Second-hand thinkpad x301 owner's thread.

I guess it would have been too good after all.

 

Today I upgraded to SSD. it's A-Data SX300 128 GB. I also installed Windows 8.1 and ran benchmarks:





And here is SSD and adaptor I am using: http://i.imgur.com/WLKpCa1.jpg

Well, I expected better performance.

Any suggestions on Windows 8 drivers? I plan to install all available win 8.1 drivers, then remaining win8 drivers, then win 7 if needed. Is this the right way to go? It would be nice to have everything looking and behaving like on windows 7.

 

Considering that laptop likely has SATA II, those speeds seem normal enough.

As for drivers, that sounds fine. Though I assume that when you say "I plan to install all available win 8.1 drivers" that you won't install drivers for, say, wireless card options that you don't have. It's also worth looking at the website of the part's manufacturer for the driver with more common stuff like video drivers that usually don't need to be customized (not sure about optimus though). However, you do want Lenovo's ultranav driver in particular rather than a generic Synaptics one.

 

Hi,

It's actually good:
Stock SAMSUNG MMCRE28G8MXP-0VBL1 VBM19C1Q 128 GB SSD:
Sequential Read 221 MB/s
Sequential Write 30 MB/s

My 64GB Stock Samsung SSD:
Sequential Read 99 MB/s
Sequential Write 76 MB/s

As for the drivers- look couple of pages back. I've managed to install most of them only with Win7 Compatibility mode.

 

Hello,

I compiled the weight breakdown (size:10MB) for various components in the X300, including Ultrabay and battery options into an Excel file for reference. Data and figures were mostly from Steve Hamm's "The Race for Perfect: Inside the Quest to Design the Ultimate Portable Computer". Though the data is taken from a X300, it should also be applicable to the X301.

The only data I'm missing for now is the weight of the Travel Cover which I'm unable to measure as my X300 is on loan. Will update it later or it would be great if anyone has that data.

 

Started this thread two years ago this week. My used X301 was 3 years old at the time and, other than adding a new 6 cell battery, has needed nothing. My original impressions of this notebook have been completely borne out in the two years I've owned mine. I keep thinking to myself that I would like to clean and repaste it, but idle temps are in the 35C range and the fans run only under load, so I keep putting that maintenance off. I have looked at new models as possible replacements for the X301 but I always opt for keeping my unit because I love it. I could probably get $250 for it on eBay so, including the battery, cost of ownership is under $150 per year. I run my law practice with it and have found nothing that I prefer writing on. The keyboard is so responsive that typing is effortless, freeing my brain to concentrate on composition. What a great notebook.

 

Among all the ThinkPads (and other laptops) that I have owned, I too have never come across a better keyboard than the X301's. Of course everyone has different preferences, but as long as everyone finds something they like it's all good. (in our case the X301) People have been asking about which notebook they should get to replace their X301 for quite some time now. IMO there is no answer to this question because there is no notebook that can really fully replace the X301. It's just too unique for that.

However, Bronsky, if you're after the best possible Keyboard experience, I can suggest the original X1. It might be a Chiclet with 6 rows, but it's a really good one. Actually the best keyboard I have used since the X301. I'd say it comes in just after the X301. And the X1 itself is also very interesting notebook, and a desirable one amongst collectors as well. Sadly, this means you might have to fork out quite a bit of cash in order to get your hands on a good one. But if you liked the X301 then I think you'll quite like the X1 as well. It also kind of gives you that high quality feeling, and it has a few advantages over the X301. (and of course a few disadvantages)

 

can someone email me the color profile? i recently acquired a x301 and would like to try a customized profile.

thanx.

 

Done. (10char)

 

I bought mine a new keyboard a week or so ago - feels like a brand new notebook! As you say, it's great!

 

Did you just order it from Lenovo? That sounds great!

 

I've seen these on ebay. (I just recently picked up a x301 and this thread has been invaluable.) this keyboard may be my next purchase.

 

I got mine from IBM parts because I needed it quickly, but there are less expensive ones on eBay.

Btw, you probably want to grab all the drivers and docs now and put them somewhere safe.

 

I have all the drivers for a Win 7 and Win 8 installation on a external HDD. I will upload it to my cloud if it ever becomes necessary. I'll also grab the HMM while I still can.

 

You guys are insane. After buying a t420 for my girlfriend i was reading a lot about thinkpads and came to read this thread. Very soon i became convinced that i need a X301 to suite my needs and now i bought one. Its a 1.4GHz Model with the 128gb SSD and 4gb ram for a price about 220euros in good overall condition. Happy about this roadwarrior machine.
Im not sure about installing win7 or 8.1. If a wimboot Installation is possible, i would give 8.1 a try. Does someone know, if its possible to wimboot a X301?

Gruss
Stephan

 

I am not sure about winboot, but I use 8.1 Update 1 on my x301 as the main system and it runs great. I reinstalled drivers from the Lenovo site and so far it all works except the fingerprint reader. (not a big deal for me)

 

I know some of you were looking for 3 cell bay batteries. I ran across this one for $28. 3 Cell Laptop Battery for IBM ThinkPad X300 X301 | eBay Also saw an X301 1.6 ghz on ebay for an opening bid of $99. No OS nor Drive. I was thinking that the SU9600 motherboard might be worth the price

 

I purchased that battery, and had to mail it back. I hit the problem where the system doesn't recognize the main battery, and shuts down when the bay battery runs out of juice. They were very good about the return so far.

 

Thanks. What happens if you yank out the bay battery when it is getting low?

 

Windows upgrade Assistant says "no secure Boot"so there will be no wimboot.

Gruss
Stephan

 

I didn't try that. I figured it wasn't worth the risk of shorting something. I did get a new main 6-cell to replace my old one, and that gives me about 3 hours or so, which is fine.

I did have to dismiss the "Non-Lenovo Battery" notification in the Lenovo utilities, but it works perfectly.

 

I think someone else in this topic also had this problem with bay battery and it is rather common behaviour with replacement bay batteries for x301. It is really unfortunate, I would certainly buy one of these for $30.

 

Hi,

can you also upload that BIOS I've asked previously? Thanks.

 

You mean the dual IDA one or the new MDL one? Didn't I already send you the latter? If not, I won't be able to now either because I'm on Holiday. I'll be home again in September but will off to college in the UK a few days later, so I don't know if I'll get around to uploading the BIOS any time soon.

 

May i ask, what these two BIOS versions bring about?

Gruss
Stephan

 

the new MDL one...

 

The old one that I kept distributing simply added the dual IDA capability (200MHz higher clock rate). You can read about it earlier on in this thread. Not too long ago I got a modified version of the MDL forum BIOS. Their original one removed the whitelists but had no dual IDA. So the new modified version of that combines both, removed whitelist and dual IDA.

OK, but like I said, I don't have it with me right now. I'll try to get it up sometime next week.

 

It's a great tradition you have in Europe. We should also take the month of August off in the US. It would improve our attitude.

If you send me a copy of whatever you send them, I'll put it up on my Dropbox with the color profile.

 

If i understood correctly, this dual IDA stuff wont work without additional software and not out of the box?

Gruss
Stephan

 

I assume from the enthusiasm that these BIOS' are markedly superior to stock. Please let me know if they are available somewhere.

Thanks!

 

Can I ask for BIOS with dual-IDA and also for the color profiles? Thank you

 

Also to to screen mods - has anyone succeeded with higher resolution?

Or at least higher than the 1280 from Fujitsu tablet?

 

In device manager I have one unknown USB device, does anyone know what device it is? I had it in windows 7 and now also in 8 including 8.1

I think that I have all Lenovo drivers installed....

 

And another issue I have... When booting sometimes it takes BIOS noticeably longer time to get to OS choose menu, the LED indicator of HDD is constantly on and hard disk in bay will not be recognized. Only thing that helps is power off and also pull out battery. Then pull out 2nd disk and start without the 2nd disk as many times as long as everything gets to normal and than I can put the 2nd disk back. Has anyone encountered similar symptoms? Do you know how to get rid of them?

 

Hopefully last thing, mine x301 sometimes goes to BSOD after waking up from sleep with error "power driver failure" I am on win 8.1 and using win 7 driver...

 

Do you see something like "Mobile Broadband Device" under the Universal Serial Bus Controller section? If not then probably you're missing that, most X301's come with the Ericsson F3507g WWAN card. There's no native Windows 8 driver for this so you may need to work around by using the Windows 7 driver instead, search for the Lenovo Mobile Broadband Activation driver on the support site.

 

yes i see F3507g Mobile Broadband Device



this is what i see...

 

First post here.
I acquired a 1.6G model 2776-27U recently from ebay. Overall condition is very good, except that the SSD was taken out. I installed my msata + adapter and was able to install w7 64bit on it.
I was able to see GPS working as it has the qualcomm chip.

However:
I cannot see webcam, fingerprint reader or bluetooth either in the BIOS or from windows device manager.
My question: Can you actually see them listed in the BIOS with the option of enable/disable them?
I want to rule out any software/bios related issue.
My BIOS version seem to be 3.15.

Thanks
zhangwu

 

Another thing is there a windows driver that allows to dim screen more than the one that windows would use as a default?
On linux I can get the screen to about 1/4 of the minimum in windows...

 

I am also a proud T42 owner. But it's showing its age when opening >3 webpages or do anything >480p on youtube. Sadly to say need to retire this 9 year buddy.

 

You seem to be missing the USB Composite Device driver which is odd as normally it should be picked up by Microsoft.



You may want to try updating the USB driver by manually pointing it to "C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository" and see if it installs the driver properly.

There should be an option in the BIOS that enables/disables those devices, go to the Security tab and then I/O Port Access.

 

Thank you so much Patchy,
I got into the BIOS found the items you mentioned. Indeed these devices were disabled. Now everything seem to work well. Fantastic!

zhangwu

 

As for BIOS (while we wait for the MDL one with IDA and WL), do someone have these:
Modified Bios:

WList only:
Lenovo Thinkpad x301 (2776-L9U)_3.16 (6EET56WW)-6euj42us__WL.rar
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zauk6g

Slic 2.1 Lenovo + WList:
Lenovo Thinkpad x301 (2776-L9U)_3.16 (6EET56WW)-6euj42us_Lenovo21__WL.rar
http://www.sendspace.com/file/m77dk3

? I've installed original 3.16 (6EET56WW) to my X301 and I'm getting Atheros AR5BXB112 WiFi card hence the need for WhiteList BIOS... The links provided are no longer valid, so...

 

I may have a backup copy somewhere as I'm running 3.16 (6EET56WW) with a generic Intel 6200 card so most likely the BIOS is non-whitelisted. I double check on the files and let you know when I upload it.

EDIT: Reuploaded on my webspace. Flash at your own risk! - X301 3.16 Whitelist BIOS

 

Superb! Thanks.

 

I have finally uploaded the modified MDL BIOS. Contact me via PM if you want it.

 

My machine is 2776-27u, could there be any problem if the configuration is different?
Thanks
zhangwu

 

Why should there be?

 

just be cautious

 

OK. now i have the stock 5100 wifi and 4g ram. does it make more sense to upgrade to a 7260, compare to upgrading the ram to 8gb?