Questions from a first-time IBM user

[waterchan]

I have a Thinkpad T43 running WinXP Pro, and I'm running into a couple of problems:

All the partitions came as FAT32. I want to convert this to NTFS, without reformatting and losing all data. I tried using the command prompt:

CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS

It said that autoconv.exe was missing and therefore could not convert to NTFS on reboot. Since IBM doesn't supply a Windows CD, I cannot get autoconv.exe back. Any idea how to proceed?


On an unrelated note, the brightness decreases when I unplug the AC adapter. I couldn't find anything in the display options that would make the display run at maximum brightness regardless of whether it's running on battery or AC. How do you do this?

[dr_st]

I can email you autoconv.exe if you wish. Also look for a file called AUTOCONV.EX_ in C:\I386. If it's there, you can use the EXPAND.EXE tool that should be in the same directory to uncompress it, then put it in Windows\System32. I have no idea how it could be missing in the first place, by the way.

About the brightness: in the BIOS there should be an option to configure how LCD will run on batteries. I think there are two settings - Normal and High. High wil run just like on AC.

[tfflivemb2]

On an unrelated note, the brightness decreases when I unplug the AC adapter. I couldn't find anything in the display options that would make the display run at maximum brightness regardless of whether it's running on battery or AC. How do you do this?

If you are running the Battery Maximizer/Power Management program from IBM (the green battery near the system tray), you can right click the green battery and select "view scheme settings" you can change your setting to Hign Performance (LCD setting of 7). But, one thing to note is that it will run your battery down much quicker, as the lower the LCD setting while on battery, the longer the battery will last once the system is unplugged.

As an alternative to setting it on high every time that you are on battery, you can use manual settings any time that you choose by using the function key + "Home" or "End". The keys may be different keys on a T43, as these are the keys on a T2x series.

[waterchan]

Those tips helped excellently. Thank you!

tfflivemb2, I don't know if it's just the T43, but I find that the maximum brightness setting (10 bubbles) when plugged in is in fact higher than when it is on battery. Weird, huh?

[xnjselfdestructx]

Whats ntfs cause i have fat32 also. What are the benifits of running ntfs other than fat32.

[jdhurst]

Whats ntfs cause i have fat32 also. What are the benifits of running ntfs other than fat32.

On what? ThinkPads convert to NTFS on first turn on, and have done for years.

NTFS is faster, more robust and more secure than FAT. ... JD Hurst

[waterchan]

NTFS is faster, more robust and more secure than FAT. ... JD Hurst

If anything, I've noticed that defragmenting takes noticeably less time with NTFS.

[xnjselfdestructx]

I open up my computer hit localdisk and it says File System:FAT32 Im running windows xp.