Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

What brand of 120GB mSata SSD did you buy?

 

@JSegel: When you look at the logical structure of the new 120GB mSATA SSD in Disk Management, Windows presents it as a storage drive (and not a boot drive) and assigns a logical drive letter to that SYSTEM_DRV partition.

I wouldn't do anything to it. I would simply put the 120GB mSATA SSD in its slot and try to boot the system with it.

Personally, I would do a fresh install. It takes less than an hour, OS and apps.

 

I bought a RunCore 120GB through Amazon for around $290.

 

Yes, I first did a full Acronis backup of my C drive. I understand the value of a fresh install, but I have lots of programs on my C drive that I would prefer not to have to reinstall. So, first I want to try the clone. If I run into problems with it, then I will do a fresh install.

 

Can you post a screenshot of the Disk Management window? It should look something like this...

 

Hrana,

I have a screenshot of my Disk Management page, but I don't see how to attach it. (I'm somewhat new at this Forum.)

When I click on the "Insert Image" icon, it asks me for a URL, which I don't have. Can you point me to the right way to attach a screenshot?

Thanks.

 

Does anyone have any experience with the aftermarket power adapters for the w520? I've seen them go for around $40 or so, vice the $120 direct from Lenovo. Any links would be appreciated!

 

First, upload your image (JPG or PNG) to a hosting service, such as imgur.com. Then, paste the "direct" URL provided by that service into the Insert Image dialog box.

 

Kaso,

Thanks for the helpful advice. I used imgur.com to upload the image. Note that the ~80GB drive is currently in the MSata slot of my W520 and the ~120GB drive is currently attached via USB connected to an Apricon SATA-Wire adapter.

http://imgur.com/U8g2I

 

Just recived my W520 tonight.

I also have a MyDigital_mSATA 128GB

Could someone post instruction or a link on how to install it.

My Search-Fu is weak..

Thanks.

I know how to install the mSATA, I need to know how to transfer the data or if I just insert the recovery media and what to enter once i go into the bios.

 

If I were you i'd make the recovery disks while I had the original hard disk in and then remove the original, install the msata, then install the os with the recovery disks.

 

The 80GB mSATA SSD (shown as Disk 2) is your boot drive. The 120GB SATA SSD (connected via USB, shown as Disk 3) is your data drive.

Everything is cool as Windows Disk Management program shows you. As I explained earlier, Windows sees the 120GB SSD as a non-boot storage drive and assigns a logical drive letter "G" to the SYSTEM_DRV partition.

[ IGNORE ]

If you are perfectly happy with the 80GB mSATA SSD as your new boot drive, you can format the 120GB SSD. After you have done that, it will have been shown as a single logical partition with some logical drive letter (which Windows will assign and you can always permanently set to a letter of your choice, like W).

(I went through a similar scenario when I replaced my primary HDD with a SSD, then moved the HDD to the UltraBay caddy. After I assured myself that everything was working fine with the SSD, I formatted the HDD.)​

[ / IGNORE ]

Bottom line:

 

Kaso,

It's the other way around. The 80gb SSD is my current (and soon to be previous) boot drive. The 120gb SSD is now populated with a clone of the C drive that was on the 80gb, and I intend to make it my new boot drive. So, why would I want to format it now? If I put it in place of the 80gb, won't windows recognize it as the new boot drive, or do I have to do something else to make it the boot drive?

Thanks.

 

Just received my W520 today, first laptop i ever owned (always used PC) and will slowly learn and adapt to window 7. I have always used XP in the past.

One question, the boot up is pretty freaking slow once i power it up or restart it. In this case it would be reasonable for me to order a mSATA to have it run the OS right?

 

1. Remove the G: drive letter assignment. It's not needed.
2. Pull the old 80gb drive out and put the 120gb drive in its final physical location in the laptop.
3. Go into your BIOS and make sure your new 120gb drive is in the correct boot order.
4. Make sure you have Windows 7 rescue media ready to go. Boot off of it and repair the windows boot up process.
5. Pull Windows 7 media out and restart.

Everything should be fine. Make sure everything works. Your H:\ drive should now be your C:\ and the G:\ drive should have no drive letter assigned to it. Once everything works you can wipe the 80GB drive or just keep it around as a backup.

 

Sigh... As your screenshot shows, the 80GB is the boot drive! Of course, you don't want to format the 120GB if it is meant to be your new boot drive.

Please forget what I was trying to explain and internalize only this much: What Windows Disk Management was showing you is A-OKAY. That G letter is only a "logical" drive letter assigned temporarily by Windows because it sees the 120GB as a "data" drive currently (which does not mean that it can never be a boot drive in a different arrangement). Please ignore that temporary drive letter.

What you should do now, as I said way earlier: Just put that new 120GB drive into the mSATA slot in the bottom of your laptop, turn the screws, turn the laptop over, open the lid, press the Power button, and boot the system from the new drive.

Please do that.

 

I ended up going with this. Now I'm running 20gb on my W520 which should be plenty!

This may be in my head, but I think I hear more noise (high pitched and clicking) after installing the memory. But I have yet to compare without it- I will have to do it tomorrow.

 

Does the light on that caddy work? Mine doesn't seem to light up at all. But, it does work. With thicker hard drives (e.g. 750 GB WD Scorpio black), it makes noise and vibrates when my right hand is on the palm rest either because there is not much gap between the drive and inside of palm rest or because the drive shifts and moves. The caddy doesn't seem to hold the thicker hard drive as well as the thinner hard drives (320GB Lenovo/Hitachi HDD).

What are the four screws supplied with the caddy for anyway?

 

My light comes on but it isn't bright. I haven't checked to see if it indicates activity.

The tolerances on mine are pretty tight. It's pretty hard getting drives in an out. I am using the Hitachi 750GB 7200rpm drive in mine. The 9.5mm Lenovo HDD adaptor is more forgiving.

I don't recall anything special about the screws but it's been weeks for me.

Probably your head. Seek medical help.

 

What did you do with the screws? I don't see any holes on the caddy where the screws are supposed to go. Did you just not use them?

 

I did start hearing the screeching sound immediately after installing Crucial m4 SSD. Thought, it was from the SSD. I don't hear the sound anymore. It stopped a few days later.

I did not hear any screeching sound from any laptop I have owned and used (mostly Dells). How come the sound was happening after the SSD install but not before?

 

Yes. I understand that, thank you.

My concern is after I install the mSATA and make the recovery media how do I set up the bios.

1. Make recovery media.
2. Turn off computer, remove battery, hold power button to discharge.
3. Remove screws and keyboard.
4. Remove slot filler card and install mSATA.
5. Replace keyboard, screws, Battery.
6. Power on Computer while holding F1 to enter BIOS.
7. Now what????????? Set it to boot from DVD ROM with Recovery Media?? Set it to mSATA first followed by DVD ROM???

I'm lost here, Looking for the Idiots Guide and trying to create a step by step manual for other not as technically talented persons.

Thanks.

 

@LOMartin: Your Recovery Media has the first CD as the boot disc. So...

7. Click the right items within BIOS Setup screen to specify the boot order, with the optical drive as the top of the list.

8. The Recovery process will prompt you the drive you want to work with. That's when you specify the drive corresponding to the brand new mSATA SSD.

Bonus: check out the ThinkPad BIOS simulator. Right in the browser, you can try out the BIOS options. Click Startup, then click Boot, then rearrange the devices on the list. Or something like that...



After the Recovery process, set the mSATA drive as the first one on the list.

 

Interestingly, I also stopped hearing the screeching sound and no I did not just get used to it. The weird thing now is that the fan used to be dead silent but just yesterday, the fan has been ON 24 hours even with the machine completely idle and no I am not having Turbo boost enabled. Thoughts?

 

Quick question: Does the Bluetooth get automatically enabled as long as the WiFi switch is enabled. I am just asking because I am hesitated between getting the Lenovo Bluetooth mouse or the wireless one and if the Bluetooth is enabled anyway, I will get the Bluetooth mouse.

 

Just an FYI,
If you do any work with Rhino, 3dmax or other 3D Based programs.
The Lenovo Bluetooth mouse will not zoom in/out in the programs.

I have posted on mutiple boards and haven't found a solution to this. Only others asking the same thing and not getting any answers.

 

I really got tired of the wireless adapter (Intel 6300) and need some help here. In the beginning, each time the computer went into sleep, the wireless adapter was disabled and then I followed some fellows' advice to change the power management to make it always active and it was OK.

Now, the new thing is that once I open it from the sleep mode, I get connected to my wireless network, but the signal shows an exclamation mark and I cannot access the Internet unless I click on troubleshooting and it recommends resetting the adapter for me and once it does that, the access gets fixed.

Guys, I need this connection to be flawless as I hate to see these things happening. Thoughts?

 

I do not use these programs. Is it still an issue with other programs such as Office or Internet browsing?

Also, you did not answer my question if the Bluetooth is automatically enabled as long as the wireless is enabled?

 

The situation is not caused by the Intel Centrino 6300 (3x3, one of the best) alone. BTW, frustration does not help you progress on the learning curve.

What does your wirelesss router do in periods of inactivity? Check the router settings. That yellow exclamation mark indicates that the connection is up but the signal is weak. (Sometimes, right after startup, that mark is shown when the laptop is establishing connection and is removed as soon as everything is settled.) In addition, relative to Windows 7, check this:

Forum members don't work for you. You can always deal with Lenovo, you know?

 

I think we have discussed this issue of belittling other members' issues before and had posts removed by the moderator because of it. I do not think I can appreciate the help you are offering because if you just do not like to help or believe that I do not deserve help or should seek it elsewhere, just do not reply to my concerns, you know?!

I understand all what you have said but it is not about what you are talking about. The problem exists at home and at work (both wireless networks are saved in my favorite networks to join) and no, it is not giving enough time for the card to get it straight. After waiting for long, the only solution suggested by Windows (and the only thing that can solve the issue is resetting the network adapter) and I can replicate the problem.

I will contact Lenovo if friends (that is what i consider people here) cannot provide help. That is why I believe we belong here--to help each other if some one has a good piece of information to share.

So, please, do not be judgmental and assuming. No one is working for anyone. This is a voluntary appreciated help to each other.

 

Do you still have Access Connections installed?

 

Yes. Do you recommend I remove it? If yes, do you recommend that I remove any other software that comes preinstalled to avoid an other issues in the future?

I always preferred to have fresh install of Windows but I did not do this with the W520 since I am new to Lenovo and not sure what Lenovo preinstalled software might be helpful. I assume some may be helpful, am I right in this?

I appreciate your willingness to help. Thanks.

 

I never installed access connections on my w520, but i have a small problem:

sometimes I will be connected to a wifi router, full signal strength

but then a yellow triangle pops up and says I have no internet connections

I have to disconnect and reconnect to fix the problem.

any ideas?

 

That usually happens to me after the machine wakes up from sleep and resetting the network adapter would solve it. Hopefully this discussion may give some solutions to try and hopefully, they will work. Otherwise, we will have to contact Lenovo.

 

Yes, if you look, I recommended removing it a day or two ago.

Regarding the Lenovo factory image, I think it's fine for a lot of people. IT Professionals will typically create the factory DVD disk set, save off SWTOOLS, then flatten the machine and rebuild it from scratch.

I usually only run a Lenovo factory image for a few hours while I assess what is installed and it's net worth.

 

I do not use Access Connections because Windows handles that job greatly. I do use the power manager, airbag protection, and etc. Access Connections seems to be the one app I don't use. With that, I get this issue when I switch form wired to wireless... or between wireless networks. I simply disconnect and reconnect. It doesn't happen every single time but it does happen pretty often.

 

Sorry, that I have not seen your post regarding the removal of the Access Connection. I will go ahead and remove it now. I am also seriously considering formatting the SSD and freshly installing Windows as you mentioned. I have already created the recovery DVDs and removed the recovery partition but will save the drivers folder first. Hope this helps. I was just postponing this decision till Windows 8 launches and then I was planning to do it anyway. Do you know if Windows 8 is launching soon?>

 

Good point. The only thing I will be missing if I remove Access Connection is the automatic switching functionality. Honestly, Access Connection has been handling this very well for me up till now moving from wired to wireless or between different wireless connections.

 

Can someone please get back to me regarding the Bluetooth question I asked? I need to make a decision on which Lenovo mouse to get based on that!

 

No it does not, there is a software switch. I've had better experience with wireless mice over BT though. Also, no need to multipost. There is an edit button to append to your previous message.

 

function f5 will bring you to the point you can enable or disable bluetooth as long as the mechanical switch is on. i'm using a logitech bluetooth keyboard and mouse and it works great with the onboard bluetooth.

 

I gave up on the bluetooth mouse and keyboard route long ago for a couple of reasons:

- Using bluetooth with a KVM is a pain
- Using bluetooth with Windows Server is a pain (near impossible)
- Bluetooth stacks are a pain

I use a Microsoft wireless mouse with a nano transceiver when not docked at my desk. When docked, I use a wired keyboard and mouse (KVM need).

 

Thanks. I think I will go the wireless direction especially if the Bluetooth is debilitating for the battery. Sorry for the multiple posts. Just was not sure if I should edit or post again. Anyway, I am learning from people who have 'brilliant future' like you

BTW, are you talking abut BT mice in general or have you tried the Lenovo one yourself?

 

Well, my W520 is going back to Lenovo for repair; it developed an issue on Monday where it won't turn on (well, technically, the fan spins and the power button lights up, but that's it). This after I experienced issues where it randomly turned itself off. I'm a bit disappointed that I've had issues with it, but better now than later.

 

You can enable and disable them independently. I keep Bluetooth disabled.

Patience is a good thing.

 

I do agree with that. However, it is something that not everyone can afford-- only wise people like you

 

I just saw your post and discovered that I almost went the same route. I got the traditional wired Lenovo Keyboard and Laser mouse (for home) and just got Lenovo wireless laser mouse for mobility.

 

Before I format my drive and clean install Win 7, I found the following at Lenovo:

At this point there are two methods for Device driver and Application installs. The simplest is to use ThinkVantage System Update 4.0 to download and automatically install all the required device drivers and applications. This method also ensures that device driver and application dependencies and co-requisites' are installed correctly.

Click here to download the ThinkVantage System Update 4.0.

The second method is the manual install of each device driver and application individually. This method is time consuming but does allow for some control over application install paths.

For existing Windows 7 preloads there exists a "C:\SWTOOLS" folder that contains the original device drivers and apps for a re-install. For those users who purchase a full retail copy of Windows 7 this folder is not available and thus all device drivers and applications must be downloaded individually.


Q: Do you recommend installing "ThinkVantage System Update 4.0" or manual installation of each device driver?

 

TVSU used to be a horrendous resource hog and caused enough problems that it got banned from our corporate environment. I think it might be much better now, but it never touches any of my personal or business assets.

Other people here like it because it automates installation and update of drivers and Lenovo software.

I have also seen it automate the bricking of a machine on a BIOS update.

You were warned.

 

Got my W520. So far seems like a decent specimen - no CPU whine or other major problem. Screen backlight much more even than on my former W510.

Only problem was a really funky feeling keyboard on which keys sounded much louder on the right side than they did on the left. The action of keys also felt differently on two sides. In fact, it probably was one of the worst keyboards I've ever used on a laptop. Fortunately, Lenovo overnighted me a replacement keyboard which feels 100% better. I have no idea how the first keyboard even made it through QC.