T30....a few questions

[MadeInJapan]

My T30 came last week and already I've loaded up the software I had on my old 600E without much difficulty. I do still have some issues (See Windows section entry) as through one software install failure, I lost the blue round button on the system tray that allows for the expansion and shrinking of the tray...thus some of the icons that should be there are not accessable. That's about the only trouble...if anyone has a solution, please let me know...I've searched long and hard for one.
Oh, also the left shift key "clicks" downward past where it should go which feels a bit unsecure, but all other keys feel very good...almost as good as those on the 600E. One question: What does the oval "Thinkpad" button do at the top of the keyboard?

One thing that concerns me....I got no recovery CD(s) with my Thinkpad and it does not look like it has the recovery partition. Does anyone know what/how to look for that partition? Also, is it possible to call IBM and get them to send me the Recovery CD(s), as it's still under warranty....came with XP Pro.

Thanks in advance!
Dave

[MadeInJapan]

Well, got concerned about the inability to recover this Thinkpad, so I called IBM. They told me the discs are $35 unless I have a hard drive problem. They recommended that I download The Fitness Test file and create a floppy from it to boot and test my Hard Drive. I did that and it found corrupt sectors (the reason my Windows was acting weird, I presume) and then asked me if I wanted to erase or try to repair the sectors. When I chose repair, my Hard Drive isn't recognized by the fitness test any more. So I called IBM back. Under warranty, they are sending me a new hard drive and the recovery CD.

Seems that the hard drive still boots into Windows, so I'll do that and burn a CD of the files I loaded onto the computer. Any other suggestions?
How about the choices I get in the recovery process? What are they and which ones should I choose?

[sktn77a]

In answer to your questions, right click on "start" and uncheck the "hide inactive icons" button. Sounds like your keyboard isn't properly seated and that pressing the left shift key pops it out of position; of course, it could be a bad keyboard in which case, IBM will swap it under warranty.

[mattfromomaha]

I have a T30 and one time, after removing my keyboard to do something, it did the exact same thing upon re-install. I simply removed it (two screws on the back) and reinstalled it. One thing I noticed is that as you reinstall the keyboard, set it in the system and slide it towards you a little bit (or towards the palm rests), as it seemed like something wasn't holding it in place quite perfectly until I pulled it that way. Replace the screws and you should be good to go!

The oval "ThinkPad" button should launch the Access IBM program, which is a help program that will assist you with about any question you have about your thinkpad. You have to install a special utility to make the button work, but if you use the recovery CDs from IBM I'm pretty sure it will automatically load that. On newer ThinkPads they changed the label of the button from "ThinkPad" to "Access IBM" because so many people didn't realize it was a button that did something.

Congratulations on your new purchase. I think you'll really enjoy your new ThinkPad. I've had mine about 16 months now and still love it. I was actually going to upgrade to a T42 a couple weeks ago but I've decided that the build quality of the T30 seems so much better I'll stick with it.

Do you have wireless network card installed?

[MadeInJapan]

Yes, mini-pci wireless LAN! I'm going to love this machine once I get it all set up again. By the way, the programs and other data burned onto CD from the mulit-burner fine last night. I even burned my "favorites" from IE and my Indentity files (inbox, etc from Outlook Express) and Address Book, so when I get the recovery disc and new HD I'm good to go.

So, you think that the keyboard needs re-seating, huh? Maybe that's why it was clicking sort of weird. Do you mean I also need new screws if I re-seat it? Can't I use the old screws?

[sktn77a]

I think he meant re-install the screws. I don't think anybody replaces the nylon coated screws (even though IBM tell you to do so).