T60: Installing SSD and Windows 8

[Lo-q]

Now that Microsoft will end support for Windows XP, it´s time for me to finally install Windows 8 on my old T60! I`ve also decided to buy an SSD and do a clean install.

So now I´m doing some research, trying to get a clear idea of what needs to be done in order for the operation to be succesful.

The plan as of now is:

a) Buy an SSD.
b) Buy Windows 8.
c) Back up my old HD to an external drive.
d) Shut down the Thinkpad, remove the battery and the power cable.
e) Pull out the old hard drive, install the SSD.
f) Reinstall the battery and the power cable(!).
f) Boot the Thinkpad from the Windows 8 DVD, install Windows 8.
g) Download and install whatever drivers are not installed automatically by the installer.

What do you think?

Some questions:

1) Is there any reason to get the 64 bit version of Windows? I have a T5600 so I believe it will run, but is there any reason to get it?
2) Will Windows 8 come with drivers for my graphics card, for the SSD and enough vital components for me get up and running and to be able to connect to the internet - where I hopefully can get whatever extra drivers I might need - or will I need to download some drivers on before hand?
3) Can I expect the T60 be as rock solid running W8 as running XP? I can´t remember it ever crashing using XP...
4) Will I find drivers supporting the various Thinkpad hardware features? (I believe the anser to this is Yes.)

5) Is there anything else I need to consider???

[dogbarber]

You'll be needing to install the Middleton BIOS to take full advantage of those SSD speeds.

[PowerPC]

Middleton BIOS is for the T61, and it unlocks SATA2 speeds on those planars.

[RealBlackStuff]

Middleton's BIOS is only available for T61/R61/X61, not for any T60/r60/X60 machine!

[dogbarber]

Apologies.

[emeraldgirl08]

Apologies.

No worries dogbarber! You are learning

[gehageh]

please read this thread where there is a reference that you can install SLIC 2.0 in a T60!
Re: T60 need suggestions

[RealBlackStuff]

Installing Slic won't do you any good!
Slic2.0 allows Vista activation
Slic2.1 allows Vista and W7 activation.
Windows 8 no longer uses Slic to be activated!

You have to install W8 or W8.1 first.
Then open a Command window (CMD) with Administrator privileges.
You now have two options:

1) Type in: slui 3 and hit Enter.
... Another window opens where you type in your W8-key and hit the Activate button below it.

2) Type in: slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX (your key), and hit Enter to activate W8.
... Alternative: slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXX etc.

For T60 I would recommend the 32-bit version, since that machine is limited to 3GB RAM only.
You'll need to install TVSU to get Lenovo drivers: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-73695
Whether they are all there? I doubt it, but you never know.
W7 might be a better option.

[Lo-q]

Hmm, I want to try to get Windows 8.1 to work, not 7.

I´m sure there are people on this forum with T60s running Windows 8.1. Was it an easy install? Will my "plan" above work or are there additional steps to be done? I guess I´m especially concerned about drivers for the SSD, installing the system into a blank HD from a DVD.

[hhmcsv]

Go right ahead with your plan
Win 8 will install all you need. Only bother could be the wireless card, if its an Intel 3945abg it will run miserably under 8.1, but fine under 8.
If Atheros, fine.
You will enjoy fast startup-times (15secs......) and stable operation. Forget about the geriatric W7.

[Lo-q]

... <snipped>...

I like your signature

[ArtShapiro]

Hmm, I want to try to get Windows 8.1 to work, not 7.
I´m sure there are people on this forum with T60s running Windows 8.1. Was it an easy install?

I have had it running without incident on one of my T60p machines. Just a routine install on an SSD; ran Windows Update, installed Lenovo System Update, and I can't recall any issues whatsoever beyond a difficulty installing System Update in the default manner. (There's a thread in the Windows 8 forum about this.)

As an aside, 8.1 is pretty nifty because you can boot to the desktop and avoid that stupid epilepsy-inducing Metro screen. It's quite responsive, and its quirks are tolerable.

Art

[Lo-q]

Sadly, I saw a lot of Windows 8 / 8.1 videos on youtube, and I can´t say that I like what I saw very much. The design of the elements of the desktop environment - the fonts, the icons, the window frames - seems inferior to that of XP and 7, and the marriage between the "Modern UI" and the traditional desktop seems forced.

Maybe I´ll get Windows 7 after all, while it is still available in the shops - although twice the price of Windows 8 (with student discout directly from Microsoft). Although it would be somewhat interesting to have a current operating system for once, and to see what Microsoft is up to.

And then there is this other thought. The price of Windows 7 plus an SSD will be similar to what I paid for the T60 originally. Maybe it is time to look for a new machine? How fast is W7 really, on a T60 with an SSD? Comparable to XP? Slower? Faster?

Because XP won´t be safe after they end support in April?