Windows 7 on R51e 1.7 ghz Thinkpad

[jdagis]

I'm wanting to install Windows 7 on my R51e, but am unsure as to whether to buy the 32 or 64 bit version.
I'm currently running xp pro sp 3 on it. Will win7 give it a speed boost, or should I leave it as is?

[jdhurst]

On a 32-bit platform, there are differing opinions about speed. I don't see enough in 32-bit Windows 7 (or in 32-bit Vista) to warrant upgrading from XP.

A 64-bit machine is a whole different picture. You *will* see a peformance increase in 64-bit Vista or in 64-bit Windows 7 compared to XP. I have a 64-bit machine and now will never (ever) return to 32-bit. It is like molasses in comparison.

That said, two things:
(1) Make sure your R51e is 64-bit (else you cannot load a 64-bit OS). My T61p is 64-bit but the T60 just before it is not.
(2) In my experience, the move to 64-bit requires mostly new software. You would want Office 2007 for example and nothing earlier. I will get Office 2010 when it comes out. VPN software, Fax Software, 3rd party File Management software, commercial sniffers and such like all require 64-bit versions. The 32-bit versions will not install (even in compatability mode). I easily spent as much on 64-bit software as I did buying the machine in the first instance. My counsel is to go 64-bit, but do it properly (for reliability). Once you have absorbed the cost, you will never look back.
... JDH

[ajkula66]

Your R51e can only run a 32-bit version of any OS.

GPU in R51e is not considered to be powerful enough to run W7 or Vista.

I'd be sticking with XP, but that's me...

[emeraldgirl08]

Hi jagis

Here are some pics of my R51e that is running W7 Ultimate RC7100.

R51e running W7

I have a 1.5gb of RAM in my R51e. I also upgraded the processor from 1.4 ghz Celeron to 1.86 ghz Pentium M Dothan. My hard drive is a Seagate 5400 rpm type. I was surprised to see that aero worked and Windows rate it higher than 1.8 or 1.9. The ATI graphics are a little strange. It is supposed to share up to 128mb of RAM but if you look at one of the pictures in my R51e album.

It has 575mb of total available graphics memory.

As far as 64-bit I think that you have to have an P4 that utilizes Hyper Threading at the least (which no R-series come with AFAIK) or one of the multiple core processors such as the Core2Duo. I have not seen a Pentium M or Celeron running 64-bits. I don't think that IBM included 64-bit for our R51e's as it is an economy model.

Nevertheless it runs W7 okay. I have no problems with the OS and even was able to install some games on it. The OS was pretty finicky about games in it's beta stage but my Thinkpad is able to install and run the games at the lower or lowest settings. YMMV. I would suggest maxing out your memory or at least get over 1 gb.

EDIT:

Since the RC's will be phased out starting March 1st I have an extra HDD that I installed XP Pro on and it runs great! It's a little snappier than W7 but just made the post to let you know that you can ran W7 on the R51e.

[jdagis]

Thanks guys, I'll wait until it's time for a new laptop.

[DrThinkpad]

On a 32-bit platform, there are differing opinions about speed. I don't see enough in 32-bit Windows 7 (or in 32-bit Vista) to warrant upgrading from XP.

A 64-bit machine is a whole different picture. You *will* see a peformance increase in 64-bit Vista or in 64-bit Windows 7 compared to XP. I have a 64-bit machine and now will never (ever) return to 32-bit. It is like molasses in comparison.

That said, two things:
(1) Make sure your R51e is 64-bit (else you cannot load a 64-bit OS). My T61p is 64-bit but the T60 just before it is not.
(2) In my experience, the move to 64-bit requires mostly new software. You would want Office 2007 for example and nothing earlier. I will get Office 2010 when it comes out. VPN software, Fax Software, 3rd party File Management software, commercial sniffers and such like all require 64-bit versions. The 32-bit versions will not install (even in compatability mode). I easily spent as much on 64-bit software as I did buying the machine in the first instance. My counsel is to go 64-bit, but do it properly (for reliability). Once you have absorbed the cost, you will never look back.
... JDH

Hate to burst any bubble, but only C2D or newer may run a 64 bit OS... not even Core Duo can

[jdhurst]

<snip>
Hate to burst any bubble, but only C2D or newer may run a 64 bit OS... not even Core Duo can

Was that aimed at me?? Just curious mind you, as I think I laid out what it would take to run 64-bit and I myself am running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro. Like I said, just curiousity on my part. .. JDH

[DrThinkpad]

Was that aimed at me?? Just curious mind you, as I think I laid out what it would take to run 64-bit and I myself am running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro. Like I said, just curiousity on my part. .. JDH

Was a reference to the fact that the R51e can't run a 64bit OS in any way, just wanted to point that out A C2D T60 would also run it without any problems. I am aware that you already knew it He may have thought his R51e could have run a 64 bit OS.

[jdhurst]

Thanks ... JDH

[lorifix]

Hi jagis

Here are some pics of my R51e that is running W7 Ultimate RC7100.

R51e running W7

I have a 1.5gb of RAM in my R51e. I also upgraded the processor from 1.4 ghz Celeron to 1.86 ghz Pentium M Dothan. My hard drive is a Seagate 5400 rpm type. I was surprised to see that aero worked and Windows rate it higher than 1.8 or 1.9. The ATI graphics are a little strange. It is supposed to share up to 128mb of RAM but if you look at one of the pictures in my R51e album.

It has 575mb of total available graphics memory.

As far as 64-bit I think that you have to have an P4 that utilizes Hyper Threading at the least (which no R-series come with AFAIK) or one of the multiple core processors such as the Core2Duo. I have not seen a Pentium M or Celeron running 64-bits. I don't think that IBM included 64-bit for our R51e's as it is an economy model.

Nevertheless it runs W7 okay. I have no problems with the OS and even was able to install some games on it. The OS was pretty finicky about games in it's beta stage but my Thinkpad is able to install and run the games at the lower or lowest settings. YMMV. I would suggest maxing out your memory or at least get over 1 gb.

EDIT:

Since the RC's will be phased out starting March 1st I have an extra HDD that I installed XP Pro on and it runs great! It's a little snappier than W7 but just made the post to let you know that you can ran W7 on the R51e.

Hi,
I tried already to install my R51e with Windows 7 ., and I have a problem wih its ATI XTESS200M. Windows 7 does not recognize it and installs the standard VGA driver. How do you manage to have the ATI driver inside?
regards
Lorifix