Thinkpad drivers vs Windows drivers for T61 ?

[kstuart]

Over the years, I've bought a series of refurbished corporate Thinkpads, each time they are the model from about 4-5 years ago, from the same dependable guy.

As is the norm, he gets these with wiped hard drives, and I'm pretty sure he clones his standard setup for those models.

Over the years, these have less and less of the distinctive IBM Thinkpad Software pre-installed. There is never a hidden partition, but the T40's had the complete software suite with Access Connections, etc. etc.

I just received a T61 from him a few days ago - exactly as specified in the description, in very nice condition.

However, this time there is zero Thinkpad software of any kind - just the Windows Vista Business specified on the COA sticker. And there is graphics chip software by Intel for the integrated graphics.

I've found the Power Management of Vista for laptops to be insufficient, so I installed the Thinkpad PM driver and software, and I also installed the Hotkeys OSD software and driver, so that I can see the volume and brightness keys are doing.

So, my Q: Are there any other Thinkpad drivers that should be installed instead of the Windows ones?

( By the way, I don't miss Access Connections, since I find the Windows wireless to be quite sufficient, and I won't need the Hard Drive Protection software, since I will soon have only an SSD and no HD. )

[dr_st]

My general suggestion which works well in most cases is to download and run the Lenovo System Update. It will search for compatible drivers and software based on your machine type, and you can then choose what you want installed and what not.

[Radioguy]

Well, SU runs behind what's posted at Lenovo. The last time I ran SU to completion, I still found at least five newer applicable builds posted in the driver matrix, so don't think SU is the end all and be all.

kstuart, the items you refer to are mostly applications that aren't always necessary. Power Management aside, most ThinkVantage apps are productivity or security apps which aren't actually absolutely needed for a PC to function. In fact, many members here consider them "bloatware" and decide to remove them.

Now, when it comes to actual drivers, Lenovo says to use their drivers (and not Windows Update, or component manufacturer supplied versions) because Lenovo-approved versions have been checked to be compatible, and might be customized for Lenovo equipment. Of course, we often see that Lenovo ends up posting the same drivers later on, so there's a excellent chance the WU supplied drivers are fine. However, there have been needed tweaks for some components in some models which make the Lenovo statement true. In the end, it might be considered a gamble to go with WU or a component website, but the odds are on your side.

The other option, and one I have often chosen, is to search out builds of drivers released by other PC manufacturers. As you'll see, most components, like ethernet, modem, wi-fi, audio, graphics, etc are ones that many manufacturers use. Many of the drivers for them are made available by the component manufacturers (like graphics), but some are only updated and released to PC makers, who then release them. Atheros is such a manufacturer, and while Lenovo has posted their drivers (post-checked), they have not continued to do so with older models while Atheros might still include these models in new driver builds. For example, ASUS has continued to post updated drivers, and so I have chosen them on occasion. This choice is more dangerous than the previous ones, but I can't remember the last time I had an issue going down this path. Still, it's at your own risk.

Incidentally, the Lenovo Active ("Airbag") Protection System might be useful if you ever insert an HDD in the Ultrabay that isn't a SSD. I think it takes up 16.8MB.