R61 upgrades? Advice needed.

[annasims]

Hello
I have an R61 with these specs:

Type 8932
T8100 @ 2.10GHz cpu
4GB ram
100GB hdd

I don't know much about the graphics but this is from the Lenovo documentation for my machine:
Video chipsets:
Intel PM965/GM965 graphics
128MB nVidia Quadro NVS 140M

I don't really want to throw my laptop out as it has lasted so long (since 2007 I think) and I love it, but the problem is XP is just too old and I am sick of using Linux (too many problems!)

I would like to install Windows 8 or 10 to put on it, but wonder if any of the hardware is too old? In particular I think the graphics might not be up to it - what do you think? I would LOVE to use Plasq Comic Life but unfortunately none of the versions work correctly in XP on this machine - their customer service said it's probably the graphics card.

So two questions:
(1) Is there any specific reason why Windows 8 or 10 wouldn't work on it?
(2) Is there a way I can upgrade the graphics?

Thankyou in advance

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.
Please give us the full 7-character TYPE from the label on the bottom, as well as the 5-char. DATE at the end.
Looks like TYPE 8932-A45 S/N: L3-12345 08/03.
We don't need the S/N but the last 5 characters in the above example (08/03) are important.
08/03 = YY/MM = Year 2008/Month 03=March)
AFAIK the 8932 series only came with Intel X3100 graphics, not with nVidia, but I may be wrong.
There is no way to upgrade the graphics, other than replace the whole motherboard.
Unfortunately nVidia does not have the best reputation for R61/T61 series, except if the DATE is 08/08 or newer.

Regardless, if you liked XP, you will probably not like W8.0 or W8.1 and even less W10.
We have sub-forums for W8 and W10.
If you read through there a bit, you'll see why both are not really advisable.

For your machine I would really recommend W7-Pro in 64-bit version.
The easiest way would be to install Middleton's BIOS and get a set of the above mentioned W7 Lenovo's Recovery Disks.
Look for a set with SP1 already integrated.
You could put a "WTB" (Want To Buy) ad in our Marketforum.

[annasims]

Thankyou for your reply and your welcome.

Type: 8932 A48 Date: 08/03

I vaguely remember when deciding which thinkpad to buy I

I take it you mean W8 and W10 aren't recommended for this machine, I will read those sections when I have a chance. I am happy to use W7, tried it for free for a few months and it worked well.

That leaves me with my graphics card problem - is it possible/reasonable to replace the motherboard? What would I replace it with? A compatible secondhand motherboard taken from a more modern thinkpad?

Thankyou!

[RealBlackStuff]

Ex-factory this was your machine:
8932-A48
Based on 8933-F6M: T8100(2.10GHz), 1GB RAM, 120GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1280x800 LCD, Intel X3100, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion, WinVista Business 32
You have indeed only Intel graphics.

Your R61 is too old to economically replace the motherboard.
It also was a bottom-of-the-barrel model.
And nVidia in R61/T61 is no good unless you know EXACTLY where it comes from.
Nothing from any newer laptop will fit in yours (sorry...)

Your next choice of laptop depends on your wishes for screen-size (roughly 12", 13", 14" or 15"), discrete or integrated graphics, and most important: your budget.

And you need to tell us what you really want a next/new/used laptop for.

[annasims]

Oh ok thanks for your help.

I just need a laptop for basic stuff, not game playing or anything specialised, but the graphics card has to be good enough for Comic Life. I guess pretty much anything these days will work for that though.

Thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

The Comic Life requirements are fairly basic:

Requires Windows 7 (SP1)
or Windows 8 (+latest patches)
1.5GHz processor (2.0+GHz rec.)
1 GB RAM (2GB rec.)
300 MB of available disk space
Minimum 1024×768 display (1280×1024 rec.)

This means that your R61 actually should still be sufficient to run it!
Your screen has only 1280x800, but there are others available with higher resolution: 1680x1050 and 1920x1200
The above three resolutions are from screens in the much sought-after 16:10 ratio.
Nowadays most laptops come in the wider and lower 16:9 ratio, because many laptop manufacturers (wrongly) assume that everybody just wants to watch Youtube or movies on it!

If you'd install W7/SP1 in 64-bit with 2x2GB RAM you'd be grand!
Download the Trial from plasq and see how that goes.

If you still want a system with more powerful graphics, then I may have just the machine for you:
a top of the line T500: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=119186
If interested, use the Private messages (PM) at the top of this page.
SOLD.

[annasims]

This means that your R61 actually should still be sufficient to run it!

I know that's what confuses me because I've tried the oldest versions and they don't work properly, perhaps it's a memory/speed issue and not a graphics issue at all (although that's what Plasq support suggested it was).

The laptop looks good but adding exchange rate from NZD, shipping, OS, HDD and battery purchases I may as well buy a new one Everything in New Zealand is VERY expensive compared to the US!

Thanks for your help.

[ArtShapiro]

Nobody has answered your question as to whether Win10 will work on an R61.

I'm typing this answer on precisely that combination. It's running quite well.

As an aside, the R61 was my main laptop for a while, after both of my T60p machines died heat-related deaths earlier this year. I really liked it, until picking up a T500 several months ago. That latter machine makes the R61 look rather clunky and heavy, and I rarely take the R61 out of the house these days.

Art

[Radioguy]

The R61 can accommodate a Blu-Ray writer in the Ultrabay. It's about the only upgrade I envied when I used my T61 (which is too thin to accommodate it).

[28CarsLater]

I would switch to an SSD hard drive and I echo RealBlackStuff's recommendation on the Middleton BIOS which unlocks SATA II speeds on your motherboard (effectively double). I just refurbished an X61 for a friend, the Middleton BIOS and Kingston SSD make a world of difference even with Win7 x64. I want to say it boots with autologin in about seven seconds. I've only flashed it three times in the past, and each time I was running Windows XP (Middleton requires a 32 bit OS). There may be other methods (boot from USB device etc) but I have had no issues installing Windows XP, running the BIOS, formatting and then installing my OS of choice. Middleton also removes the white list and allows you to use newer Wireless N cards on the motherboard as opposed to the ABG card the model shipped.