T61p - which OS to install?

[BC]

Hello Thinkpads...
I just bought a new T61p with WIN XP (that was the last one on stock), with 4 GB of memory. I would like to install Vista on it, and I have few questions for you experts:

1. If i'll install vista business 32-bit, I understood that the system will use only about 3 GB of RAM and not 4. is that correct?
2. If the answer for 1 is yes, then i would like to install the vista business 64bit edition in order to use all the memory I have. My question is - is this model fully compatible (with drivers and stuff) to Vista Business 64bit ?
3. Does lenovo website have a manual for formatting and install Vista over the XP? I know how to do it on simple computers, the only thing i don't know how to deal with here is the hidden backup partition. How should I handle it?
4. Last one - if the laptop will be connected to externel power most of the time, what is the best way to preserve battery life?

Thanks for the time !

David

[rhema83]

1. Correct.
2. It is fully compatible. Make sure you download the 64-bit drivers from the Lenovo website and unpack them onto external media before you start.
3. Reboot using your Vista DVD, format C: and ignore the hidden partition, and install Vista to C:.
4. Just use as per normal.

[TTY]

4. Last one - if the laptop will be connected to externel power most of the time, what is the best way to preserve battery life?

Remove the battery when you don't use it. This might possibly make the notebook run slower than with the battery installed. If you want to avoid the risk of reduced performance, leave the battery in the notebook. From what i understand, battery life is dependent on the number of charge cycles. To make the individual charge cycles last as long as possible, i suggest you set charge level thresholds to start charging at 5% and to stop charging at something like 80%.
Also, if you decide to use the notebook without battery for a while and then need to install the battery again: after you have installed the battery, don't attach the AC adapter at once. Boot into windows on battery power the first time. It might also help to log into all your windows accounts, the shut down the notebook again. Then attach the AC adapter if you want to use it. This is because the computer seems to forget how the charge level thresholds have been set when the battery is removed. If you would connect the AC adapter directly after having installed the battery, the computer would start charging immediately, no matter how the charge level thresholds have been set. That could cost you a charge cycle.

[hellosailor]

David-
I'd suggest looking at web reviews and forums to see how your software (whatever apps are important to you) run under Vista-64. My understanding is that if you are running 32-bit apps (as most are) under Vista-64, they run SLOWER than in native mode. So yes, you may pick up some speed from having the fourth gig of RAM--but you may lose it if your apps aren't all native 64-bit mode.

MS hasn't had the success they (and Intel) were really hoping for with 64-bit modes. RAM is important to speed, but there's a lot of system tweaking you can do (like disabling all virtual memory paging, or locking the page file size, or installing a faster hard drive) that also can help.

And that's assuming your apps really will need, or use, the extra memory in the first place.

You may also find Vista runs slower than XP on your same hardware. There are differences in the the internals of the systems and Vista is doing more things, and doing them differently, so it can often be slower. Of course if you have third-party apps or you have enabled defaults to do the same thing (i.e. Defender and Firewall) in XP...it will slow down too. Comparing different OSes and the tasks they are running, can get complicated too.

A lot will depend on your apps, which environment they prefer, and what else you are doing on or to the computer. Definitely something you want to research slowly.