Startup tips upon arrival of new T60?

Hi: I am getting my first notebook on Monday and I was wondering what is involved in getting it setup properly? I can read and follow the instructions, but what bothers me is if they tell me to push the ThinkVantage key to check for updates...do I just let them all download? I have read stories about a new bios locking up the system because it doesn't work with certain MBs Lenovo puts in. I read someone that had a fuzzy screen and after they removed the current update, it was fine. Any and all constructive suggestions will be welcomed.

I only plan on loading MS Office 2003 Pro, Photoshop CS2, and a CD/DVD Burner program; or does it come with one?

Also, I use a Netgear wireless router...will I have to load the netgear program on my T60 or will the Lenovo program work with it?

Thanks, Cory

 

Depending on how anal you are, you might want to just wipe the drive and start over... I had 80 processes running on boot from the factory, which pissed me off... I still haven't gotten it under 43, but that's because of all the stuff that's required to run some of the thinkvantage things...

 

If you do that don't you have to download a bunch of drivers, etc. from MS and Lenovo?

 

Yea
I pretty much just got the network driver and the system updater program and went from there. The system updater will allow you to get all of the needed drivers and stuff.

 

Don't know if its still true with T60, but on my T42 there was a hidden partition with system pre-install and taking upto 8GB of space. Of course, 2.5 years ago when I go my laptop new with 60GB 7200 rpm hard drive, that 8GB was a big chunk... Anyway, I went through this before a few times (including when I got a new 100GB hard drive). You really just need a wireless card driver so you can get back on the net after you nuke your current setup. When you are connected, go to Lenovo/IBM website and download all other drivers. I didn't like ThinkVantage. I prefer to choose and read about every driver manually, than install what I really need.

One thing to be sure, IBM/Lenovo never send you original OEM XP drives. You are allowed to request a free system restore CD/DVD within 30 days of purchase, after that you have to pay for it. Also, that system restore will bring back your WinXP along with all other crap back. I had to use original XP Pro installation to wipe my system.

 

http://www.ubuntu.com/

*ducks*

 

You may be able to create/burn a system restore disc when it first boots up... if you can, I highly recommend doing so.

 

If you have the fingerprint reader, I highly advise you to remove the Client Security System. OMFG!! its the worst Thinkvantage program ever as it is the biggest bloatware I've ever run into. If you don't might as well keep it.