Successful Clean Install on x61t

[mgags7]

Hey guys just wanted to share this w/you all.

I just got my new x61t, installed my extra stick of ram for a total of 2gb, its got the 1gb turbo mem, and the standard l7500 cpu. I noticed the thing being slow at times and very glitchy. I especially noticed problems with using the password manager with the fingerprint sensor a lot.

So I poked around a bit and found out about the custom recovery option, basically, on the service partition, the factory image is stored, you can format and recover that image if you want, or you can do the custom recovery and choose all the apps that you do and don't want.

To do it, you use the thinkvantage button when its at the first screen in booting, go to recover, choose the option not involving a backup, its the 3rd and last one down. choose the files (if any) you want to keep , then go to the final step. It makes you think its going to start right away, but after that you get another dialog box, go through and choose custom and then go from there.

This list shows the options I got rid of:
* Google Picasa (I can always get it later if I need it)
* Diskeeper Home (I will be using the Pro version which I will install)
* Message Center for ThinkPad (I don't care to hear about new lenovo offers...)
* Leadertech Registration (Didn't use initially, don't know what it is.. prob don't need..)
* Windows Live Toolbar (aka MSN toolbar, utter junk)
* Norton Internet Security (using NOD32 AV from ESET - much lower resource use)
* Norton Internet Security Virus Definition (not using Norton so I don't need this)
* PC Doctor for Windows PE (never used it)
* PC-Doctor for Windows (don't know what the difference is but didn't use it)
* Presentation Director (as I heard this runs all the time in the background and I never do presentations)
* System Migration Assistant Patch for Vista (erh I'm not migrating data so I didn't need, you might need?)
* ThinkPad EasyEject Utility (I kept this because I have the X6 dock, you can remove this if you don't have the dock)
* TVT - Welcome Message Applet (No idea what this is, don't see a difference without it..)
* Vista - Lenovo welcome (I don't need a program that will be used once for nothing)
* Vista-Gadgets Lenovo Essentials (I believe this is those Lenovo offers for products that appear in the control panel which are annoying)
* Vista-OOBE Offer (No idea what this actually is but I'm fine without it)

that was taken from another forum, props to the dude who wrote it lol.

An hour and a half or so later, my comp is in tip top running shape and feeling faster than before. I do hate downloading and configuring all my browser and email stuff and all that jazz though every time I format, next time I might use that windows migration tool to save some of that stuff. I also disabled the thinkpad password manager and it definitely liked that.

On a side note I was originally skeptical of needing 2gb of RAM, but this thing is using over 50% of it right now, I may go 4gb.

-Matt

[proaudioguy]

Now that you have done all that, turn off UAC before installing any of your programs.

I only just read that it makes a difference, and I have noticed an improvement since my latest restore after turning off UAC early rather than later on. This is my 3rd restore in 9 weeks, but I feel like I really have a handle on it now.

[mgags7]

I was actually thinking of doing that, does it really make a huge difference? I've already installed most everything now, should I go back and do it again? That thing is annoying as hell anyways.

[gongo]

what is UAC?

[Antioch]

User Access Control - its makes it so that the password dialog pops up and annoys you whenever you try to do anything -_-

[proaudioguy]

what is UAC?

"Microsoft Word is trying to start, Cancel or Allow?"

Start->Control Panel->User Accounts->Turn User Account Control On or Off

It runs windows as if you were on a limited account instead of being an administrator. Malicious applications cannot run without your permission. After you see cancel or allow a few thousand times you will no longer notice it and end up giving the malicious software permission anyway!

[mgags7]

fwiw, with the proper precautions (basic email scanner and antivirus program, noscript in mozilla, scanning bittorrents and p2p stuff) you have little risk of getting a virus.

Back to my question though, is there some reason that it is better to turn off UAC right after the restore or after installing some stuff?

thanks

[proaudioguy]

fwiw, with the proper precautions (basic email scanner and antivirus program, noscript in mozilla, scanning bittorrents and p2p stuff) you have little risk of getting a virus.

Back to my question though, is there some reason that it is better to turn off UAC right after the restore or after installing some stuff?

thanks

I got my info from here http://tweakhound.com/vista/installguide.htm

" Install Your Programs



***Very important.

If you intend to disable User Access Control (UAC) as I have then you should do this BEFORE YOU INSTALL ANY PROGRAM. Not doing so can lead to problems later.

To Disable UAC:

-Press the Windows + R keys > type msconfig > open the Tools pane.

-Scroll down to Disable UAC and click once on that line.

-Hit the Launch button.



PAY ATTENTION to what you are installing (in other words, don't keep clicking Next). Don't install more than you need. Decide what apps you want to do what. For instance:

I use Winamp Lite (and I use a very basic install for that) as the Default for playing .wav and .mp3 files because it opens faster and with a smaller footprint than say Windows Media Player or iTunes. Also, I have no application launching when I insert a music CD or DVD either. "