T520 - Some questions

My T520 is on its way but with a French/English bilingual keyboard. I only chose this option because there would have been a 4 week wait for the US english keyboard.

Now - I've looked everywhere to buy the US keyboard. All I can find are keyboards for the Tx10 series.

I remember some time ago that the backplate of the keyboards were perforated to save weight. The cost of this was flex in the legendary inflexible Thinkpad keyboard. IRIC - Lenovo stopped perforating the keyboards, but I can't remember on which generation.

Did they fix that issue for the Tx10 series? Or was it the Tx20 series that the perforation was done away with? Also - if someone can help me out in finding a new US keyboard replacement I'd greatly appreciate it.


My next question is regarding the recovery stuff...

I'm coming from a Mac, where everything is laid out for you but with this T520 I know that I am going to have to make my own recovery CDs - correct? That's fine, I can do that. But what if I want to do a fresh clean install of Windows 7? Where can I get the all the Thinkvantage/Thinkpad related applications that are actually useful? Can I download them?

 

Alright - I think I answered my own question regarding the software.

I didn't know Lenovo provides all of the software on its website for download. So I'm assuming that is where I could get the apps from.

Then what is the point in making recovery disks? Wouldn't it be better to just install a fresh W7 copy and download the Lenovo software? Clean and easy...

I suppose it would only make sense if the user did NOT have a legit copy of Windows, in which case, having the recovery CDs would be beneficial.

But..I already have bought a retail copy of W7 Ultimate, so the recovery CDs are useless to me (and the COA of the Thinkpad I suppose...)

 

Regarding keyboards: Lenovo supplied solid backplate keyboards through the T61 generation, then switched to perforated backplate keyboards with the Tx00 generation. When complaints started coming in, they switched back to the solid backplate keyboards. This continued until extra bracing was added to the internal structure of the machines, when Lenovo resumed the use of perforated backplate keyboards.

The Tx10 and Tx20 generation keyboards are identical/interchangeable, and they are all perforated. With better internal support, there should be no flex even without a solid backplate.

Regarding recovery media: If you're planning to install your own W7 Ultimate on there, then no, the recovery media isn't strictly necessary. In case you do need to sell your T520, though, it would be very useful to have them so you can restore it to factory settings and include them for the buyer (as they're $50 from Lenovo). I would highly suggest that you burn the disks, in any case.

Regarding Lenovo software: Those applications and drivers are all available through Lenovo's Support and Downloads site. This is the page with all the ThinkVantage software. As for which TV tools are essential, that'll differ whoever you ask. Personally, I would say that Power Manager (with the Power Management driver), System Update, and Active Protection System (if you have a conventional HDD) are all that are necessary (in addition to all the required drivers).

 

Before you wipe the original image that came with your machine, also copy the SWTOOLS folder to a DVD.

I usually create:

1. Factory DVD set via Rescue and Recovery
2. SWTOOLS DVD
3. DVD of Drivers from support.lenovo.com

If WinDVD came installed with your system, then it's in the SWTOOLS folder. Windows 7 users don't need it, but it comes in handy for Windows Server users and it's the only location of the installation directory.