New T61 Owner

[jplock]

Hello!
I have just joined this board and have a new T61 laptop due to be delivered on Nov 4th. I was wondering if there is anyone who has a similar configuration and if you have had a good experience with it. Thank you for letting me in on this board and look forward to visiting with folks in the future.
Thank You again!
jplock


below is the configuration:

SYS.6459CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM

6459CTO THINKPAD T61 WIDESCREEN-1Y
43Y3426 SBB INTEL CORE2DUO PROC.T9300
43Y4471 VBB GEN WIND. XP PROFESS.
43Y4472 SBB WINXP PRO US ENG
42V8287 SBB 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
42X5975 SBB NVIDIA QUA. NVS 140M-128MB
41W2064 VBB 2GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 1DIMM
42V8195 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
42V8297 SBB UN(TRCKP TOUCHPAD)FINGERRE
42X5218 SBB 160GB HDD,7200RPM
42V8172 SBB DVD REC.8XMAXDUAL LAY UB-S
42X0805 VBB PC CARDSLOT EX CARDSLOT
41W1501 SBB INTELPRO/WL3945ABGUSCNLAAP
41W1508 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
42X1487 SBB LP US ENGLISH
42V8607 SBB INT.WLAN ANTENNA 15.4"
42X5978 SBB NVIDI QUA NVS140M W/WW,AMT
42X1233 SBB NEWINTELLAB_DUALCORE/CEDUO
42V9665 SBB FCC, LABEL
42V8629 SBB 15WSXGAW/OBTW/OWWANW/OUWB
39T6440 SBB 56K V.92 DESIGNED MODEM
42V8653 SBB CL.PLATE T61 WLAN
41W1748 SBB GEO LABEL US WLAN
93P7250 SBB THINKPAD LOGOPLATET-SERIES
42X0877 SBB MT 6459 SYSTEM LABEL
42X0850 SBB MECH MISC PARTS
42V7972 SBB MS LABEL (VISTA PREMIUM)
42V8601 SBB NO UWB ANTENNA
42V8239 SBB ODD SW DVD REC
42X0995 SBB PC CARD SLOT EXP.CARD SLOT
42V8612 SBB ST LCD COVER/BEZEL 15.4"
42V8301 SBB 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 667MHZ
42T6638 SBB PACK. US, 15.4"

[basketb]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll enjoy your Thinkpad. There is a wealth of information and knowledgeable people on this forum; start reading up before your Thinkpad arrives to maximize your experience.

[jplock]

I just want to let you all know I got my new T61 on Tuesday. I am well pleased with it. I am in the process of weeding out the bloatware, any suggestions would be welcome on prerformance enhancements.
Thanks!
jplock

[WojtekJ]

I own quite similar T61p (it's almost identical to T61, but T61p has a different graphic card, speakers are placed in a different place, etc.). You can see the configuration in my signature.

Here's the list of drivers I always use after making a clean install (list based on drivers downloaded from Lenovo's website in june).
There are newer drivers available and I use them - the list hasn't changed apart of that.
:

I always install '1' and '2', I omit '3' and '4' (I've installed and checked all drivers before to see what's necessary and what's not).

1 - Audio driver for Vista (2007-12-07)\
1 - Bluetooth with Enhanced Data Rate Software for Vista (2007-08-28)\
1 - Card reader driver (Ricoh 4-in-1) for Vista,XP (2007-06-26)\
1 - Display (NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M) driver for Vista 64-bit (2007-07-11)\
1 - Fingerprint Software 5,6 for Vista (64-bit only)\
1 - Hotkey driver for Vista, XP, 2000 (2008-01-25)\
1 - Intel Chipset Support for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-12-31)\
1 - Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver for Vista (64-bit) (2008-01-31)\
1 - Intel PRO 4965agn wireless software for Vista (2008-01-28)\
1 - Intel Turbo Memory Driver for Vista (2008-01-31)\
1 - Modem driver for Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), XP, 2000 (2007-12-12)\
1 - Monitor file for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-12-12)\
1 - Power Manager for Vista (2008-01-15)\
1 - SmartCard reader driver for Vista 64-bit (2007-07-10)\
1 - ThinkPad Power Management driver for Vista, XP, 2000, Me, 98 SE (2008-01-31)\
1 - ThinkVantage Active Protection System for Vista 64-bit (2007-12-18)\
1 - UltraNav driver for Vista 64-bit (2008-02-08)\
1 - Wireless USB software for Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, XP (2007-09-24)\
2 - Keyboard Customizer Utility for Vista (2007-12-19)\
2 - Lenovo System Interface Driver for Vista (2008-01-30)\
2 - Power Manager for Vista (2008-01-15)\
2 - Registry patch to change IDLE IRP timing by Fingerprint reader driver for Vista (2007-12-31)\
2 - Registry patch to enable Device Initiated Power Management on SATA for Vista (2007-12-31)\
2 - ThinkPad Mobility Center Customization for Vista 64-bit (2008-01-10)\
2 - ThinkVantage Access Connections for Vista (2008-04-04)\
2 - ThinkVantage Productivity Center (2008-01-15)\
3 - System Update 3,14,0007 (2008-05-20)\
4 - Access Help online User's Guide (2007-07-11)\
4 - Atmel TPM (Trusted Platform Module) device driver for Vista 32-bit,XP,2000 (2007-12-18)\
4 - BIOS Setup Menu Extension Utility for the Resetting the Cryptographic Key (2008-01-31)\
4 - BIOS Update (Bootable CD) (2008-04-28)\
4 - BIOS Update Utility (2008-04-28)\
4 - Client Security Solution 8,1 for Vista (32-bit only) (2007-12-17)\
4 - Client Security Solution 8,1 for Vista (64-bit only) (2007-12-17)\
4 - Client Security Solution 8,1 patch for Mozilla Firefox (2008-02-26)\
4 - Critical patch for Rescue and Recovery 4.0 for Vista (2007-06-18)\
4 - Display (NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M) driver for Vista 32-bit (2007-07-12)\
4 - EasyEject Utility for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-12-19)\
4 - Enabling Wake on LAN from Standby for ENERGY STAR Version 4,0 (2007-12-31)\
4 - Fingerprint Software 5,6 for Vista (32-bit only), XP, 2000 (2007-09-27)\
4 - Hard drive firmware update utility (Bootable CD ISO) (2008-03-17)\
4 - Help Center for Vista, XP, 2000 (2008-01-08)\
4 - Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver for XP, Vista (32bit) (2008-01-31)\
4 - Local Manageability Service & Serial Over LAN (Intel AMT 2,6) for Vista, XP (2007-12-18)\
4 - Maintenance Patch for ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery 4,x for Vista (2007-07-31)\
4 - Management Engine Firmware (Intel AMT 2,6) driver for Vista, XP (2008-03-09)\
4 - Management Engine Interface (Intel AMT 2,6) driver for Vista, XP (2007-12-18)\
4 - MultiMedia Center for Think Offerings for Vista (2007-11-02)\
4 - Norton NPC Patch for Configuration Wizard for Vista (32-bit and 64-bit) (2008-04-07)\
4 - Patch for System Update to randomize users' scheduler settings (2008-01-22)\
4 - PC-Doctor (2008-01-26)\
4 - Presentation Director for Vista, XP, 2000 (2008-04-25)\
4 - Registry patch enabling USB S3 Power Management for Vista (2007-12-31)\
4 - Rescue and Recovery 4,2 for Vista (2007-12-13)\
4 - Rescue and Recovery 4,2 for Vista (Polski) (2007-12-13)\
4 - Rescue and Recovery 4,2 patch for Vista Service Pack 1 (2008-02-12)\
4 - Rescue and Recovery patch to optimize space allocation of backups (2007-11-08)\
4 - Scheduler patch to fix the tvtsched.exe hold 99% CPU issue (2007-12-21)\
4 - SmartCard reader driver for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-07-25)\
4 - System Migration Assistant 5.2 (2008-03-20)\
4 - ThinkPad BIOS Settings for Vista 32-bit, XP, 2000 (2008-04-10)\
4 - ThinkPad Mobility Center Customization for Vista (32-bit) (2008-01-10)\
4 - ThinkVantage Active Protection System for Vista 32-bit, XP, 2000 (2007-12-18)\
4 - ThinkVantage Maintenance Manager for Vista 32 bit, XP - ThinkCentre (2007-08-01)\
4 - ThinkVantage Maintenance Manager for Vista 64 bit - ThinkCentre (2007-08-09)\
4 - UltraNav driver for Vista 32-bit (2008-02-08)\
4 - UltraNav Utility for Vista, XP (2008-02-01)\
4 - Vista update modules (KB929191) (2007-05-22)\
4 - Vista update modules (KB929637) (2007-12-31)\
4 - Vista update modules (KB932063) (2008-01-31)\
4 - Vista update modules (KB937500) (2007-12-31)\
4 - Vista update modules (KB941137) (2007-12-18)\
4 - Wireless LAN11 abg, abgn, bg, bgn for Vista 32-bit and 64-bit(2007-11-05)\
4 - Wireless WAN (1xEV-DO Verizon) driver for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-06-12)\
4 - Wireless WAN (Vodafone and Cingular - HSDPA) driver for Vista, XP, 2000 (2007-06-12)\

[jplock]

Are the 1 and 2's done with the selective recovery method?
Thanks!
jplock

[WojtekJ]

Are the 1 and 2's done with the selective recovery method?
Thanks!
jplock

Hi!
No, I always make a clean install from Vista Ultimate Box DVD or use ghost image of the system partition (image with configured and activated system, without additional drivers and programs except wireless card driver).

1. First of all I checked all drivers installed on Vista Home provided by Lenovo - then made a list of all drivers installed by Lenovo and list of drivers I'd like to use.
2. I installed clean copy of the system (Vista Ultimate DVD), installed "System Update" and downloaded everything for my computer (suggested by this application). I made a list of downloaded drivers and applications and list of drivers and applications 'I liked'.
System Update didn't work well - after using it I still had 5 unknown devices in device manager.
3. I installed clean copy of the system (Vista Ultimate DVD), downloaded completely everything for my T61p from Lenovo's website. Installed all of it and created two lists (like before).
4. I compared all lists, selected drivers 'to install'.
5. I installed clean copy of the system (Vista Ultimate DVD), configured it, installed wireless driver. I activated the system and than - created ghost image of the system partition.
6. I installed MS Office 2007 and created ghost image of the system partition.
7. I installed all remaining drivers from 'to install' list. I created ghost image of the system partition.

Every time I want to install the system - I just use one of ghost images created in points 5,6,7 (it takes about 2-5 minutes) and then install latest drivers and applications.
The whole installation takes really much less time.

By the way, it's not really a list now.
I named folders with drivers in a specific way.
Prefix '1 - ...' means that the driver is completely necessary.
Prefix '2 - ...' means that ... it's almost prefix 1 (I need it just a bit a bit less than '1 - ...' section of drivers).
Prefix '3 - ...' is System Update (I wasn't sure if I want to use it)
Prefix '4 - ...' - it's a crap or it's a driver for other systems (like for 32-bit Vista or just for XP).

[jplock]

Hey thanks for the advice I will try to apply it to windows XP. I am still a diehard XP fan.
jplock

[WojtekJ]

Hey thanks for the advice I will try to apply it to windows XP. I am still a diehard XP fan.
jplock

You're welcome.
I encourage you to use Vista at least for some time - just install it on the second partition (if you want to use XP too), configure and try it - it's not as bad system as many people say
Most of my friends were saying that Vista is #$%#$@ and they hate it and ... after installing it from Vista SP1 DVD (not from recovery partitions) and using it - they usually change the opinion.