Basic Drivers for clean install with Windows 7

I am using a T410i (2518-J3G). The factory image seems to be loaded with trial apps for office & antivirus.

So, I decided to create my own image. So, I recovered the license key and downloaded windows 7 from digitalrivercontent.net.

First attempt, I installed the driver I think is necessary. But the fan was having an issue, it was noisy. So, I reverted back to the factory image.

Second attempt, after installing Win7, I noticed that the ethernet driver was not installed. That seemed, I assumed that ethernet driver is nothing special and it gets installed automatically.

So, would really like if someone can advice me which are the basic necessary applications to run thinkpad properly. I bought thinkpad for its built quality. I don't care much for the backup utility or password manager. The network manager seems good, I dont see any benefit in it over the stock windows wifi manager. I might be wrong.

Pls tell me what all drivers I should download to get my system working.

 

In any event, it is advisable to create the Lenovo factory recovery discs (usually 1 boot CD + 3 data DVDs).

With the system booting from the factory image on the hard drive, copy C:\SWTOOLS folder to a USB flash drive.

Boot from Windows 7 installation DVD and install Windows 7 on the hard drive. After you see the desktop, open Control Panel > System and Security > Device Manager. Walk down the list of devices: for each device driver that is not automatically resolved by Windows (indicated by a "yellow bang!" icon), right-click to manually install a driver for it by pointing to the SWTOOLS folder on the USB flash drive and telling Windows to search its subfolders for the appropriate driver.

Beside the device drivers, you may want to install such Lenovo application as Power Manager. The Power Manager application and the Power Management Driver can be found in the SWTOOLS folder.

Alternatively, you could download the "latest versions" of the drivers from Lenovo Support site, but I find the above simple approach works just fine.

The Hearst Guide may be helpful.

Alternatively still, you could just uninstall the unwanted applications from the factory image and carefully edit the startup list.

 

good stuff. Would you uninstall unnecessary applications (norton etc) before making the factory disks with a brand new machine, or after? Could you list a few of the start up items to delete? Thanks

Some folks use Acronis true image but what exactly do they backup or clone

Here's a older post regarding the above:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/689777-what-pre-installed-software-keep-x230.html

 

Sure.

I create the factory recovery discs soon after I see the Windows 7 desktop for the first time. Then I proceed to uninstall the reloaded applications:

• Lenovo Welcome
• Lenovo User Guide
• Lenovo Solution Center
• Lenovo Message Center Plus
• Access Connections
• ThinkVantage System Update
• Lenovo Cloud Storage by SugarSync
• Lenovo SimpleTap
• Norton Internet Security 2012
• Skype for Windows
• Evernote
• Intel Small Business Advantage
• RapidBoot HDD Accelerator (if SSD used)
• Symantec VIP
• Windows Live Essentials
• Microsoft Office 2010 preloaded
• Corel WinDVD
• Corel Burn.Now Lenovo Edition
• Corel DVD MovieFactory Lenovo Edition

Every item related to Adobe. (I hate Adobe's obnoxious and self-conscious manner of doing "updates.") Also, items related to Intel management and to mechanical hard drive protection. There are some other items, too, but I can't think of them right now. FWIW, if I do a clean install, the startup list has about 5 items; if I "clean up" Lenovo image, the startup list has about 10 items.

I use Acronis, which is a much broader solution than Lenovo factory image creation. Acronis True Image allows you to back up your partitions (which could cover everything -- OS, applications, settings, user files -- as you wish) at any time.

My very first Acronis backup is after I am happy with the way I have just set up my computing environment. I then do regular backups subsequently. For me alone.

If I ever decide to sell a ThinkPad, I restore from the factory recovery discs onto the stock hard drive.

Yeah, I saw my post. (BTW, things can be quite different in Windows 8.)

 

thanks for all that Kaso !

 

1st see: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/713314-updates-2.html#post9140484

But before you do anything further, see: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/668524-x230-t-owners-thread-139.html#post9139420