that Microsoft's activation scheme is actually burdensome for others in a way that has a significant negative impact on their market share, again-- nope. You'd have to show some sort of proof of that, or it's not going to be believable.

In fact, after the protection's been cracked, it becomes *less* effort to pirate it than to obtain it legitimately. As soon as that "protection" is cracked, Microsoft is now competing against a product that is not only cheaper than their own, but is also significantly easier to deal with; they've actually ensured that the legitimate version is inferior to the illegitimate one!

There are a lot of flaws in your reasoning, not least of which is your hypothetical everyman who's techie enough to be able to find a safe pirated copy of software, or who is otherwise unafraid of unknown risks despite being reminded of them online in a million ways, is unafraid of possible patching problems, or who is even technically inclined enough to be able to find the pirated copies. Yes, to you every last person who would steal is able to easily find pirated Windows and use it.

It's just the sort of thing that would require proof, not bare supposition to support your annoyance. Is there some proof that Microsoft's activation scheme deters piracy not at all?

Wait until your dev. box spontaneously starts failing WGA for no reason at all and get back to me...

Mmkay. That'll be a while coming-- as it is for the tremendously vast majority of, well, everyone. Are you suggesting that the pool of potential pirated software users are all developers now?

Yes, it's not much hassle -- provided you don't have to re-install your OS or upgrade your hardware too much, or simply have the misfortune to have WGA fail to validate your machine. But if you ever do run into trouble it can be a headache to get things straightened out.

Are there some numbers on what percentage of users Windows activation actually impedes in a significant way?

[penartur]

Activation and license keys.

So what is the problem there?
Honest people have their license keys (usually on COA sticker). Activation is automatic.

Think about it: it's a problem imposed solely on people who are honest and morally-upstanding enough to purchase a license. It is software that (when it operates correctly) serves only to make life more difficult for the people who chose to pay for the product.

And credit cards' PINs are only making life more difficult for the honest people who are using their own credit card - they are forced to enter their PIN each time they want to get the cash in ATM!

With Linux or BSD I can grab an ISO from any one of a number of sources, burn it, and install it on pretty much any machine that can actually boot the thing. I never have to "activate" it.

This is not about "modern software licensing", this is about Linux/BSD being free, and Windows being paid.

I don't have to ... fork out even more money to activate features that are built in to the OS, but intentionally disabled.

You will not believe it, but even your Intel CPU (unless it is an "Extreme Edition") has some features which are intentionally disabled (e.g. L2 cache, frequency multiplier). All the CPUs in some line are essentially the same chips, just with max. frequency multiplier locked in some low or high number, and maybe part of its L2 cache disabled; however, the price for these may differ significantly, maybe even 5x.

Contrast that to Windows. I have to pay -- a lot, in this case -- for an "edition" that supports what I want. I can only use it on a limited number of computers.

You have to pay for Windows on every computer you're going to use it on.

I can't upgrade my machine too much, or replace it too many times without having to call up Microsoft and explain myself in the hope that they'll deign to give me more chances to use the disc that I already paid for.

And you can't type your credit card's PIN incorrectly too many times without having to visit your bank and explain yourself.

[Harryc]

This thread has gotten so far off topic that I don't even know where to begin. I think I'll start by locking it and telling the OP to start a new thread for further questions.