What to do when you first get your Thinkpad

1) DO NOT destroy the factory preload (its actually quite good)

2) Burn a copy of recovery media, under All Programs. Don't lose it. Use good media

3) If you wish to redo the factory preload, and block certain programs from loading, Lenovo has a tool to do this. Loaded on a factory image system (T60/R60/X60/Z60 and later models), it shows you all the elements of the factory preload in a manifest file...you load the manifest file, right click the elements of the factory preload you want to block, save the manifest file, choose the "Deploy" option, and your system will rebuild itself (destroying anything loaded on it in the process back to fresh out of the box), only this time the elements you blocked are not there. The tool is here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVAN-ADMIN#TBSA

3) Run version 4.0 or higher of Rescue and Recovery, and take a total backup of your system. Use the optimizer function in RnR to reduce the size of your backups, marking some files to be backed up only once, some to never be backed up. For example, I mark C:\DRIVERS as never to be backed up, as they can be downloaded from the web. Rescue and Recovery can be obtained off of this main page: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-61432

If you have an older copy of RnR (sometimes linked to an old copy of Client Security Solutions Software) uninstall and upgrade to the most current version.

4) Run System Update on the unit. And run it again later. Or set a schedule: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVSU-UPDATE
This will check out your system, and keep drivers, firmware, and some OS fixes current. It does not upgrade certain older code, like CSS, and sometimes old copies of RnR, since that is security and backup software...you may have to do those manually.

5) Take another backup with RnR

6) Load some application software

7) Take another backup with RnR

8) Use system migration assistant to transfer the settings and data from your old computer to your new Thinkpad. You can just use a standard ethernet cable to link non-domain systems together...the Thinkpad's ethernet adapter will automatically reverse the send/receive pins. Make sure software firewalls are all off on both systems, and that wireless is off. Make sure you have admin rights, and the user id on both old and new system is the same. You can get System Migration Assistant here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-61432

Its nice, can set up outlook for you using your old system settings, set up IE, move your data, help with some printers, and other neat stuff.

9) Take another backup with RnR. Put RnR on a schedule to backup stuff on Friday, Sat, Sun, or Mon...just before patch tuesday....you pick the day.

10) Go out and buy a USB external hard drive. They are cheap, and RnR supports this as a backup device. Use create recovery media function to make your new USB hard drive bootable (RnR will put a copy of Windows PE on it for you, if you tell it to). Then you will have your entire image in two places in case your hard drive does fail. (Unlikely if you use the Active Protection System Software)

Following this, you should have a healthy, stable system, with the opportunity to "go back" if trouble arises.

 

BTW, if you think this thread/post is useful, rate it highly, and nominate it for sticky status, please.

 

Rep up for a nice post. I don't have a thinkpad so I can't rate it, but it was worth the rep for the time and detail put into it.

 

Very nice guide, John, good work.

 

Really? You don't recommend wiping the HD first thing? Either way, fantastic guide, thanks for the help. Rep up!

 

Nice info....

 

Unlike other companies, I find the thinkvantage suite VERY helpful. I wish I could install the thinkvantage suites on my current laptop, thats how much I like it.

 

Agree with that. It's one of the few programs that are preinstalled that I would like to have. Unfortunately I don't have a thinkpad.

 

Thanks very much for this post.

I am quite frustrated with how slow mine is running, and its got 2 GB ram to boot.

Wish Lenovo would post an official how-to to speed up the t61.

BTW, I blame Vista mainly...if I could only go back and choose XP.

 

can we insert this into the FAQ please

 

What processor and HDD do you have?

 

Typically, processor speed doesn't affect boot times. It's mainly the hard drive, and partially RAM. Here's a quicky guide:

1) Make sure your to keep your hard drive defragmented. Fragmented hard drives run slower because the data is not all kept in the same place, forcing the read/write "head" to move all over the place.
2) Limit start up programs as much as you can. Technically, the only programs that need to start automatically are Windows services, driver software, firewalls, anti-virus programs, and anti-spyware programs. Also, if you have Vista, try setting all firewalls, anti-virus programs, and anti-spyware programs to Delayed Start.
3) Upgrade your hard drive. This is the best hardware upgrade you can do to speed up boot times. RAM is extremely useful and cheaper, but it won't help as much. Today, I wouldn't buy a hard drive any slower than 7200rpm unless my budget said otherwise.

Matt

 

For whoever might want to do a clean install on your thinkpad, you can download Thinkvantage here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVSU-UPDATE#hp

 

I have tried XP factory and Vista factory on several models of thinkpads....one a T60p.

Vista runs slower. Period.

You can try to go in and start turning off Aeroglass features. Kill unnecessary processes. But in the end, it is still slower than XP on an equivalently spec'ed system.