How do you set up your Z60's??

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Zen · #1 Post by **Zen** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:39 pm

Just curious to know how you set up your Z60m. Does everyone use all the thinkvantage software or clean install?

Do you use:

Fingerprint scan?

Client security - embedded security chip?

Away manager (i seemed to have accidentally launched the tasks not knowing, and voila, i got the symantic quick scan/defrag/rescu recovery running what seems perpetually in the background and pegging the processor at almost constantly 100%) Anyway i can disable this or at least stop it from running?

Thinkvantage access connections?

Any other thinkvantage programs?

Manarius · #2 Post by **Manarius** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:10 pm

I use all the stuff except the away manager. The ThinkVantage stuff is pretty useful and not too bloaty, but the new Client Security 7 is rather buggy.

Humpa · #3 Post by **Humpa** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:57 pm

I've done a clean install on my Z60m, but that was more of an accident - though I like it.
I've never liked to use Access Connections, though people seem to agree that it is good (I think I had issues with it when I first got my T42, so haven't used it since).
I've also never used the automatic software updater, but again, people seem to agree that that works good too.
I've never used the away manager, and am not really sure what it is.

I haven't reinstalled the Client security - embedded security chip, and I don't plan on it. That isn't something that I have any need of.

For Thinkvantage utilities that I have installed:
1. Active Protection (and it is running on high, for no particular reason other than that must've been the default)
2. Thinkpad Configuration (of course!)
3. Thinkpad Fingerprint Software (I really like this - I just use it for logging in)
4. Keyboard Customizer Utility (I just disabled this, since GomJabbar made me realize I don't need it for anything)
5. Easy Eject Utility
6. Power Manager (though I only just installed that - I wasn't going to, but I missed the ability to stop the battery from topping off to 100% all the time, among other things)

EDIT: also, I've deleted the hidden partition and disabled windows Restore. I like to use image backups instead - I'm using Acronis for that. And I partition the drive so that only the OS, Programs, etc are on the C drive (mainly to keep the Acronis image back up to a reasonable size), everything else I put on other partitions/hard drives (with backups of all my files saved on the home pc).

Humpa · #4 Post by **Humpa** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:18 pm

oops ...

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:25 pm

Humpa wrote:4. Keyboard Customizer Utility (I don't use it for anything - but I believe you need it for the Browser Back/Forward buttons near the arrow keys and maybe for the other function and custom buttons as well)

No, it's the Hotkey features driver that is used for the Browser Back/Forward buttons. It is also used for at least most of the Fn + other button combinations, such as turning the wireless radio on and off. Additionally it is used for the Access IBM button in Windows. Hotkey features also include the Onscreen Display (such as volume up/down/mute display) and Full Screen Magnifier.

Humpa · #6 Post by **Humpa** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:30 pm

GomJabbar wrote:
Humpa wrote:4. Keyboard Customizer Utility (I don't use it for anything - but I believe you need it for the Browser Back/Forward buttons near the arrow keys and maybe for the other function and custom buttons as well)
No, it's the Hotkey features driver that is used for the Browser Back/Forward buttons. It is also used for at least most of the Fn + other button combinations, such as turning the wireless radio on and off. Additionally it is used for the Access IBM button in Windows. Hotkey features also include the Onscreen Display (such as volume up/down/mute display) and Full Screen Magnifier.

Yeah, I have HotKeys (I just didn't mention that since it doesn't show with the ThinkVantage stuff).

I couldn't remember if the Keyboard Customization Functions was needed. But I thought it might be because in the Key Sensitivity tab there is a "Enable Browser Keys" select box, which is selected on mine.

BTW, everytime I see a post of yours I want to re-read the copy of Dune I have laying around.

EDIT: I just disabled the Keyboard Customization utility. Thanks!

HowardL · #7 Post by **HowardL** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:02 pm

I posted earlier for assistance for a Z60m 2531MTU and Humpa suggested disabling the Client Security software. I didn't like how long it took to shut down and reboot. So I uninstalled all the Symantec software and use Zone Alarm. It took over a minute off the shut down boot up. Very glad I did it.

I very much like the System Update software. Makes it easy to see which drivers/programs are updates and installs them nicely along with BIOS updates. I don't use many of the Thinkpad programs like fingerprint software so I just keep them off in the meantime until I change my mind.

Only had the Z60m a month but like and got great assistance here at this board

Brillig · #8 Post by **Brillig** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:34 pm

I keep mine pretty mine pretty much the way I got it. I have added RAM, and tweaked the bejeesus out of XP. This is the Mercedes of laptops, and doing too much to it seems like putting bull horns and hydraulics on a real Mercedes. That's what Dells are for.
The only things I have gotten rid of is Easy Eject (I can reach, thanks), and Symantec. Access Connections positively rocks. If you are in several locations with different access points, it's much better than having Windows manage your connections.
The only other change I might make is for a larger drive, and then this will become my linux machine when I am forced by work to migrate to Vista and get a new Z. I'm not gonna use anything else.

Humpa · #9 Post by **Humpa** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:14 pm

Brillig wrote:The only things I have gotten rid of is Easy Eject (I can reach, thanks), and Symantec. Access Connections positively rocks. If you are in several locations with different access points, it's much better than having Windows manage your connections.

Well, that's another thing I had misconceptions about.
I thought EasyEject was needed to hotswap whatever is in the ultrabay without having to use "safely remove hardware" first.

Also, maybe I should install Access Connections - I have never used it. When I first got my T42, there was an issue with the newest release of AC - it had some bugs. So I've not used it since. Which is the same reason I don't use the Software Updater. But everyone praises both of those utilities highly now.

Zen · #10 Post by **Zen** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:25 pm

I also find the System Update software super usefull. When i got my new z60 it wouldnt reboot with a usb device plugged in. System board alarm went off!!! Xp also didnt reflect the processor speed of 2Ghz. After running hte update softeware i updated the bios and all necessary drivers and now seems to work fine.

When getting rid of the symantec security stuff, which version zone alarm did you replace it with? internet security? I'm currently using zone alarm pro with avg antivirus but it doesnt recognize avg.

Anyone know how the zonealarm antivirus works compared to norton, or avg? I choose avg because its pretty light compared to others.[/quote]

asiafish · #11 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:06 pm

I absolutely LOVE Access Connections. At work it automaticaly connects to my encrypted wifi, prints to the office printer and opens my browser to my practice management page. At home it connects to a different encrypted network, prints to my home printer and my browser opens to cnn.com. When roaming it goes for any unsecure wifi router, prints to the office printer (offline) and again opens to my practice management in the browser.

What is even better than all of that stuff is how I can set the power level for my Atheros card by location. When out roaming I'll give up a little battery life for longer range (my "street" profile), but a second roaming profile allows me to reduce the power of the card for places with strong wifi (my "hotspot" profile).

At home the wifi card is set to low power as I have two linked routers that even on low power gives excellent reception anywhere in or near the house. At work I have it on high power as my one router is in the opposite corner as my conference room. On low power reception is "low", but on high power gives "excellent" reception.

Windows wireless networking just cannot provide that level of flexibility, with the browser and printer settings just a nice bonus.

HowardL · #12 Post by **HowardL** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:28 am

Zen, I assume you are asking me which ZA I use. Currently I am running the newest ZA Internet Security - both the firewall and AV. This year the ZA suite has gotten very good reviews. I've been pretty happy with it and very easy to use once the programs are configured.

How do you set up your Z60's??

How do you set up your Z60's??

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