new acquisition of a used T42

[Frankie]

Hi,

I'm new here and to laptops with XP and wifi. I just got a T42 (see signature) for about $360 CAD. It's a fresh install with just XP. The first thing I did was to try playing a DVD and couldn't on account of a lack of decoder on Windows Media but I got VLC and it's fine.

What are the next steps to accomplish? I never connected to a hotspot but plan on trying this at our public library. What should I know? Should I get a firewall? And I also plan on installing my DSL modem on it, will there be any problem?

What are the first things to do, like probably upgrade Windows software?

And I plan on using AVG free anti-virus. Will it be too slow for a 512MB to run Windows XP sp2 with AVG?

I know these questions are beginner's questions...

Thank you
Frankie

[schen]

Hi,

I'm new here and to laptops with XP and wifi. I just got a T42 (see signature) for about $360 CAD. It's a fresh install with just XP. The first thing I did was to try playing a DVD and couldn't on account of a lack of decoder on Windows Media but I got VLC and it's fine.

What are the next steps to accomplish? I never connected to a hotspot but plan on trying this at our public library. What should I know? Should I get a firewall? And I also plan on installing my DSL modem on it, will there be any problem?

What are the first things to do, like probably upgrade Windows software?

And I plan on using AVG free anti-virus. Will it be too slow for a 512MB to run Windows XP sp2 with AVG?

I know these questions are beginner's questions...

Thank you
Frankie

Your machine sounds fine and will probably be a perfect first machine for most people. The on a T42 will do most anything that the average user, doing average tasks such as, websurfing, email and office type work. That being said, there are a number of things that you'll want to do with a new load. Since you didn't do it, it's best to be safe (ignore anything you've already done):

* Go to the Lenovo support site and download the newest version of "Software Installer", run it and let it do it's magic and load the various OEM software packages that should have been on your computer had you gotten it fresh from the factory. You will have to have MS .Net Framework 2.0 or the Software Installer won't work.

* Go through the looonnnggg process of running all the necessary updates from Microsoft. Do it multiple times.

* I've used AVG Free for some time and I find it to be perfectly adequate, so do that if you haven't already.

* Load all the software that you need to put on there (eg. Office, picture editor, etc.). Don't forget to look through the major magazines online archives to find any recent articles on good-free software. I've run across some really good stuff.

Now that your machine is pretty much ready, you can do the optional stuff.

* Read the Sticky on how and what to upgrade on the T4x machines that appears at the top of this conference. It's really good information.

*I'd upgrade the RAM from 512Mb to 1Gb, unless you want to go "whole-hog" and max it out to 2Gb. In general, you'll get the most bang for your buck with 1Gb and it's often very cheap. I find 512Mb PC2700 RAM modules for $10-20 on the local Craig's List quite often. Large retailer like Fry's or Micro Center often have sales where 1Gb modules end up costing less than $30ea after rebate.

* Others may disagree or simply do it differently, but I never put a software firewalls on my computers. I've had broadband access for about 10 years now and never had a problem. I have alway had a Router with NAT and hardware firewall between my cable modem and my internal network though.

* One personal word of advise though on your T42. It's thin and relatively light which kind of invites being picked up one handed to be moved.... but DON'T DO IT! The plastic of the front palmrest isn't all that well supported and it's not a machine that can take much chassis flexing. That's an invitation to a possible GPU issue down the road. My simple/cheap solution is to ALWAYS use my machine on a thin portfolio style notepad. They are often given away free, they keep the heat off your thighs and supports/protects the bottom of the machine when you lift it.

Hope this helps and welcome to the best forum anywhere.

*

[sarbin]

welcome to the forum, Frankie.

+1 on everything that schen has advised.

i will comment, though, that i do use a sotware firewall on my machines. when i'm behind my hardware firewall at home, it's overkill, but i often need to connect to open access points, or from hotel rooms or home networks where i have no control over the security. in those places, i feel safer with a software firewall.

i am currently using comodo firewall pro, which is free. since you're on xpsp2 you may want to enable windows firewall if you don't use anything else. it'll block inbound attacks, but not infected files communicating outbound, if i recall correctly.

keep posting back. you'll find lots of help here.

[goofyGAguy]

* Go to the Lenovo support site and download the newest version of "Software Installer"

Just so the OP doesn't get confused, this is now called ThinkVantage System Update.

Also, IMHO XP runs best with 1 GB or more of RAM.

[schen]

Also, IMHO XP runs best with 1 GB or more of RAM.

Oh yes, I absolutely agree with this, but I've find that it runs OK for an extended with 512Mb. In personal experience on both a T23, then a T30, I found that the jump to 768 seemed huge and then the jump to 1Gb to be still significant although nowhere near as noticeable.

Recently, I made the jump to 2Gb on my T41 and just haven't found it to be as noticable as either of the previous upgrades. It's like the jump from 4200rpm HDD to 5400rpm; it was huge and again the jump to 7200rpm was still significant, but not like getting rid of the 4200rpm drive. Even less when using a high areal density drive like the current WD 250Gb HDD that I just put in my wife's R51.

Law of diminishing returns; it works... doubly so for those of us without the wherewithal to max out on spec!

[Frankie]

Thanks for the replies and warm welcome everyone.

I'm happy so far with the computer. I had some trouble while installing my old DSL Speed Touch USB modem but a call to my service provider solved it.

So far I got some ugrades (when there's a yellow icon that appears in the task bar) but should I install SP3 or is it geared towards multi processor machines?

So far I installed Windows Live messenger, Paltalk Scene, Winamp and Adobe Acrobat Reader. I would like to get MS Office from the same period as the laptop (Office 2003) ditto to Adobe Creative Suite. Should I get the first release or CS2?

I found MS .Net Framework 2.0: not sure what it is exactly:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

I asked them at the store to upgrade it to 1GB but they only have 1.5MB sticks of DDR2 memory but I'll try to find DDR1 sticks...

Another thing I'm considering is buying a french canadian keyboard for the T42 on ebay and installing it since I'm french canadian and the OS is in french:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/French-Canadian-IBM- ... dZViewItem
Is it easy to do or should I bring it to the store where I got my laptop and ask them to install it? (They will charge $25)

I still have to go to the public library and find out how the wireless connection works... Then I'll buy myself a Ipod Shuffle.

Thank you
Frankie

[john518]

Hi,
Go to the levovo site and download the Maint. Manual (4.5mb).
The replacement of a keyboard is simple once you look at the instructions. It will also allow you access to the 2nd ram slot.

[schen]

I'm happy so far with the computer. I had some trouble while installing my old DSL Speed Touch USB modem but a call to my service provider solved it.

So far I installed Windows Live messenger, Paltalk Scene, Winamp and Adobe Acrobat Reader. I would like to get MS Office from the same period as the laptop (Office 2003) ditto to Adobe Creative Suite. Should I get the first release or CS2?

I found MS .Net Framework 2.0: not sure what it is exactly:

I asked them at the store to upgrade it to 1GB but they only have 1.5MB sticks of DDR2 memory but I'll try to find DDR1 sticks...

Another thing I'm considering is buying a french canadian keyboard for the T42 on ebay and installing it since I'm french canadian and the OS is in french:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/French-Canadian-IBM- ... dZViewItem
Is it easy to do or should I bring it to the store where I got my laptop and ask them to install it? (They will charge $25)

I still have to go to the public library and find out how the wireless connection works...

Let me address you last statement first; I'm curious of why you need to go to the public library for that if you have DSL at home? It's not very expensive or difficult to buy and set up a WiFi router attached to your DSL modem and you'd have wireless where you can use it the most.

I really think that once you get the HMM for the T4x machine, you'll find that it will no longer be necessary to pay people to do your upgrading. Then you'll be able to do things like upgrade your memory (inside slot), wireless card, and keyboard as necessary. In the past I've come across French language keyboards on eBay fairly regularly, and you could put a WTB (Want to Buy) or LF (Looking For) ad in the Marketplace Conference as there seems to be many Canadian forum members and some of them might have the KB that you are looking for.

The only comment I have on the software is that, although, the T4x are quite capable machines and could even considered fairly powerful, I'm not certain I'd use it for Adobe CS. It's an outstanding program, but so power hungry! Since I don't do it professionally, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 on my machines and I don't even like to do it on the T41 (upgraded to T42 spec) with an SXGA+ screen. Most of that has to do with screen real estate. I generally use my desktop for photo editng and it's equiped with a 20" LCD with a 1600 x 1280 resolution and a secondary 17" LCD with a 1280 x 1024 resolution for my pallets.

I do find though that Office '03 runs great on my machine, although I don't do anything with Access on it.

It sounds like you are off to a good start. Just keep experimenting, I'm certain that you'll be the one answering questions for your friends soon.

[Frankie]

Hi,

I went to the library and tried to connect to the wireless network but couldn't find anything on my computer in the network connection. Is it possible that the model (2373 6UU) doesn't have a wifi card? I just assumed that it came with it. Can somebody comfirm this? Will I have to use a PCMCIA card?

Thanks for the replies
Frankie

[ajkula66]

Your machine has not left the factory with a wireless card, but it's fairly easy to install one...

Go to the forum's Marketplace, your best choices are Atheros a/b/g and Intel 2200GB, preferably with an IBM FRU number, shouldn't be more than $30 plus shipping...

Your machine's original specs:

Product: ThinkPad T42 2373-6UU [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P M 735, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x-8x DVD, Wireless upgradeable(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

And you can download the maintenance manual from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464

Enjoy your new ThinkPad!

[Frankie]

Thank you.

[Frankie]

I found this http://cgi.cafr.ebay.ca/ThinkPad-T42-At ... 18Q2el1247 on ebay. Do you think I should go with this?

Thanks again
Frankie

[fasterbybike]

I've bought wireless cards from hellowifi before and was ahppy with the results. I think they also provided me with the no 1802 patch.
You might find a closer vendor though.

[ajkula66]

That is the correct card, and my favourite for T40/1/2/p machines.

I'd try to see if one could find it cheaper, though...but if not, you're on the right track.