Thinkpads Forum

I am setting up my new T400 that I was able to pick up with XP Pro installed. It is replacing my trusty Z60t and so far, so good. The machine was built in May, but it only came with SP2 installed. I know that SP3 has been out since at least the end of last year, so I am a bit surprised that Lenovo has not included it in its image. Does anybody know if SP3 is being left off by Lenovo for a specific reason? And, has anybody had problems installing SP3 on their T400's?

Thanks,

--Ken

If offered through windows update it should be fine. Run System update beforehand.

A side question, why are you trying to run XP on a new thinkpad? XP is almost 8 years old now. Imagine in 2002 buying a new machine and installing windows 95? Are you running some old piece of software that will only run on XP?

ryan1212 wrote: A side question, why are you trying to run XP on a new thinkpad? XP is almost 8 years old now. Imagine in 2002 buying a new machine and installing windows 95? Are you running some old piece of software that will only run on XP?

Reasonable question. I am running XP Pro on both of my machines for two reasons. First, I would like to jump directly from XP to Win7 and completely bypass Vista. It appears to be less hassle to only switch once, and Win7 is being released next month. Second, my wife will be using my old machine for work, and they are still on an XP-based network. I know that Vista has its advantages, but I am not really up to going through the upgrade grinder more than once.

--Ken

ryan1212 wrote:If offered through windows update it should be fine. Run System update beforehand.

A side question, why are you trying to run XP on a new thinkpad? XP is almost 8 years old now. Imagine in 2002 buying a new machine and installing windows 95? Are you running some old piece of software that will only run on XP?

So if someone comes on the market with a car that is:

-Uglier
-Smaller
-Slower
-Less fuel efficient

... than your current car...

you ditch your old car because "it's 8 years old"?

Replytoken wrote: Does anybody know if SP3 is being left off by Lenovo for a specific reason?

The T400 was introduced in 2008. There is no problem with installing SP3 on a T400.

Harryc wrote: The T400 was introduced in 2008. There is no problem with installing SP3 on a T400.

Yes, the T400 was introduced in 2008. And that is also why it seems quite unusual that SP3 was left off of a machine that was manufactured in May of 2009. Also, there were some posts at Lenovo's support forum from T400 owners who had problems with various drivers after installing SP3. There are the reasons that prompted my post.

--Ken

Windows XP Pro is awesome! Seriously, just because it's old? I actually prefer it over Vista and 7.

ninjaronin18 wrote:Windows XP Pro is awesome! Seriously, just because it's old? I actually prefer it over Vista and 7.

I couldn't agree more. It is the most stable Windows OS I've used. I still run it on both my PCs. It just, plain, works.

Well, I hate to revive an old thread, but I thought the following information might interest some folks. I have been busy since my OP, so I have not yet installed SP3, but had planned to do so this weekend. But, I had to call Lenovo yesterday about a warranty issue, so while on the phone with tech support in Atlanta, GA, I casually asked if there are any issues I needed to be aware of when I install SP3. His short answer, was do not install SP3. He claimed that Lenovo did not have driver support for SP3, and that was why my machine was shipped with only SP2 installed. Now I know that many have successfully installed SP3, but I find it interesting that this was not the recommendation by a Lenovo technician. I'll probably hold off for now, as I have my Win7 discs and I only have so much time to spend updating my computers.

--Ken

I really don't know about the disadvantage of running XP with SP2, but for those who say XP is 'old', well there are up-to-date security fixes and you can have your XP machine protected.

I opted to try Windows 7 earlier this year, but it is just not the same in terms of compatibility, for example, with a USB capture device, the sound would not work in W7 and there will be no audio, I have NONE of this issues with XP. Maybe in the years to come I will upgrade.
I plan on getting a T500/W500 later in 2010 and I would still downgrade to XP.

Back to topic, I don't think there is a compatibility issue with SP3 & the T400, you could try looking on every download page for the XP drivers for the T400 and see if it states something such as requiring SP2 only to work which I find not quite the case here.