Clean Install Guide (works for 32-bit or 64-bit)

thanks again orev... it is quite sickening to note that vendors like lenovo/ibm refuses to give the installation CD but insist on using their recovery disc. So now I'm stuck - no installation CD to use.

Considering now whether to get the business OEM (cheapest option), or ultimate retail (most expensive, but I can use it to clean install business in my laptop and also install ultimate in my desktop). What advice would you give?

 

If you can order the anytime upgrade disc, that would be the best and cheapest way. Otherwise if you can borrow a disc from someone, all you need is that. Just make sure to use your license key.

 

I managed to borrow a friend's installation disc. His is home premium (OEM). May I know how do I copy the disc so that I have one for myself and I don't have to go around asking/begging? Is it possible to duplicate the installation CD?

 

Yes, any cd burning software can do it. Probably the best way is to copy to an image file, then burn the image file to a new disc.

Note: just copying the files will not work.

 

ok... i tried the clean install... followed every step.. but like some here, the activation failed to work

I'm stuck. Plan B also failed:

Run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0x4C' to display the error text. Error: 0x4C.

How now...?

 

Hey on your first post the intel chipset drive you link to is 8.3.0.1013 but the lastest one from the Intel site is 8.3.1.1009. Is this safe to use for the T61? Thank you.

 

Yes, it is safe. I'm using that chipset driver.

 

Hey guys, my T60 came with ATI X1400. I was wondering whether it is a must to install the catalyst control centre (CCC)? Can I just install the ATI driver without the CCC? Seems like just another software which I'm not touching anyway.

 

I wouldn't be concerned about a monitor driver. However, if you find something on Lenovo's download page it won't hurt to install it. I believe all it does is install a generic icc profile which will really not benefit or hinder the performance of your laptop or monitor in any way.

As for the other drivers, they are on the list (here is the bottom half of the list):

• Wifi Driver
• Hotkey Driver
• System Interface
• Integrated Card Reader (for models with integrated card reader)
• Intel PRO/1000 LAN adapter
• Modem Adapter

 

Is it dead necessary to install all the windows update patches? Sometimes they even fail in the process of update. How do we know which are the ones that are a must, and those that we can give a miss? Going by important/critical/recommended might not seem like the best gauge - for example I don't use windows mail but there is an important windows update of security patch for windows mail - do I install or not?

And all the bunch of office updates as well. Goodness!

 

Just install all of the updates. You are over-thinking this too much. It take more effort to ask and wait far an answer than it does to install them Also, even if you might not use an application, it could be exploited by a malicious program, so you should always have everything patched. Just let Windows Update do it's thing.

 

As for "Windows Updates", I only install updates that apply to things that I want to update. It's not going to hurt anything to just go ahead and install them. You can google or go to microsoft and search for the patch (i.e google or microsoft search: "KBxxxxxx") to read what the update is suppose to fix.

As for registry patches for Windows Vista from the Lenovo matrix page, I installed all of those. You can read the read me files to learn what the "patch" is suppose to fix.

EDIT: Ooops! I didn't see your post on the next page, Orev. Thanks for your help.

 

Thanks for the help. I noticed the wifi & etc. after I posted--so thanks, too, for being patient.

 

You read that in the F.A.Q. of the guide. Please make sure to read them again since most of your questions are already answered in the F.A.Q. of the guide.

So did you get activated. Are you sure that your friends install disk is an actual Vista install disk and not an OEM recovery disk? It seems like that would be the culprit. Otherwise, did you try "plan C"? If plan C doesn't work, you need to get a hold of a real Vista install disk.

 

Hey,
I just completed your clean install on my T61 yesterday (upgraded from 32-bit Vista HP to 64-bit HP to recognize my 4gb Crucial Memory i just installed) and everything seemed to be working fine. However when I came back this afternoon and opened my laptop up from sleep it gave me a BSOD! It was the irql_not_less_or_equal error, I googled it and this didn't seem to be a problem for T61's but was for many other systems. And the problems I read about were also very varied, from memory to video card drivers. Any ideas? The only other things I installed after the clean install were: A logitech Z10 driver, a Wacom Tablet driver, Adobe Reader/Player, and Firefox...

I'm not sure if the BSOD will come up again, (so far it only happened that one time) but I'm wondering if anyone would know the problem.

Also...I tried to run PCmark05 and it failed near the beginning of testing...not sure what the issue is there.

Any help is appreciated!

 

Just to be a little more specific on the PCmark05 situation, these are the things that failed:
HDD - XP startup
Web Page Rendering
HDD - General Usage
Multithreaded Test 2 / Text Edit
Multithreaded Test 3 / HDD - Virus Scan Test failed

 

In the end I used plan C... i.e. the product key at the back of the laptop. I called M$ to activate over the phone... they obliged. I supposed there wasn't other options as orev also had no clue what happened to mine (I did exactly as per your guide on page 1).

But still happy to have a cleanly installed laptop now, which is running much pleasant than before.

Cheers to all of you here.

 

There has been an ongoing problem with returning from sleep causing issues. My hope is that when Microsoft releases the SP1 for Vista it will "fix" may of these issues.

Meanwhile I have a few suggestions for you.

1. Go in to the device manager and make sure you have all of your drivers installed. If you missed a driver there will be a yellow exclamation point by one of your deices.

2. Make sure the latest INF update/Chipset Driver, Turbo Memory (if you have it), and Storage Matrix Drivers have been installed from Intel.

3. go to [Control Panel]->[Power Options]->[Change plan settings]->[Change advanced power settings]->[Hard disk]->[Windows Hybrid Hard Disk Power Savings Mode].

DISABLE the Windows Hybrid Hard Disk Power Saving option This has resolved many issues.



.

 

I have just purchased a T61p and wishing to do a clean install. I only have 2GB RAM is the windows version that I need 32 bit ?

Also, my laptop did not come with any CDs and I live in Australia so I cannot purchase the $5 anytime upgrade dvd, is there a way to clean install with just the recovery files on laptop?

thanks for your help

 

To clean install, I think it is a gamble. If you succeed, good for you. If not, you have to use up the product key at the back of your sticker. Otherwise, live with the package that you have now...

But you can always try and if you failed you can revert back to factory settings provided you burn out the recovery discs FIRST.

 

No, you need an Microsoft Vista Install disk. You can use an install disk over and over. So if you know anyone that will let you borrow one it will work out fine. You can not use any recovery disks. So don't borrow a recovery disk from someone, it must be one of the disks I mentioned in the F.A.Q. of the guide.

You should really do a search for something like 32-bit vs. 64-bit. In all honesty, if you don't know the difference, you might as well just stick with 32-bit.

 

Hey, I just got another BSOD resuming from sleep...this time it noted ks.sys and had page_fault_in_non_paged_area listed.
As for #1, I checked device manager and there are no missing drivers, everything seems to be working fine there.
2. I think, I have the latest drivers for these...If you don't mind could you post your driver versions that work for you for these things so I can check if mine match up. (Early on in the driver installation process, I had an issue with the Turbo Memory and storage matrix driver; I think the problem was to get it from Intel vs Lenovo, I forgot which one worked for me, but I think it was Lenovo that worked in the end)
3. And yeah I was aware of the Hybrid Hard Disk Power Saving option and that was one of the first things I disabled after clean install.

I'm not having any problems other than this...everything works great and I've had no freezes or anything during operation..
Thanks again!

 

Actually. I just checked device manager again, and under network drivers "Microsoft 6to4 Adapter" seems to be having an issue. This is strange because I've never even seen this device. Usually it's only the Gigabit and Wireless.

 

I just bought a R61i 8932A11 and would like to perform a clean install. I read the guide and the FAQ. I'm having trouble with the drivers step, specifically figuring out which are the correct drivers for my system. How do I figure out which is the right chipset driver, if it has turbo memory, the right video driver, if it has an integrated card reader, wireless bluetooth, or bluetooth? Thanks to all for helping a beginner!

 

Here you go, all the drivers for your system are here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67856

As for what features your system has, look at the spec sheet that came with it.

 

All of your drivers are available by clicking on the matrix driver page/link provided in the guide. Then click R61. Or... click the link that Arkit3kt provided. The links that I provided in the guide for matrix storage driver, turbo memory, and Chipset (also called the INF update driver) are the same for your laptop. Use those. I don't mean to be sarcastic, but basically just follow the guide.... It says exactly what drivers to install and provides links to find them all. Just follow the guide. Install all drivers that apply to what you have on your system. (i.e. If you have bluetooth, then install the bluetooth driver. If you don't have bluetooth then you wouldn't install that driver.)

Good Luck!

 

Thanks again! Definitely appreciate the hand holding. Too bad that WAU folder isn't on the laptop, it's a pain to have to go get the Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD.

 

Hi, i did a clean install with vista ult 64, but i am experiencing problems installing my video drivers for fx 570m.. got almost everything else working.. i installed the drivers in the order you provided too.. it wont recognize the video card as anything other than the standard vga graphics adapter.. any info would be helpful.

edit: got it working.. was using 32bit drivers. doh

 

Well I'm done with the clean install. Followed instructions step by step. Thanks!

What firewall and virus scan should I install? Do I need anything else like that?

 

Thanks for the great guide.
Will I still have the 'LENOVO' logo if I use the Anytime Upgrade DVD to install?

 

Thanks for the writeup! my computer is much faster!

 

For 64-bit Vista my preference is Nod32 for antivirus and I just use Vista's built "Defender" utility.

For 32-bit Vista, my preference is Nod32 and SpySweeper.

I also use a router (Routers function as a firewall). I also use Firefox for my browser and try to "surf smartly/defensively".

For free utilities AntiVir, AVG, and Adaware are very good.

If you click the link in the "Credits" at the very bottom of the guide you will find a link to Dave's Computer Tips. You should check that out for links and suggestions for all of this sort of stuff.

Which Lenovo logo? On boot up? On the desktop? Wallpaper?
On boot up - yes. On the wallpaper - no. You'll have to reset that one.

Merry Christmas!

 

On system information. The view of basic information,above the activation information.

 

No... Under Windows Edition mine says "Windows Vista Ultimate; Copyright 2006 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved." and the Vista logo.

Is this important to you for some reason???

 

Hi,

I live in France and can not get the dvd over here.

Can someone sell me the dvd on Ebay and send to France? (actual sellers on Ebay don't ship to France).

Or send me p.m with a link where I can download an iso.

Thanks a lot.

 

Hi,

I used your guide for cleaning my incredibly slow Thinkpad T61, which I own now for 4 days.

Everything went well, untill I tried to install and activate my bluetooth.
I can't get it to activate. Vista didn't recognise it at install, and Fn+F5 doesn't work. I installed the Hotkey, the Access Connections from Lenovo and the System Interface and a bunch other drivers.

Everytime I try to install the bluetooth it say's it can't find any bluetooth device installed.

still after all these installations of drivers Fn+F5 doesn't work but other hotKey's like the volume buttons and other Fn cominations do.

The Access Connections doesn't show any BT functions.

I'm out of my options now. Can anyone help?


My specs:
windows Vista Business 64bit
2.2Ghz C2D, 2Gb DDR2, 160Gb HDD
Wifi intel AGN (works properly)

 

I am enjoying the fresh install, however i have run into one problem on my X60 tablet. I am experiencing terrible wirless range. As soon as i leave the room the router is in, i drop to 50% or less. My fathers T42 gets 90% all the way across the house. I downloaded the Intel driver, and was having trouble connecting, so i downloaded the thinkpad wireless lan driver as well and that helped. There is a third driver (IBM i think?) listed on the 2nd link you provided, but it is not in the first one where you select the model of your computer from the drop downs. I have not installed this yet. Should I? Any other suggestions?

 

I would start off by uninstalling hotkey, system interface, and access connections-> reboot and then re-installing them-> REBOOT AFTER EACH INSTALL. Make sure to read the install instructions for these drivers. The drivers are only extracted when you double click on them. You must then double click on a file (probably something like setup.exe to install the driver) Then press Fn+F5 to turn on bluetooth.

I installed all of my drivers as I outlined in the guide. The first three are from Intel and all the rest I got from Lenovo (including the Intel PRO/1000 LAN adapter). I would look in the device manager and make sure you don't have any yellow exclaimation points which indicate a missing driver or a corrupt driver. You may want to re-download, uninstall and re-install the driver just to make sure. Otherwise, you may want to contact tech support. It's possible that your internal antenna is not properly connected or other wireless adapter hardware problem.

I do not have any trouble keeping high signal strength using my wireless G linksys router anywhere throughout my house.

 

I'm having a hard time locating the video driver for the intel x3100 chip (vista 32 bit). The link from the lenovo matrix driver page ( http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67856#Video) only offers a .txt file.

I did find this driver:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Fil...32-bit+version&lang=eng&strOSs=153&submit=Go!

Is this the one I need? Thanks for any help.

 

You were looking in the correct place for the driver. Appearaently something is wrong with the website. Pretty common for Lenovo it seems.

Anyway, the link you provided for the driver from Intel should work just fine. It's Intel's "video card" anyway so the driver that Intel has to offer is probably more up to date anyway.

 

Just a little update for everyone. I ordered the "Upgrade Anytime" disk from Comp USA on 12/04 and still haven't recieved it. I then called and waited on hold for 1 1/2 hrs only to be told that they are going out of business and that this product is no longer avalible. So ... they couldn't resend another disk to me.

I hope mine shows up in the mail eventually !!!

Anyone have any ideas how I can get a disk please ? I have a new machine that I really can't use until I do a clean install.

 

yes, that is correct, compusa is going out of business for good. what are the alternative methods that remain if you want to get your hands on a anytime upgrade disc?

The only viable option I see at this point is torrent downoads

 

Bummer.

You can get the anytime upgrade DVD direct from microsoft:
Anytime Upgrade Disk

 

Microsoft pulled it from their site !

 

I have access to a MSDN subscription from my company, does anyone know if you download the VISTA iso image is this the same thing as the anytime upgrade disc and can it be used to perform the clean install??

Will the utility to extract the activation certs replace the MSDN product keys and certs so if I leave my company I don't have to worry about having used the MSDN version under the company VLK.

Thanks

 

It works for me when I click on the link I provided

 

Hey stallen, it's $7 now. I don't know about shipping though. If it matters any, you should correct that.

Fantastic guide BTW.

 

That's weird ... the link works now !

 

I though I would chime in and say that it works for me as well!

 

Thank you for your clean install.

I have oem home basic 32 bit installed in my t61p. I want to upgrade to business 64 bit. I already have a business retail license. How can I upgrade to 64 bit without clean install?