It finally came!

So my new T500 finally came and I downloaded Avast and Cpuid Hardware monitor. what else should I do and what else should I download? Also, does anyone know how to switch between the hybrid graphics?

 

Awesome! Congrats...how do you like it? any problems? What screen did you get? I'm still waiting for mine, I ordered it with the 1280 LED screen. Can't wait

 

Great, good for you!

Im not sure about the graphics switching... Sorry.

 

how long ago did you ordered it?

 

For graphics switching in vista, i believe you click the power button in system tray and switch it there

 

Its awesome. Im trying to figure out how to get rid of the bloatware though. I wanted to reinstall the OS, but they didnt give me the cd's.

Its great so far. I got the 3rd one. It has nice pixelation.

Two weeks ago

I thought that was just the power system. I tried going to ATI Catalyst thing. But it does have a hybrid switch button. It does have a Power play thing is that it?

 

You need to burn backup cds right away

 

How do I do that? and why is it important?

 

To use switchable graphics on Vista:

Left-click that big green battery on the taskbar -> Switchable graphics ->

Then pick either:

• High Performance (ATI)
• Energy Saving (Intel)

You should make those recovery discs just in case something goes wrong. I hope you have a DVD burner handy.

And stick with the Lenovo supplied graphics drivers.

 

this might be a newb question but what is the Lenovo supplied graphics driver? do you mean stick with the intergrated?

 

He means use the graphics driver you get directly from Lenovo, instead of the one you can download from ATI.

 

About the backup CD's. Call Lenovo about them. Say you received no OS backup disks with your purchase, and you need them. Try to get them for free as well, they usually will.

The backup disks i think you are referring to is the OS ones. The ones to do a clean Re-Install of the OS? You cannot burn those disks.

 

I'm hoping to get a T500 soon for work.

You can do a custom factory reinstall by pressing the thinkvantage button (or F11) on start up. If you are not used to installing computers you may need to ask help from someone, but the process is quite simple. You can select the tools you want to install and remove all the bloatware.

The backup CDs or CD + DVDs are stored on the hard disk. You need to run Rescue and Recovery to burn them. This can only be done ONCE. Afterwards, if you lose them, you would need to do a new factory install (with Thinkvantage button) to regain the Create Backup CDs functionality.

Good luck with it!

 

thanks sticky tape. Do you guys recommend I install a secondary protection program. all I have is Avast right now?

Sticky I just tried to reinstall the OS through thinkvantage. It didnt really have that option available to me for some reason. Could you give me a little more info on how to do it? all that happens is a menu bar appears up and doesnt say customize OS. or reinstall

I also have other pressing concerns. I want to minimize the start up programs, but Windows Block button is not available.

Also when I backed up my computer I put all the files into my Q drive called "Lenovo" is that alright because now the free space bar is all red.

 

I have not got a new T series laptop so I am not sure about whatever idiosynchrasies it may or may not have. I am presuming it will be like my X61.

I believe you have to select 'advanced' mode when you boot into the factory partition (thinkvantage button at boot up). There is a help function there which is what I used to find my way around. I spent a while exploring all the options before committing to a reinstall. Always backup personal files externally as well.

To get to this area the laptop will spend a few minutes loading the windows PE system provided by Lenovo. In this program you can already surf the net with Opera and backup files, so perhaps you have not booted up to here.

To disable apps in Vista just run msconfig.exe from run window (windows key + r) and there deselect some of the apps. Some apps however are necessary for Rescue and Recovery. CCleaner also provides this functionality.

Regards antivirus. I am just running Avast + Windows Defender. No problems yet and I have found the program quite responsive. A firewall program might be in order but I haven't bothered and stick with windows firewall.

 

So i restarted my computer and I tried pressing thinkvantage. By booting up do you mean shutting down the computer and then pressing thinkvantage?

Thanks for the help so far.

 

Oh, i forgot about Thinkvantage.
So, you dont have to worry about the Recovery Disks then.

I recommend Norton Internet Security 2009.

 

I press the buttton (perhaps several times) when cold booting. Shut it down and then start up after waiting five seconds. You must press the button before the BIOS screen finishes and windows takes control.

It would be unusual that it doesn't work, but perhaps yours is different.

 

Sorry not a fan of Norton. Wait so I dont have to backup my data? cause I just saved a used a ****load of data on my Q drive. Ill probably just reinstall the OS.

K Im going to try to do it now.

 

okey sticky, so I pressed it when the Thinkpad menu comes up and all I get is the BIOS mode.

 

now my system wont use the sounds. When i go to the volume thing on the side bar it says "The Audio service is not running".

Also I backed up my files and now my Lenovo Q drive is full as hell. When i tried clicking on it they said I should get a DVD and put the partition in there and then it would allow me to reinstall Lenovo's version of the OS.

SO many problems on the first day...

 

Well, i think you still have to back up your important data though.
I belive Thinkvantage will do a clean OS reinstall, which erases all data. But im not sure. Dont know too much about it.

If you havent tried Norton 09 yet, give it another shot. Its a much improvment over the last ones. But i do understand your position. The next best is Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 2009.

 

I think you are trying to do too much and you just confused yourself more. Reinstalling through Thinkvantage puts the machine back the way it was the day you got it (which is apparently today). Doing so will not get rid of any of the extra programs you are concerned about. It may be a good idea to do this now, however, if you have mussed up some settings already. If you really want to get rid of them completely, you need to reinstall from a Windows disc. The problem with this is finding vista discs since Lenovo does not like to give them away (even though you paid for a vista license).

 

Yea some things have been messed up. How would I reinstall? Could I get some step by step approach and will this method eliminate bloatware?

Thanks, my sound stopped working too.

 

I've never actually reinstalled via thinkvantage, but there may be a step by step guide out there, or look through the thinkvantage menu. For a clean install, there are several guides available on the internets, including a few right here on nbr.

 

So I emailed my sales rep from Lenovo and he said that they cant give me the cd's. Im still looking online for a detailed version of how to reinstall OS for T500. IF anyone knows one much would be appreciated.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783

 

Thanks man, found that earlier. Hey do you know if For step one I can just partition all the back up stuff in a external hardrive instead of DVD's and CD's?

 

I think the recovery discs should be burned so you can boot from them easier, but you can backup any files you need to another drive.

 

K thanks man. I have one more question. Can I put them all on DVD-R or does it have to be DVD and CD? because Im about to buy some DVD-R's and a External hardrive