gave up on Vista - switching to XP - driver help?

[cadmus]

I gave it a try . Vista is not compatable with my CAD, GIS, Statistics, programs. I also saw no real advantage other than the cute mac like animations that i turned off. I did think that the read out loud voice was improved
(i am dyslexic and that voice is quite usefull to me. If anyone knows how to transfer that voice or get better ones for free please let me know but that is off topic for this forum )

I went to the download site at lenovo and found the list of downloads for CAD, GIS, Statistics and ThinkPad T61 7658-CTO

I see 51 files. most, after reading them, seem to be drivers/programs to create what my laptop would have been had i bought XP. In the past with other brands i have found a single file that can be used after reformating and installing an os that loads all the bios and fetures particular to that make and model. Am i not seeing the one majic file? what is it called?

I hope my next post is not: "then what ones do i need?"
Thanks for your help,
Pete
(sorry this is not spell checked as the new msWord is unuseable )

[dr_st]

I think that you need the Thinkvantage System Update:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... VSU-UPDATE

[DAH]

I believe you need to request this, Have a Microsoft Windows Vista Business or Microsoft Windows Ultimate system, but need to continue using Microsoft Windows XP for awhile? For a limited time Lenovo is providing Windows XP Recovery CD media as a way to downgrade from Windows Vista. Lenovo customers that have Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate "qualified systems" may purchase a Windows XP Recovery CD until July 31, 2008.

You may want to try loading ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application.

IMHO System Update does not download everything you need, I believe you'll need to download some files manually if you choose to not request the recovery CDs.

[cadmus]

thanks for the IEspell info. I had a mozilla on a work compuer that had little squigglys under the misspelled work, quite handy. I'll look into that for IE.

I saw that "restore disk" on thier wesite, I have no more money. I already have an xp pro disk. I just need the drivers and programs that are unique to IBM & Lenovo and t61widescreens. certanly they are not requiereing purchase of that cd? please tell me i am right?

[dr_st]

thanks for the IEspell info. I had a mozilla on a work compuer that had little squigglys under the misspelled work. I look into that for IE.

I saw that "restore disk" on thier wesite, I have no more money. I already have an xp pro disk. I just need the drivers and programs that are unique to IBM & Lenovo and t61widescreens. certanly they are not requiereing purchase of that cd? please tell me i am right?

You are right. All DAH said is that even with System Update you might find yourself in the need to download a few things manually. But it's not like it cannot be done.

[DAH]

thanks for the IEspell info. I had a mozilla on a work compuer that had little squigglys under the misspelled work, quite handy. I'll look into that for IE.

I saw that "restore disk" on thier wesite, I have no more money. I already have an xp pro disk. I just need the drivers and programs that are unique to IBM & Lenovo and t61widescreens. certanly they are not requiereing purchase of that cd? please tell me i am right?

First I **believe** that it is not impossible to talk them into sending you a set. But I notice that you have the DVD burner in your profile. XP does not come with software to play or burn CDs, and you can not download the programs from Lenovo. So yes if you want a fully working XP system you may need to buy the CDs. There is custom software that you simply can't download legally. You'll be able to download all the drivers, but somethings like your DVD burner require more than just drivers to work. Now it's possible you have something else that works, or you can buy it elsewhere. My humble opinion is I would get the recover CD set even if I needed to buy it @ $75.00, you'll spend that much on getting CD burner software. And you'll have the service partition, and the ThinkVantage Button will work.

[bill bolton]

XP does not come with software to play or burn CDs

Yes it does, it's built in at the OS level.

What it doesn't come with is a general purpose CD/DVD handling utility like RecordNow or Nero.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[DAH]

XP does not come with software to play or burn CDs

Yes it does, it's built in at the OS level.

What it doesn't come with is a general purpose CD/DVD handling utility like RecordNow or Nero.

Cheers,

Bill B.

I believe you'll find you can not download things like
BVRP Software
--------------------
NetWaiting
Digital Line Detection (if you travel and use your modem)
Sonic
-------
Multimedia Center for Think Offering
DLA (Drive Letter Access)
InterVideo
--------------
InterVideo WinDVD Creator
WinCinema Manager

I don't know what is on the recovery CD, I do know what I am missing in upgrading my T60p from XP to Vista. If I could purchase a recovery CD for Vista for my T60p I would, but I can't. Without additional software, I do not believe you'll be watching DVD, that may or may not be important to you. I suspect that some software that will run on my T60p will not run on your T61, but not having a T61 that's a guess on my part. Some people here buy a T6x and can't wait to install XP and get rid of what they call bloatware. If you like that kind of system you might be very happy with what you can download from this page, Downloads and drivers

[cadmus]

Has anyone tried running Autocad2002, arcView, Arc Info, Arc GIS, SAS (isn't supported on vista home premium), SPSS (2000-2003ish), WYNN, Easyreader, on a virtual PC like emulator running on Vista home premium?

Maybe linux with a GUI is the way to go so i posted on the linux section:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 842#329842

I am doing lots of research on these topics as i ask you folks questions, so i am not a total leach. It seems what I am finding is over my head, overly optimistic as no one posts about failures,
Thanks
pete