Installing vista on a T4x

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swiftrhett · #1 Post by **swiftrhett** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:49 pm

I'm thinking of getting a used T4x and putting vista on it. If I get at least a 128 MB video card, and 1-2 GB RAM installed, is this an ok idea? Is the centrino processor still ok with vista? What Experience index does vista list that at?

My plan was to get an OEM copy of vista via newegg. Is there some other more preferred IBM way to upgrade the OS?

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:07 pm

My T41 runs Vista, but not Aero which I don't need.

It is illegal to purchase an OEM licence for your used machine. OEM licenses live and die on the machine they came with. It is illegal to sell the licenses individually to users.
... JDH

pianowizard · #3 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:07 pm

Several people have posted their Vista performance scores for the T4*'s in this and this thread. This thread is also relevant.

swiftrhett · #4 Post by **swiftrhett** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:11 pm

My understanding is that it is not illegal to buy an OEM version of windows from a distributer like newegg. They are the OEM distributer, and can sell the software with a piece of hardware. I believe they usually ship some token piece of "hardware" like a cable with the OEM license and CD.

The downside is that if you buy an OEM piece of software, it lives and dies on the first machine you install it on, so once I install vista on my thinkpad, I can't ever install that copy of vista on another machine. In contrast, if I purchased a consumer version of Vista, i would be allowed to uninstall Vista from one machine.

The other option is that I could buy a consumer Vista upgrade package, assuming the laptop comes with a valid xp license.

I know this has been beaten to death, but is vista worth it on a thinkpad? I'm excited to use the indexing system and mess around with windows development with the new common file dialog.

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:14 pm

swiftrhett wrote:They are the OEM distributer, and can sell the software with a piece of hardware. I believe they usually ship some token piece of "hardware" like a cable with the OEM license and CD.

That's also my understanding. However, that token piece should end up being part of the Thinkpad you install Vista on.

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:29 pm

pianowizard wrote:
swiftrhett wrote:They are the OEM distributer, and can sell the software with a piece of hardware. I believe they usually ship some token piece of "hardware" like a cable with the OEM license and CD.
That's also my understanding. However, that token piece should end up being part of the Thinkpad you install Vista on.

And in my checking of OEM licensing (I have had to deal with this issue for clients) is that the piece of hardware must be new.
... JDH

#7 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:31 pm

swiftrhett wrote:<snip>

The other option is that I could buy a consumer Vista upgrade package, assuming the laptop comes with a valid xp license.

I know this has been beaten to death, but is vista worth it on a thinkpad? I'm excited to use the indexing system and mess around with windows development with the new common file dialog.

For you want, I think it is a good idea. My trials with Vista were that Aero was the only give-up. The rest was fine.

.... JDH

orrelljet · #8 Post by **orrelljet** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:38 pm

I had vista running fine on a 15" T42 - it was one of the models with a Radeon 9600, as opposed to the standard 7500 - 1gb ram, no problems at all.

danage · #9 Post by **danage** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:06 pm

jdhurst wrote:It is illegal to purchase an OEM licence for your used machine. OEM licenses live and die on the machine they came with. It is illegal to sell the licenses individually to users.

Depends on the country you live in. In Germany, the highest court (Bundesgerichtshof) has ruled that OEM licensing models violate consumer rights.

From a legal standpoint, in Germany, OEM licenses have the same value as regular ones. They can be traded freely.

#10 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:08 pm

Interesting. Thank you. ... JDH

wolfman · #11 Post by **wolfman** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:43 pm

I think this ability to purchase OEM software is changing a bit too. For a while newegg was selling you OEM Windows CD's if you bought something like a molex splitter cable or CD audio cable (i.e., a $2 item with $6 shipping lol). Long story short, I think they got into some trouble for doing this and had posted a while ago about "an agreement" between online retailers like themselves and Microsoft.

Now they have a disclaimer such as :

"Disclaimer: Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased."

for their OEM OS's...

Temetka · #12 Post by **Temetka** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:07 am

I am running Vista Ultimate on my T41P with Aero. It's the consumer version of the the upgrade, so I get the neato plastic box.

If you read my sig, you'll see my specs. It runs nice and smooth. Battery life isn't the greatest, but that will improve with time. SO will the minor wifi issue I am having, which I think has more to do with my schools wifi than my own setup. It's speedy as heck at home, but not on campus. Other users (Dell, HP, Macbook) are having the issue as well so I might be fine.

Vista runs great. I may or may not switch back to XP. Since in the next year or so, everything will be Vista, I might as well get some experience in with it now. I was also an early XP adopter with the same rationale.

RE: OEM Licensing

I was under the impression that OEM license versions of an OS were to be sold with hardware. PC Club has informed me that a keyboard qualifies as hardware. I can't see why Newegg would be any different.

monkey243 · #13 Post by **monkey243** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:27 pm

I have installed Vista Ultimate few weeks ago. It work ok with my T43 with 1G RAM 64M X300 graphics card. Aero an 3D is fine too. But there are Compatibility problem with some software using.

Temetka · #14 Post by **Temetka** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:58 am

Hows your wireless, is it running at full speed?

I seem to be having speed issues when switching networks. It's like slower than dialup. Oh god, the pain!

Ethernet isn't much faster either.

monkey243 · #15 Post by **monkey243** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:42 am

I have no problem in using wireless or ethernet LAN. The speed is the same as XP Pro. Maybe it's just the drivers problem. Go to IBM web site download the latest drivers for Vista and install, that will be OK. I think.

Temetka · #16 Post by **Temetka** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:33 pm

Just reloaded Vista, XP and Linux. Vista is running much better now and the wifi problems have disappeared.

JHaislet · #17 Post by **JHaislet** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:01 am

I ran the performance scores again on my regular T43 and the graphics in particular went up (I think it's due to the newer drivers).

Processor: 3.3
Memory: 5.9
Graphics: 3.5
Gaming Apps: 3.2
Primary HDD: 5.1

Yandar · #18 Post by **Yandar** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:59 pm

I,m currently using Vista on an X31 to type this. Apart from Aero, Vista runs fine on its 16Mb Raeon 7500. this x31 has 1.2Gb of RAM. i have not tried Vista with less than 1Gb.

I also have a T41p, and it runs Aero just fine.

gunston · #19 Post by **gunston** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:39 pm

it gonna use up the lot of power.
eg. your battery can only last for 1.3hrs in vista is your battery can last 2.5 in xp

Installing vista on a T4x

Installing vista on a T4x

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