Vista T400 Clean Install Mini-Guide w/ Switchable Graphics

This is just a mini guide, but so far this worked for me. If anyone can do this in less steps, by all means post it up so we can trim it down.

This is a clean format and install of Vista (I did x64 Ultimate but it should work fine for 32 bit, with the right drivers of course). I already had a copy of Vista at home, so I did not need to 'save' my activation as suggested in Stallen's thread. Check that if you plan on using your Lenovo activation for your system.

Stallen has a MUCH more detailed Vista install guide for the T60/61. About 90% is the same, except for the switchable graphics in the T400. See his guide here for more information about drivers and such.

*One particular thing to note though... do NOT install the Intel Graphics Driver from Intel/Lenovo. The ATI drivers that came on your T400's hard drive are used for BOTH the ATI GPU AND the Intel GPU. As of this writing, the ATI drivers are NOT available on Lenovo.com so SAVE THOSE DRIVERS BEFORE YOU FORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE. Save everything in C:\SWTOOLS just to be safe.*

The ATI driver is back on Lenovo.com
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70417

Edit: The T400 uses a new finger reader made by Authentec. Do not install the Upek drivers Stallen has listed in his guide, those are for the T60/61. Get the Authentec finger reader drivers from Lenovo.com

Edit: Windows XP does NOT support switchable graphics from within Windows. They only way to switch GPU's in XP is to reboot and manually enable/disable them in the BIOS.

Stallen's guide:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783

Drivers on Lenovo.com:

Go to this page....

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...wnloadsDriversLandingPage.vm&sitestyle=lenovo

Select:

Notebooks
T400
All Types
OS (Vista for me)

You can also use the Driver Matrix here as well:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70439




Install Guide:
You should be rebooting after EACH of these steps (whether the system asks you to or not). Annoying and time consuming, but I found it necessary.


1. Go into BIOS (press F1 when you first turn on your Thinkpad), set Display to Discrete and the OS Discoverable option to disabled. This step may no longer be necessary. Other posters are able to install the drivers leaving Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled and both GPU drivers are being installed at once. So try it that way first. I left this step in for troubleshooting purposes.

2. Install Vista

3. Install SP1 (unless you have newer media w/ SP1 pre-loaded). SP1 is required for switchable graphics to work

4. Install Intel Chipset Drivers. DO NOT INSTALL THE GRAPHIC DRIVER (if you have the right driver set, it's not packaged in so don't worry).

5. Install Intel Turbo Memory driver (if you have this option on your machine).

6. Install Intel Matrix Storage Manager

7. Install ACPI Driver (Called Thinkpad Power Management Driver on Lenovo.com)

8. Install Lenovo System Interface Driver

9. Install Lenovo Power Manager (Software, not the aforementioned driver)

10. Install ATI driver package, Reboot and let the system update, REBOOT AGAIN and let Vista load to desktop. On the next few reboots, you may get an ATI driver error pop-up box as you try to install the Intel GPU. This is ok and will be cleared up on subsequent reboots. If you left Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in the BIOS in Step 1, skip to Step 15

11. This step is not necessary if you left Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in step one. This is only necessary for troubleshooting purposes. Go into BIOS, change from Discrete to Integrated, leave OS Discoverable option disabled

12. This step is not necessary if you left Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in step one. This is only necessary for troubleshooting purposes. Boot into Vista, Vista should automatically install the driver for the Intel GPU using the ATI driver you installed earlier for the ATI card. This is not a generic MS driver, it's an ATI driver for the Intel GPU. Reboot, let the system update, REBOOT AGAIN and let Vista load to desktop.

13. This step is not necessary if you left Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in step one. This is only necessary for troubleshooting purposes. Go into BIOS, change from Integrated to Switchable, change OS Discoverable to Enabled.

14. This step is not necessary if you left Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in step one. This is only necessary for troubleshooting purposes. Boot into Vista and let the system update, REBOOT to step 15.

15. Boot into Vista and try switching GPUs with Power Manager ( LEFT-click on the little black Lenovo Plug/Battery Meter in the taskbar). Don't see the option for switchable graphics? Load Lenovo Power Manager and switch to Advanced in the upper right corner. Close the window and try left-clicking again on the black plug/battery meter, you should see the option now. Your screen should flicker black and the graphics card programs in the system tray should switch (from the blue INTEL box to the red ATI box, or vice versa). Sometimes the Intel Blue Box would hang around in the system tray but would not work when I clicked on it, so you may see both ATI and Intel if it does this for you. I confirmed I was running on the ATI GPU so I don't think it's an issue.

Battery Meter/Plug:




After you left-click, you should see this menu:




Intel/Integrated = Energy Saving
ATI/Discrete = High Performance



16. Double check in Device Manager, under Displays, you should see the Intel card and the ATI card listed and there are no yellow exclamation points. You should be good to go then...

17. Continue your normal install procedures.... Rest of your drivers- Ethernet, Audio, Wireless, etc.... I usually did 3 at a time and then rebooted. Rebooting after each one takes forever.

18. Head to Windows Update and finish any updates.

653 reboots later and you should be up and running.


1/8/09
Updated the guide to reflect install procedure changes. Seems to be working for most people to install the ATI driver package with Switchable and OS Discoverable enabled in BIOS from the start. I left the original steps I used in case it doesn't work for some people.

2/19/09
Small edits

 

I've got all the drivers/hardware installed and everything seems to be working fine.

I have one unidentified piece of hardware in Device Manager...

'PCI Simple Communications Controller'

Can't figure out what it is, anybody know what I'm missing? Installed:

Chipset
Both Graphics
Wireless
Audio
Ethernet
Bluetooth
Card Reader
Modem
UltraNav
Finger Reader
Camera

What did I forget? I don't have Turbo Memory and I don't have WWAN.

 

Thanks a lot for your instructions! I saw your post on the Lenovo forum but you answered my question here.
I am looking forward to getting my T400 and my reformat should go smoothly with your guide, thanks again.

 

Thanks for this info. I'm expecting my T400 next week.

 

Try installing the Intel AMT driver either from Intel's website or from Lenovo's SWTOOLS directory.

 

I'll give that a shot, thanks.

Edit: Yep that was it

 

Worked great janko10! Thanks

 

how can I get a copy of the vista CD? I just got my laptop today.

 

Can you comment on any gains wrt boot time, memory use, and process count comparing the Lenovo image to your clean install? - I mean, is it worth the hassle?

 

Sorry but I only used the Lenovo image for a few hours before I started reinstalling. I only ordered Vista Basic since I already had x64 ultimate at home. I didn't really spend too much time with it.

I do feel, in that short amount of time though, that booting is faster, shutdown is also faster, and there's a lot less bloat, especially in the system tray. I hate using a preconfigured OS cause they just cram so much junk in there.

It's perfectly functional coming direct from Lenovo, and they have A LOT less bloat than Dell does. It's really your preference if you want to reinstall. I just like to control what goes on my puter.

 

Check Stallen's guide linked in my first post. Basically you can borrow a copy from someone or download and burn an image of one.

 

Can you use any Vista disc to install? I've already got an Ultimate 64 disc but what I've heard is the Vista disc has all versions on it and only installs whatever the license key is valid for.

 

For the most part, yes. If it's a standard retail Vista disc, it has all versions (both 32 and 64bit) and you can install your version with your key.

OEM discs and other select discs may only have 32bit or 64bit versions. Usually it will say on the disc '64bit software only' or something like that.

 

Gotcha. My Vista Ultimate disc is an OEM 64 bit I purchased when I was building my desktop. I'd want to install 64 bit on the laptop anyway (laptop is coming with Vista Business 64) so I guess it sounds like that might work.

 

Guys that are doing the clean install with switchable graphics, post up if your getting any wierd errors.

My system doesn't seem entirely stable, but I don't think it has to do with installing procedures. I'm pretty sure the drivers just aren't robust enough/error free.

Occasionally, the ATI control applet in the system tray will not load for me when I have ATI enabled and I boot into windows. Also sometimes I'm getting 'New display detected' when I boot into windows or switch GPUs. Like Vista thinks I've attached a new monitor. And I've gotten two WDM.exe errors booting into windows. This has to do with Vista's management of 3D rendering and it auto-disables Aero when it crashes out.

Again I don't think it's a procedure issue, just crappy driver issue (but I could be wrong). Please post up if your getting similar errors.

 

so you don't know if you had these stability issues prior to your clean install?

 

No. I only used the 32bit Vista Basic for a few hours, didn't really have time to stress test it.

Most of my boots are fine, it's only occasionally that one of these errors pops up.

 

That sucks. I’ll be doing a clean x64 install myself and will look into this when mine arrives.

 

Ahem...I ordered my T400 with Vista Home basic...Now I have a Vista Business DVD( from my school for free.. ). So I wanted to do a clean install..Will I be losing out any essential services/software(that come out with OEM OS) if I do that?? I am not really sure..And if it doesn't work I can always get my original OS right?
After getting two BSOD's and a geting stuck at the loading screen in the first one hour , I just dont know what to expect,. Is it a problem with the hardware or the drivers??

 

Well it seem to be ok now.

I may be sending mine back though as my finger reader appears to be broken

 

All of the previous errors I was seeing have stopped (with the exception of my faulty finger reader). So this install seems to be working great now.

 

It's not working even with the latest drivers from UPEK? Sucks to have to send it back for something like the print reader or are you going to ignore that one and just go with it?

 

excuse my ignorance, but you instal vista because you don't want all the crapware? or there's something special about not using the preinstalled vista in yours t400?

my new t400 is new and i want to know what is best for it! thanks

 

Important to note, it's NOT a Upek reader.

Lenovo has switched to another reader made by Authentec. Authentec doesn't have any drivers on their website so you have to use the Lenovo one.

 

Yeah I always do clean install on a new system.

Get's rid of the crapware and allows me to set it up exactly how I like it.

 

Ahh, gotcha, guess I hadn't paid attention to that, was thinking from the old T61... My bad...

 

So did I. I actually tried the Upek drivers first and couldn't get it to work. Then realized it's not a Upek reader.

 

I've uninstalled a good bit of the excess from my T400 with Business 64 and stability has been perfect. Performance seems OK too but I am trying to decide if I should wipe it and clean install at the moment. I'm not sure I want to deal with problems getting the switchable graphics or Intel Turbo Memory working. At the same time, I've installed some of my stuff and so far everything seems to be running well.

If I don't do a clean install then that will be a first for me! Hmm.

 

Whats the name of the ATI driver? anyone knows its name on the lenovo website or the company website? Can you add some links to the drivers ...i am not really sure of some of the drivers(version and such)...

 

Hey if it's running fine and you're happy with it, don't worry about.

I do a clean format/reinstall once a year or so to keep Windows running optimally. If it's fine for you now, learn the system, what works/what doesn't/what you'd get rid, etc... and then next year, when you're ready to do a clean install, you can give it a go.

 

Sorry I just went looking for the drivers and they're gone again! Save the ones on your hard drive!

 

For what it’s worth, about half of the drivers in the SWTOOLS folder of my new T400 are actually newer than what Lenovo has made available online…

 

Has anyone had any luck with the drivers that were posted on the site?

They don't seem to be working me, but when I put my original drive back in to get the original driver I keep getting a blue screen.

 

thanks...just one more thing....Where do I get the ACPI and the chipset drivers? How do i check the chipset name.(I tried finding it in the device manager)

 

Go to this page....

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...wnloadsDriversLandingPage.vm&sitestyle=lenovo

Select:

Notebooks
T400
All Types
OS (Vista for me)

This will list all the drivers currently available for the T400.

Here is the Intel Chipset driver:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70315

Here is the ACPI driver:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-4GXPEG

 

Thanks once again...I was using the automatic updater thing ..hence the problems......I seem to hav lost my ATI driver..Can some one guide me to that? I tried searcing the ATI webiste....Any help???I still have my recovery partition and service partition..Can I find it in there?

While I wa doing this stuff I accidentally noticed that my RAM is DDR2 instead of the promised DDR3..Must get back to customer support for relacement..

Hmm ...
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70367 is this the link for the ati DRIVER??

 

Just a suggestion but I think mentioning that installing SP1 is compulsory would be more helpful....I never noticed that it was essential until I saw ur posts in Lenovo forums..I was installing the same thing without SP1 over and over again and was wondering why it wudn't work

 

Finally did everything right on my 5th attempt and now everything looks fine(atleast seems..)..thank you so much

 

Excuse my bad english, i try to install the integrated HD4500 an my T400.

i follow the instruction till step 11

i change the setting at Bios, an i boot Vista.

after the Welcomescreen he found 2 Video Device

one / Display Adapters / Standard VGA Grafics Adapter ( Hardware ID Ven_8086 Dev 2A42

an one

Other Device / Video Controller (Hardware ID Ven_8086 Dev 2A43)

nothing happend an Vista don´t Install the Device Driver. Anybody help ?

i use the following driver

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70367

can anybody send me his own T400 Device driver or have a solution ?

thanks thunderbolt

 

This is NOT the correct driver. The is the integrated Intel driver for a Lenovo R500, not the T400. Do not use this driver.

You need to use the ATI driver that came with your laptop in the C:/swtools folder.

 

No, this driver is for a Lenovo R500 and will not work properly with the T400.

 

If you're talking about RAM that came with the T400 and is installed, it is DDR3 even if third party apps claim otherwise. Open it up and look if you don't believe me. Four screws, two minutes tops.

Also, as I understand it, DDR3 and DDR2 laptop memory is physically incompatible. Thus no chance someone inadvertently put the wrong memory in the system.

 

Hi,

i haven´t an SWTOOLS folder. I ordered my T400 with XP. Can anybody send me the driver per ftp or upload the driver pls ?

 

Does your T400 have both the ATI card and the Intel card?

 

yes i have Intel and ATI Card

Modell 2765TDG

if i install he ATi Driver above i can use my ATI Card. If change the settings to integrated i can only use 1440x900 i i install the drivers from Intel, if i switch to switchable an manage by os, nothing work both cards are disabled.

 

Sorry, I should have noticed earlier.

The switchable graphics are currently only supported in Vista. They do not work in XP. To use the 2 cards in XP, you can only switch them by going into the BIOS.

 

i bought it with xp. But backside is the Vista label with key

 

I found ths in lenovo forums..the SWtools folder.
http://site.jaloonz.com/T400 Graphics.zip

I used it since I accidentally deletd my SWTOOLS folder.
this is where I found it..
http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/...thread.id=14162&view=by_date_ascending&page=5

 

i use the driver above T400 graphics.zip the package ist 230mb. The original R500 driver 105MB i hope it works.

 

Just so you know (I edited my earlier reply), XP does not support switchable graphics.