Changing the hd with ssd

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vm5 · #1 Post by **vm5** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:45 am

Hallo to everybody. I'm a newbie and also a new owner of a t61.

I decided to chage the original 120 gb hdd with a new Samsung ssd 840 250 gb.

I removed the original hdd and, after the installation of the new one, I installed windows 7 Ultimate.

I think that I didn't understood well the function of ThinkVantage because it finished working both under windows 7 (i tried to install the new mobility center but is not possible to install it on Windows 7)and also during the boot. It seems that, to function, it need to be installed to it's own partition on the Hdd but I don't know if, with the method i followed, now I could be able to have back the ThinkVantage also only on boot sequence.

I hope I was able to present clearly my problems.

TuuS · #2 Post by **TuuS** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:28 am

There are many apps provided by lenovo that use the "thinkvantage" brand name. If you go to lenovo.com support page and enter your model number there will be a "drivers and downloads" section where you can get any drivers or apps you need. One thing you won't be able to use is the system restore which installs in a hidden partition. In order to use that you'd need to install windows from a factory install disc which is only available for windows Vista and XP for the T61 model line. It will also install the operating system and drivers from 2006/2007 era, so virtually everything will need to be replaced/updated. My advice is to use an alternate method for recovery. Many users prefer to make a recovery image of the harddrive that can be installed if your system becomes unstable. Acronis makes software that can do this and many harddrive manufacturers provide a free copy that works with their specific brand of drive. I know seagate has such a program but I'm unsure about samsung so you'll have to check.

vm5 · #3 Post by **vm5** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:52 am

Thank You TuuS.

If I've understood the ThinkAdvantage button used in boot mode have to be considered "passed".

Thank You for the information; I've already used Acronis, with an external usb disc on another laptop, to clone a disc and then it seems to be the best way....

Today I've already installed on T61 some useful utility programs under windows 7 Ultimate but they could be launched only via mouse.

Then , if I've understood, the blue button became useless with windows 7....i push it but nothing happens...

P.S.: You're right: in the CD of Samsung SSD there's a program for disk clone!

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:37 am

My advice:
first apply Middleton's BIOS http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost6501443
Do this regardless of which operating system you use!
Then get a set of Lenovo recovery CDs for W7 Pro (Ultimate is rarely available) 32-bit or 64-bit, for a newer machine like the T410/T420/T510/T520 or their R-versions.
Preferably a CD version with SP1 already applied.
You can install this with its recovery partition, and thanks to Middleton it will run mighty fine.

With 32-bit OS you can install up to 4GB RAM (PC2-5300 or PC2-6400).
With 64-bit OS you can install up to 8GB RAM (PC2-5300 or PC2-6400).

Neil · #5 Post by **Neil** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:13 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:...get a set of Lenovo recovery CDs for W7 Pro (Ultimate is rarely available) 32-bit or 64-bit, for a newer machine like the T410/T420/T510/T520 or their R-versions.

Have you ever installed this way? I have a set of T410 Recovery Disks, and have not been able to make them work on T61 or T400/500 machines that I have. Is Middleton's BIOS the key?

#6 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:01 am

I have installed from an original T410 set (I have both 32/64-bit) onto anything (must be T43 and up), like T43/R52/T6x/R6x/X6x/T400/T410/T420/X200/X200s/SL500/SL510/G560/many Lenovo 3000 models, etc.
Every single laptop I installed it on worked straight "out of the box" with only occasionally missing a driver.
Get whatever else you need by running TSUV or W7 updates.
And they all also nicely activated automatically.
Of course all the BIOSes had been modified before with Slic2.1

vm5 · #7 Post by **vm5** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:10 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:My advice:
first apply Middleton's BIOS http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost6501443
Do this regardless of which operating system you use!
Then get a set of Lenovo recovery CDs for W7 Pro (Ultimate is rarely available) 32-bit or 64-bit, for a newer machine like the T410/T420/T510/T520 or their R-versions.
Preferably a CD version with SP1 already applied.
You can install this with its recovery partition, and thanks to Middleton it will run mighty fine.

With 32-bit OS you can install up to 4GB RAM (PC2-5300 or PC2-6400).
With 64-bit OS you can install up to 8GB RAM (PC2-5300 or PC2-6400).

Vow RealBlackStuff You reveal in advance my next request about SSD on T61.

I was trying to understand if I'm able to change the bios to have at least SATA 2 on the laptop. I read a lot about Middelton but I have several doubts:
- My original bios is 2.17 7LETB7WW and the Laptop is t61 7663 ct0; this laptop is not mentioned in the middelton scheme;
- If I make a mistake could I find the original BIOS to reinstall? I look everywhere but I found nothing about it;
- When You write about the recovery CDs for W7 pro SP1(I've 4 gb of RAM and I was thinking that 32 bit could detect until 3gb maximum ) do You mean that I could find it on LEnovo Site

.

Be patient for my English ))).

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 4:59 pm

You need the first Middleton BIOS beginning with T61, T61p, after the X6x files.
It will work for ANY T61/T61p, regardless of type/model.

You can of course always install 8GB, but under 32-bit only about 3GB is usable.

In Europe you can buy them here: https://www.lenovorecovery.com/Extranet/Home.aspx
You only pay shipping and handling, and they ship to Italy.
Go find a T410's exact type, model and serial number (ask your friends), you'll need it there for when you order.
Or try and get a set via our Marketforum. (I won't sell or copy mine, sorry).

vm5 · #9 Post by **vm5** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:11 pm

Thank You!

I'm downloading the bios version for t61; I've only to find the bravery to do it (I've never done it).

There is no way to backup the old bios? I'm looking for a plan b in case of mistakes.

About the recovery cd maybe I found a way.

But let me know, the Middleton Bios switch to Sata II or it's also necessary to let use the recovery disc for W7?

P.S.: I don't want to bother You but I downloaded the Middleton bios and expanded it produce 2 folders: BIOS update + CTRL-FN swap and BIOS update. Which is the one to save on a CD to use to boot the system?

About the Ram i had only 2 GB and this week I bought two banks for total 4 GB on Ebay because I was thinking that this was the limit for this laptop...

Cigarguy · #10 Post by **Cigarguy** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:22 pm

No need to be brave, it's a fairly routine process. As with updating firmware on any device, don't turn the power off during the updating process. Middleton BIOS is a wonderful thing.

No need to back up your BIOS. The latest Lenovo's BIOS is always on their website if you want to revert back. If you do manage to brick your machine then there's no BIOS that would help. Again this is true whether you are updating your computer, smartphone, SSD or any other device that will allow firmware update.

Cigarguy · #11 Post by **Cigarguy** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:25 pm

If you want to swap the location of the function and control keys then use that BIOS files, otherwise use the regular one.

T61 and X61 will take 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) but 4 GB DDR2 modules are very expensive and hard to find. For most people 4 GB (2x2GB) is more than plenty.

vm5 · #12 Post by **vm5** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:34 pm

Tomorrow I'll connect the computer to the poer together with the battery and, using these instructions ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... ost6510253 ) , I'll see If I'm able to destroy the laptop ))))

Cigarguy · #13 Post by **Cigarguy** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:40 pm

You can also use the instructions on Lenovo's website too. Middleton's BIOS is a great BIOS but the process of updating it is nothing special. It's the same as any other BIOS update.

Unless you are very very very unlucky, the only way to brick the machine is to intentionally turn off the machine while it is in the process of updating. Doing this will brick most any device.

vm5 · #14 Post by **vm5** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:12 am

A liitle moment of fear....

Starting the laptop from iso Middleton's bios and......error code 99 during flashing Bios.

"Updating your bios while Msoft bitlocker drive encryption is enabled cause subsequent oots of the encripted drive to fail .............."

It seems that something is stopping the new installation.. Fortunally the laptop functions..

#15 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:40 am

Bitlocker is part of Windows 7 or 8.
Disable it before the BIOS update.

vm5 · #16 Post by **vm5** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 3:49 pm

Strange: error 99 Bitlocker. But in w7 it was disabled.

Then i disabled the security in the Bios an it accepted Middleton .....the ssd acquired new performances.

I'm only thinking about on coming back to set on the security in the bios now.

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