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    Old ThinkPad R500 and Windows 8.1 x64

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Bellzemos, Jan 20, 2016.

  1. Bellzemos

    Bellzemos Notebook Consultant

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    Hi!

    I just bought a used R500 with 4 GB RAM and am planning to install Windows 8.1 x64 on it.

    Has anyone had luck installing Windows 8.1 x64 on a R500? Will everything function properly? There are no drivers for Windows 8.1 available on the Lenovo R500 support site.

    What is your experience with it?

    Thank you!
     
    Bellzemos, Jan 20, 2016
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  2. PatchySan

    PatchySan Om Noms Kit Kat

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    While I haven't used the OS myself given the age of the R500 Windows 8.1 should natively have the all necessary drivers to function without intervention. My T61 had all its drivers found natively with Windows 7 so it's very likely it would be the same scenario for your system with Windows 8.1.

    That said you may find certain Lenovo apps may not work properly from the older Windows like the Power Manager and Rescue & Recovery so keep that in mind if you rely on these applications.
     
    PatchySan, Jan 20, 2016
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  3. Bellzemos

    Bellzemos Notebook Consultant

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    I installed Windows 8.1 x64 on the R500 successfully. I used some Windows 7 drivers and they were accepted.

    The only two drivers that won't work are the Fingerprint reader driver and the Display driver (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD - GMA 4500MHD).

    How can I get them to work, or, better - where can I get a compatible Windows 8 drivers for those two devices?
     
    Bellzemos, Jan 22, 2016
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