ThinkPad SuperGuide

I double clicked on it once, then to make sure that I did -- I clicked again. But it did not prompt me for a restart--I manually shut it down from the start menu and restarted it. What should I do now? THANKS!!

 

Back to my question on the Matrix Storage Manager -- I tried locating it on my Device Manager screen -- is it the same as Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller? I was thinking may be I should initiate a driver update from there. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

3. Those are software updates. WinDVD is a media program. Which video card do you have? ATI/integrated or just integrated?

I have just Integrated. Thanks again for fielding my MANY questions.

- I

 

That may work. Wouldn't hurt to try.

These should be the directions,

 

I tried the device manager route and it shows a Driver version of 8.2.4.1005, which matches with Lenovo Matix version! Yay! Thanks!

I'll wait for what to download for my Video (integrated) ... I'm still at a loss. There seems to be quite a few options under Video in the Matrix:ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3400 Series, 3650 and FireGL V5700 OR Intel (GM45) OR/AND? LCD/Monitor OR/ AND? Presentation Director.

Here's my system config (I couldn't locate which one is Viedo):
7417CTO THINKPAD T400
42X6348 SBB 160GB HDD/5400RPM
42X6344 SBB CD-RW/DVDCOM24X24X248XUSL
42X6310 VBB EXPR.CARD SLOT/PCCARDSLOT
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42X6324 SBB INT.WIFILINK5100
42X6328 SBB INTG.WIR.WIDENET UPGRAD.
42V9337 SBB 4 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
42X6388 SBB LPACK US ENGLISH
44C1343 SBB 14.1"WXGA+,LEDB/L BT WWAN
42X6335 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCP8400
44C7424 SBB INTGMA X4500 LBL AMTNTPM
44C1324 SBB LCDCOVBEZLEDB/L14.1"W/OCAM
44C1383 SBB ODD SWFCD-RW/DVD/ROM,VISTA
44C1359 SBB MT 7417 SYSTE. LABEL
43Y3470 SBB WWAN MISCP-WWAN READYFULL
43Y3474 SBB WLAN MISCP-1X2FULL(F2)
42X2659 SBB ENERGY STAR 4.0 PACK
44C1316 SBB BLUETOOTH W/ANTENNA
42X1702 SBB BLUETOOTH SCREW
44C1318 SBB INTEG.WLESSANTENNA:14.1"
42V8012 VBB MS WIN VISTA HOME BASIC
44C1356 SBB CL.PLATET400WLAN+BLUETWWAN
44C1320 SBB UWB MISC PARTS-NO CARD(H1
44C1350 SBB EXPRESSCARDSLOTNPCCARDSLOT
43Y4024 SBB BASE 2ND TOUCH INTEGRATED
44C1410 SBB MECH MISC PARTS
43Y3961 SBB NEWINTLBL 2008 CENT 2 VPRO
42V7973 SBB MS LABEL (VISTA BASIC)
44C1386 SBB GEOLBL.US,WLAN,BLUET.
42W7002 SBB FCC-ID/LABEL FOR WWAN
42V9665 SBB FCC, LABEL
44C1269 SBB GEN WIN VIS HOBAS 32 US E
42X6341 SBB 1GBPC3-8500 1067MHZMEM
42V9428 SBB PACKAGING US
42X6318 SBB 14.1 W X G A +TFT
42X6313 SBB INT.GRAPH.MEDIAACCELX4500
42X6305 VBB 2GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ2DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
42X6322 SBB ULTRNAV(TRACKP+TOUCHPAD)

 

I looked at the Lenovo site again. This is what the basic T400 seem to have: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD and I had chosen 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight.

Sorry to post so many times. Thanks for all the help.

 

GOOD NEWS I've installed almost all the drivers (it was GM45 for Video) but for the following: Audio and Modem. When I tried installing, it gave me a hardware not found error. Any ideas?

Thank you! I'm hoping I can stop bugging you very soon.

 

Tried checking it through Device Manager? Maybe you could update the drivers that way.

 

Zuffox, thanks for the suggestion. No luck with going through Device Manger, it says that it couldn't find the right driver.

 

Resolved!! After spending hours ... I had to kick myself for not following the Super Guide to the T. I had not installed service pack 3 -- I went to the website following Arki's instructions and it seemed like on the page it said the auto updates will take care of it -- but not so. The audio and modem drivers didn't work without SP3. It may have been the case with the matrix storage manager as well.

All of you have been amazing to respond and put up with my questions! I'm all set for now ... until something breaks (hope not too soon)!

Arki, special thanks to you! You rock!

 

Great guide.
I think that for the installation of windows XP you've meant to install the Intel chipset driver and not the system interface driver. The system interface driver exists only on Vista.

And on my x200 I didn't had to install the update for the camera. A message popped out told me that the system is newer. I did installed SP3 and had to uninstall the USB image and install the camera driver.

 

The Lenovo Interface Driver is also for XP.

 

Arki, Thanks for the explanation.

So when do I need to install the chipset driver? You don't mention it in the installation process.

 

It's the first item to install on the list.

 

Sorry, missed that.

 

Lenovo Thinkpad T500 Model 2242-CTO running Windows XP Professional
There is no external keyboard.
System and Driver Update has been done

I need to boot to "safe mode with networking" in order to try cleaning off some malware.

I start the computer and begin pressing [F8] per instructions. It cycles through the Thinkpad "press the ThinkVantage button" screen, then beeps twice and provides a black screen stating
Error
0210: Stuck Key 42
Press <F1> to Setup

Press <F1> and I can't find anything about Safe Mode there.

Setup doesn't get get me into Safe Mode so I [esc] and system continues to reboot.

I have tried waiting to press [F8] until the Windows splash screen starts. No Safe Mode occurs.

I have tried pressing the blue [Thinkvantage] button. No Safe Mode is found.

Does anybody know why this is happening? Does anybody have a way to actually boot into safe

 

I'd try turning it on and hittin the F8 key until you can't any longer. If you know which files need deleting, you can access the partition using a LinuxLive CD.

 

Thank you ZaZ! It worked!

 

Arki thanks a ton for the step by step guide....I recently purchased a Thinkpad X61s and did not get XP on it....it came with Vista Basic....after that I heard all kind of rumors that XP cannot be installed on a Vista machine....so called Lenovo 3 days after I bought it....then they said not only I have to pay extra $70 for the XP downgrade but also I couldn't get the President's Day sale price....so was really upset....after googling came across this forum and two of your threads...still was a bit apprehensive...but after unpacking my new Thinki yesterday, followed all your procedures step by step (took about 3 hrs or so)....and BLING X61s came alive with a clean XP OS.....hope others will get benefited as well like me from your post and feel all the excitement that I am feeling with a trustworthy old friend Win XP Pro ..thanks once again

 

I have a question regarding a clean T60 vista install. There are some drivers that Vista automatically finds such as, ATi X1400, HD Definition Audio, AHCI and Bluetooth. Is it still necessary to install video, audio, Intel Matrix Storage Mgr and Bluetooth drivers (something I don't use on my system anyways)?

p.s. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate 32 and 64 MS sent me free. Which do you guys suggest I should use?

Lastly is it necessary installing the Chipset driver? I've installed it in the past and did not see any additional entries in system devices.

 

Hello!

I hope you could help for me. I bought a new Lenovo X200 (Nr.7458) notebook but it hasn't got WLAN card. So I have to buy a mini PCI-E WLAN card. In my notebook there is a webcam so I find only 2 wlan cable (1 black and 1 grey). The question is: witch is the best WLAN card for me?



Intel 5100

Intel 5300

or

ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter

Please help me.

I can use intel 5300 (it has 3 connection port) if I have only 2 cable?

What is the correct FRU number for Intel 5100 or Intel 5300 for my computer?

Thank you

Peter

 

Please make a separate thread for your question, so others more hardware-knowledgeable may assist you.

 

Hi, Thanks for all the great info!
I have a T61P running Xp Pro, 4GB ram, 160GB HD, NVIDIA FX570 256MB Viedo Card and Core2Duo T9300 CPUs that I run CAD + CS4 so improved performance would be great.
I had to revert back to factory settings recently and think I would like
to try the "Windows XP Clean INstall."
I only know enough to get myself in trouble so I want to be careful
that I don't get in over my head....
Assuming I can make my way though the steps outlined, one issue is
that I don't have an XP Disk?
This is different from the System Restore Disks I made?
Lenovo's instructions following a service call was to to run TVSU-UPDATE, then follow up with a full Microsoft updates, post system restore. That's where I'm at right now but before I start the long road of loading all my apps back onto the machine maybe it's best to try and clean up all the bloatware I don't want?
If I can't run the clean install since I don't have the XP Disk, what's the best way to uninstall Thinkvantage/Norton programs I don't need?
Might I be better to just leave the system as is?
I just want to be careful I don't end up spending 20hrs disassembing/reassembling my system...to save time

Thanks for your help!

 

The guide says to Insert Windows Vista install disc.

However, my T500 did not come with any discs. Please help.

 

Hi Arkit,

What exactly does the TPM chip do and do I need to install ThinkVantage Client Security Soln to utilize it?

Much obliged.

 

I have a X61s and when I downgraded to Win XP, I downloaded the drivers from the IBM webpage as posted in the instructions. But since then I had a series of crashes and it gave me a message which had to do with the video driver. I have an Intel 965 express chipset and the driver that Lenovo has on its website is the 7ld150ww version and no older versions. After a lot of googling I found how to fix this problem. I uninstalled the driver and then let microsoft find and install the driver. Once it did, Microsoft installed the older version which is the 7ld133ww. You can find this through google as well in some nonIBM websites. So no longer I have video driver related crashes. Just wanted to post this in case someone faces such a problem by downgrading to XP.

 

I have the same question as Maxjax800.

I just bought a T500 which doesn't come with Vista discs.

Will the 11 to 12 Thinkvantage Product Recovery CD's (I don't have a DVD burner) work in-place of the Vista discs?

And do we need to reenter the Vista OEM activation license/key?

 

The lenovo restore CD/DVD's are not capable of doing a clean reinstall. They will just reset the system back to factory state. IF you want to do a 'clean' install without any of the lenovo installed software then you will need a regular Vista DVD.

 

I was afraid of that.

I was told by at least 2 Lenovo techs that I would be able to accomplish a clean install by booting up with F11 and selecting the "Custom" recovery. I was told I could un-select everything I didn't want to install, including Thinkvantage. But when I tried F11, there was no Custom recovery option and the factory config was reinstalled on my system.
The Recovery Help file even mentions/explains the Custom recovery option, but the Custom recovery option does not exist.

So I called Lenovo Tech 2 days ago and told them I couldn't find a Custom Recovery option. The tech guy couldn't understand why I didn't have the Custom recovery option and that something must be corrupt. So his solution was to mail me the 3 Recovery CD/DVD disks, which he thought would have the Custom recovery options.

But yesterday I read somewhere on the Internet that Lenovo deleted the Custom recovery option on the later models, like the T500.

It is rather unbelievable that Lenovo has decided to take away every option to complete a clean install, except to buy a new Vista license.

 

hello, i wish to install windows 7 but trying to prepare my migration from vista as best as possible.
i would like to keep the original vista partition (i believe a hidden partition on the drive) so i case i give or sell my computer i can still bring it back to the factory settings with Vista.

if i install win 7 now, will the hidden partition erased?
if not can i easily go back to the former factory setting by hitting F11 on the startup menu to restore everything after win 7 install?

Thank you

 

I would like to confirm if creating the recovery discs will permit me to restore the factory pc settings without the hidden partition?
im thinking about erasing the hidden partition but afraid of deleting it, which is why i would like to read the confirmation that the recovery disk will run indepedently to restore the factory settings?

Thanks!

 

Yeah, the discs are capable of putting the system back to factory settings even on a clean hard disk. It doesnt require the hidden factory partition to work. I have used the restore DVD's on my T400 to put the system back to factory state even with a brand new HDD.

 

I don't think I HAVE the recovery disks anymore. That may have something to do with the fact that I ordered my laptop with vista basic (Purely for the sticker. ), but I dunno.... I did make an image of the original drive though. Somewhere...

 

Thanks a lot miner for your confirmation!
Win 7 here i come!

 

Thank you Arki for the awesome setup guide which really made my life a lot easier as first-time ThinkPad owner.

I just got this ThinkPad SL400 2743PBC. I'm doing Windows XP clean install. After series of reboots, however I've still got the followings with question marks under Other devices.

Under Other devices:
Question mark 1: Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus
Question mark 2: Ethernet Controller

I made a seperate thread for the above issues. Please let me know if that is most approriate. Thank you again!

 

Hi, the Video, Audio, and Modem drivers state that they require .NET Framework 3.0. When should this be installed? It is not a part of SP3.

 

That's odd - the only one that prompted me for .net 3.0 or higher was the ThinkVantage Power Manager Utility.

Now that this thread has already been brought back to life...I am in the process of doing a clean XP 32-bit install.
I already did it once before I read about the AHCI setting - I didn't have a single problem when I loaded it with it still set in AHCI mode.

Do I need to go back and load it again with it in Compatibility mode? Is it worth re-installing everything again?

It sounds like the reason for doing it is to prevent BSoD's later on down the road which to me, might make it worth the extra few steps and a full re-install.

Thoughts?

Fink

 

Great guide ! thank you very much

I've just bought a used x61 without documentation and you make my day !

 

Thanks very much. A Very good write up.

I have one question, is there anyway one can download the OS. My hard dissk crashed and there is no way for me to access the recovery partition

 

You might want to post over on ThinkPads.com to see if anyone has a set of recovery discs you could buy.

 

am from India mate. anyone from India here ?