T42 coming tomorrow!!- initial setup questions

[STS06]

Hello all. I will be receiving my T42 on Tuesday and I wanted to ask a few questions in preparation. Also, I have a desktop available for use and I will have wired DSL connection for the laptop waiting for it (this info might help answer some of the questions I have).

1.) I bought an addtional 1 gb of ram. When should I install it? After or before turning the comp on for the first time- this may be a non-issue but its my first time installing ram on any computer, let alone a laptop.

2.) What are some advisable steps after turning on the computer? I've read a lot of talk about updating BIOS and drivers and etc. but haven't read into them all that much so I'm basically clueless.

3.) The underlying question to question 2 is the following: Is there any initial setup that I should do? My question isn’t restricted to just PC necessary things but also tips or programs or what not that help. For example, steps I can take to speed up the comp (i.e: get rid of background windows/IBM programs that I do not need). I don't have wireless internet yet, so it may also so would it be a good idea to "turn off" or disable the WLAN card to save battery juice (dont know how though)?

4.) Any software I should get (preferrably free) pertaining to keeping the computer clean of spyware, viruses. etc. Actually my college allows us to download an updated version of Norton for free (well...i probably pay for it in tuition-nothing's free!!!).

In all, I just want to a.) ensure the computer is in good health, b.) set it up for the fastest and safetest use and c.) start learning more about maintaing stuff like temperature, setting the battery to charge after so much time and etc. More specifically, i want to know what undervolting (CPU and GPU) is and how to accomplish it if its worth it. Also I've read about this "hidden part" on computers- maybe something about partitioning- but people have said their comps get faster after deleting it. This may be too vague but I thought its worth asking..


In all, thanks for the help and I can’t wait for my computer to arrive!!!

BTW, the model number is 2373N3U.

Thanks for the help!

[STS06]

35 views and no help! Ok , i admit it, 9 of those were of me editing it to add more questions

But please, some help fellow Thinkpadders!!!

Just livening it up ...and bumping it up..haha.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[RonS]

1.) I bought an addtional 1 gb of ram. When should I install it? After or before turning the comp on for the first time- this may be a non-issue but its my first time installing ram on any computer, let alone a laptop.

I'd Install it right away, after you remove it from the box. It should take you 45 seconds max.

2.) What are some advisable steps after turning on the computer? I've read a lot of talk about updating BIOS and drivers and etc. but haven't read into them all that much so I'm basically clueless.

Run Rescue and Recovery and create a set of install CD's.

3.) The underlying question to question 2 is the following: Is there any initial setup that I should do? My question isn’t restricted to just PC necessary things but also tips or programs or what not that help. For example, steps I can take to speed up the comp (i.e: get rid of background windows/IBM programs that I do not need). I don't have wireless internet yet, so it may also so would it be a good idea to "turn off" or disable the WLAN card to save battery juice (dont know how though)?

If you need to ask this question, my advice is to use the computer as-is for a while until you get familiar with the features you paid for. Then, you can start turning off and uninstalling apps that you don't use. Be careful turning off system services. You could probably get away with shutting down rarely-used services on something like a Dell notebook, but with Thinkpads many of those rarely used services, which some web sites recommend turning off, are actually used by IBM's bundled apps.

4.) Any software I should get (preferrably free) pertaining to keeping the computer clean of spyware, viruses. etc. Actually my college allows us to download an updated version of Norton for free (well...i probably pay for it in tuition-nothing's free!!!).

Again - if you have to ask this question, you should probably protect your computer as much as possible. Norton is good, but your performance will seriously suffer.

In all, I just want to a.) ensure the computer is in good health, b.) set it up for the fastest and safetest use and c.) start learning more about maintaing stuff like temperature, setting the battery to charge after so much time and etc. More specifically, i want to know what undervolting (CPU and GPU) is and how to accomplish it if its worth it. Also I've read about this "hidden part" on computers- maybe something about partitioning- but people have said their comps get faster after deleting it. This may be too vague but I thought its worth asking..

It sounds like you're starting a steep learning curve. Read these forums, experiment a little, make lots of backups, keep your Windows and Thinkpad software up to date (especially Windows updates), surf safely, and don't ever run any application unless you know exactly where it came from and what it does. Even then, google the name of the app first to see if anyone else has problems with it.

In all, thanks for the help and I can’t wait for my computer to arrive!!!

BTW, the model number is 2373N3U.

Thanks for the help!

[GomJabbar]

RonS gave you very good advice.

Here is the home page for Spybot, an excellent spyware remover. It is 'free', but the author does encourage donations. Spybot - Search & Destroy

[STS06]

Thanks RonS for the advice.

What I will do is check the computer out and figure out what I use and what I don't. The basics I know...spyware and etc. I'm aware.

In short, I played as dumb as I can to get the max info. In reality I do know "some" about computers. I never got into overclocking, undervolting (with desktops) but i'd like to learn.

Furthermore, are there any programs or utilities that I should turn off that, in most cases, are never used. If its possible, it'd be nice to know of any utlities, programs that are most commonly shut off and their implications on perfomance and day-to-day use.

If there's no more, then I suppose I'm ready for the computer!
Thanks for the help!

[DoS]

1.) I bought an addtional 1 gb of ram. When should I install it? After or before turning the comp on for the first time- this may be a non-issue but its my first time installing ram on any computer, let alone a laptop.

I'd Install it right away, after you remove it from the box. It should take you 45 seconds max.

RonS did give some very sound advice. My only suggestion would be that you run your TP for a bit, just in case there are any hardware or software issues that came with it. I only say this because if you have any issues after the RAM upgrade, this all but eliminates any other trouble shooting to find the problem(s).

[STS06]

Good thinking!

Oh one important question I forgot...will I be given instructions on how to install memory or do I have to find this online? I'm assuming the former.

[JaneL]

Oh one important question I forgot...will I be given instructions on how to install memory or do I have to find this online? I'm assuming the former.

More likely the latter, but item #8 in the FAQ will help you.

[nichihan]

I wouldn't installing the ram right away. First get a good feel of the speed of the stock machine. Then install the ram afterwards and compare the before and after. This will make you feel like you got your $100 worth.

[nichihan]

Also, first thing you should do is to uninstall Norton. It's a POS annoying program that will make your computer much slower than it is. Whenever you need to do a scan, just go to www.trendmicro.com to scan off it's website. It even detects spyware as well as viruses now. Best of all, it's 100% free!

Turning off wireless radio takes just 2 keystrokes (Fn F5).

[GomJabbar]

Also, first thing you should do is to uninstall Norton. It's a POS annoying program that will make your computer much slower than it is. Whenever you need to do a scan, just go to www.trendmicro.com to scan off it's website. It even detects spyware as well as viruses now. Best of all, it's 100% free!

Turning off wireless radio takes just 2 keystrokes (Fn F5).

Yes, you can go to various antivirus software sites and do free virus scans, and it's better than nothing. However, that does nothing to protect you if you end up on a malicious website, or open infected e-mail. You can even get infected by just being connected to the internet. In which case you will get a virus, with possibly quite damaging results! It could be too late then. Also, most of these sites will do free scans, but to remove any virus you have to put down some greenbacks.

This brings up another important consideration. You should be running a software firewall such as ZoneAlarm (which is free), and if possible, a hardware firewall as well. Here is the website for: ZoneAlarm

Finally do frequent hard disk backups.

[mdarnton]

I'm using AVG anti-virus on two computers, for over a year, and it's great. http://www.grisoft.com For non-commercial use they even have a free version. It's an obscure program, but when the major magazines think to review it, it gets good reviews.

Waiting to install your memory is good--you need to make sure everything's working right first, then if you put in the memory and a problem occurs, you know it's the memory, not the computer.

[GeorgeP]

- Create rescue and recovery disks

- Install anti-spyware. I like Microsoft antispyware beta (which I keep active) and Spyware Dr. (from which I run scans manually)

- Install the new IBM Software Installer. It makes it easy to keep your drivers and IBM software current.

- In general, I would keep the IBM apps installed and running for a while. The only I've been compelled to turn off is the IBM Access Message Center. You can always check manually. I haven't gotten a useful message yet, except the for the announcement of Software Installer.

- I would run without undervolting at first to see if you need it.
From what I've read, the T42s are cooler and quieter than the T43s. If you decide you want to, try Centrino Hardware Control to undervolt the CPU. It keeps my T43 quieter than a church mouse.

- I don't see why a computer would run faster without the hidden partition. I would only remove if you really need the space. I'm not sure if the rescue and recovery tools (that let you access the system if you can't start windows) are located in that partition.

- Enjoy your new computer!

G

[STS06]

Thanks for the help thusfar!

More replies are always welcome though!

Good Day.