New X61s - quick impressions, free recovery CD's, and downgrading to XP

Don't know if this is going to be use to anyone, but I thought I'd share a few pointers from my experience yesterday, having received my new X61s.

Quick impressions: amazing machine all around. Tremendously quiet, faster that I expected, and significantly cooler than my current X31. It's also slimmer, and I like that the extended battery sticks out the back as opposed to the bottom. Feels quite sturdy, and while I thought I'd be put off by losing one of the latches for the screen, that proved to be incorrect. Oddly, while it should be possible now to open the laptop with one hand... it's kinda difficult. That hinge is SOLID.

Free recovery CD's: I didn't know this beforehand, but I'm glad I learned it. I bought the laptop with Vista home, figuring I'd downgrade to XP Pro (to which I have a license) when I get the machine, and save $80. But because I didn't want to lose my Vista software entirely, I booted the machine up and went to "create recovery CD's" (it would hang every time). Well, it didn't work. So I called IBM support, told them that I need the factory recovery CD's. I was expecting a charge of some sort, but lo and behold, no charge was required. Apparently, if you order these CD's within 30 days of receipt of your laptop, they will send them to you for free. They only start charging after that.

Downgrading to XP: that was my biggest challenge. Why? because WinXP doesn't recognize SATA drives by default. So booting the WinXP CD (with SP2) didn't work, as it failed to recognize my hard drive (the 7200RPM 100GB one). The solution is to integrate the SATA drivers during the install, but that requires a USB floppy, which I didn't have available. My solution? download the drivers (from the IBM support website), the "slipstream" them into WinXP. That used to be a somewhat challenging process, but I found an amazingly nifty tool called nlite ( http://www.nliteos.com/) which makes the process a snap. Run the tool, integrate the drivers, burn the ISO, and you're good to go. If anyone wants a more detailed explanation of the process let me know, but it is pretty easy.

 

Thanks - will try to get the Vista Business CD today.

 

Does the X31 also get the hot palmrest syndrome?

 

Good info, thanks OP!

One note: to get around the XP SATA thing, there is a setting in the BIOS to change the SATA from "AHCI" or something to "Compatibility mode." You can use this to get XP setup, and I don't think there is a compelling reason to change it back to AHCI, but if you do you'll need to be able to provide the new drivers. You may even need to update the driver in Windows, then reboot, change BIOS, and boot in to everything OK. It may prompt you for a new driver is you just change the BIOS setting, but it may not boot without the driver pre-selected. I can't remember exactly, but it is well discussed on http://forum.thinkpads.com - search there on it.

Good luck!

 

I'm surprised you didn't experience any high pitched noise coming from the AC Adapter because I did. IBM sent me a new one (90W instead of 65W) and the noise is now completely gone.

 

On that note, where do I send an email to get a new one? Mine suffers from the high pitched AC problem as well.

 

Give them a call at 1-800-426-7378 (IBM Support Center in Georgia). They'll send you a new one via overnight shipping.

 

No, but it exhibits the "hot bal&s" syndrome... not to mention the "keep your coffee hot by putting it next to the fan when it's working" syndrome.

I can't really pass judgment about the X61s though, as in all fairness I am still deploying all my shtuff on it. It does take me several days to get a new machine ready, which is another reason it only happens every 3 years...

 

No high pitched noise at this point, but who knows right?

 

Did you get the 65W power adapter or the 90W? Mine came with a 65W and it made a high pitched noise, so IBM sent me a 90W and the noise is now gone.

If you put your ear next to the brick, you'll definitely hear it if it's defective. Either way, you can get a free spare power adapter if you ask.

 

got the battery but no free factory cds -_-
i guess i should have lied and tell him that my system crash

 

You can make your own with the Rescue and Recovery program.

 

Well, as my experience shows, if you are still within a certain window (appears to 30 days) of system ship date you can ask for them free. Just tell them your recovery CD creation process isn't completing successfully.