Vista on T400 == horrible

So I got my T400 a few days ago, and Vista on it was horrible. It froze up on the Lenovo intro video, then again while I was trying to make the recovery media so I could wipe it and install XP/Gentoo. I had to keep restarting the recovery process because it kept freezing up. It then BSODed, froze up a few more times, then started BSODing on every boot. Gentoo's running fine on it now.

Anyone have a similar experience?

 

Nope. Vista was, largely, flawless here—though I’ve since replaced it with Windows 2008 and it is even more flawless now because I don’t have all that extra Lenovo software.

Glad to here Linux is working fine for you though. If you think about reconsidering Vista again, I’d highly recommend a clean installation.

 

Nope. Vista's been fine here. Different in ways from XP but no lockups on my T400.

Something sounds messed up, but blaming it on "Vista" is a pretty broad generalization (even if it is the trendy thing to do).

 

I don't believe that it is actually Vista, since only T400 owners seem to be complaining about Vista and not anyone else that has laptops with Vista. It seems like T400s have issues or something.

-J.B.

 

Below config includes sales tax and 2 day business day delivery for a Lenovo T400. I don't think I could find anything from Dell remotely close to this total price, considering the configuartion details/features -

ThinkPad T400 - 1 Yr Depot Warranty 11/27/2008** $1,489.00
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)1
Genuine Windows Vista Business downgrade to Windows XP Professional12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Notebooks Desktops Workstations Servers Accessories & upgrades Software Special offers
Lenovo - Order confirmation Page 1 of 2
11/16/2008
Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 535010
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
2764: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7
41C9168 3 year ONSITE 9x5 Next Business Day
TOTAL PRICE (includ all taxes and delivery) $1,489

 

vista works fine on my T500! might be a bad install, I doubt it is vista's code.

 

make sure you have all windows software upgrade installed.

 

I kinda hate to say it, but while Vista was a little laggy "out of the box" on my new t400, it was pretty stable and very usable. I know that's not much comfort for your issues. Since gentoo works for you, that might eliminate hardware issues as a culprit, but it's probably worth it to try a bios level memory and/or hard disk diagnostic (or something more thorough like memtest).

Andrew

 

I already ran a full system hardware test using Lenovo's PC Doctor for DOS bootable ISO, and there are no problems.

 

My T500 had XP pre-installed on it, and it ran terrible. It was extremely slow and filled with bloatware. After putting a clean install of Vista Ultimate x64, it ran great.

You can't judge an operating with the image installed from the factory.

 

Maybe it was a bad factory install on your system, but t61s run vista just fine with clean install.

 

I did a clean install on my T400 of Vista Ultimate 64bits and I have no problem so far!!

 

1


(programming joke )

 

****... 2 years so far in Computer Science and I have no clue what this mean!! hehe

 

Nope, Vista flies here. Just because you lack the knowledge of what's wrong with your machine doesn't mean it's Vista's fault. Shocking, I know.

 

Well, I also did an XP clean install, and it usually freezes up within a few minutes of booting.

 

No probs with Vista on my T400 either. Just as snappy as my XP desktop which is far faster than my laptop.

 

I'm pretty skeptical of most RAM tests. The only one I am familiar with that would reliably detect problems was a Linux kernel compile. (And I don't do that any more. The ones that come with the distros are good enough. )

I've run memtest86 over a weekend on a desktop with no reported errors and yet the machine would hang reliably at various points in an Ubuntu install. I was able to solve the problem by underclocking RAM. Later I found that the particular MOBO had problems with the slots I was using (further from the processor to allow more room for a heat sink.) Unfortunately I don't know of any laptop that allows you to underclock RAM. But if you have more than one stick, you might try running on only one to see if that makes a difference. Perhaps just reseating the RAM might help.

IMO if a RAM test indicates a problem, believe it! If it indicates everything is OK, the results are not conclusive.

good luck solving your problem!

-hank

 

I have compiled the Linux kernel in Gentoo on my T400 at least 15 times, and there have never been any problems.

Also, I have 1x2GB RAM, so I have only one stick.

 

I think he was replying in binary to the title of this thread.

 

I would be a lot less suspicious of your RAM then.

Is Linux stable on this H/W? Even if it is, all that may mean is that Linux does not exercise all of the H/W the way Vista and XP do. But that may be a clue to where the problem lies.

If you have done clean installs of both Vista and XP and both have problems that are not experienced by others, that seems to point to H/W to me.

 

x64 bit vista,1 gig of ram, and integrated graphics? That can cause a problem. Specs on your laptop, please.

 

Perhaps. I have not installed the ATI graphics driver yet, as I'm having compilation issues. I will find out if that's the problem once that's done.

I have only done a clean install of XP. I am going to try a clean install of Vista x86 to see if the same problem exists there.

It is x86 Vista, 2 GB RAM, and discrete graphics.

Edit: I understand now. It is definitely a problem with the ATI driver. I never got around to installing the ATI driver in Kubuntu, but I did in Gentoo, and it freezes up shortly after booting in just like Vista and XP did. I will be RMA'ing this.

 

whats a good program to test ram on laptops????

 

No software will do a good job of testing RAM, you really need specialized hardware for this. Memtest86 appears to be the leader, but, like HankB said, if Memtest86 uncovers a problem, then it’s likely you have a memory problem—and if Memtest86 does not find anything, all that means is you still might have a problem with your memory.

 

yea thats the one i used before!!!

 

Just because your memory checks out okay in Memtest86, does not necessarily mean your memory is good. It just is not as likely. I had memory before that would pass memtest for days but would cause BSODs that other memory (from the same manufacturer) would not.

 

Microsoft also has something called the Windows Memory Diagnostic. While I’ve never tried it, I’d be interested in hearing from some who has/will and more information may be found at http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp.

 

I haven'thad goodluck with any hardware test besides swapping components out, othat it is obvious that it's dead.

We purcsed 2 T400's in the monh of October with the 2.6 or 2.8 C2D's, 4GB Ram and Vista 32, I stuck with the Lenovo Images of Vista and upgraded all drivers. Haven't had a single issue with them and they are at remote locations for sales teams.

 

Anyone have the Vista Basic on theirs? Its essentially Vista without any of the aero stuff that sucks all your resources, so I imagine its kind of like updated WinXp?

I ordered mine today with Vista Basic, but plan to put in a large HDD with dual boot of Vista Premium 64, and an image of the Vista basic it comes with.

Otherwise I guess I could load WinXP too or instead of the Vista Basic.

Any problems with XP, all the hardware have drivers? ATI 3470, WLAN 5300, LED display w/ camera?

Thanks

 

If you don’t want Aero in Vista, you can shut it off.

 

Vista works totally fine here

T400
P8600 2x2GB 320GB 7200rpm 2GB turbo_Mem

only little problem with 3470 and Internal display

over all is good