Windows 7 clean install (micro guide)

lenovos driver matrix is all messed up. it only lists vista and xp drivers for some things when i know 7 drivers are available too.

can you link me to the system update driver?

edit: nevermind i found it.

 

why doesnt the Thinkvantage button work? theres no driver for it in system update.

 

after installing thinkvantage toolbox the tinkvantage button launches it. it's not _that_ useful though, so you don't have to install it.

 

yeh jesus christ this new thinkvantage software is pathetic.

i'm uninstalling it right now...

 

In order for the ThinkVantage button to work you have to install ThinkVantage Productivity Center. This is assuming you've done a complete fresh install of your OS.

 

Guys, why you avoid to use lenovo system update utility ? Seemingly, it's more useful than download and install all drivers with particular order manually ?

is there any pitfalls or limitations in this utility ?

 

I use SU all the time and it never failed once.

 

I just did a clean install of Windows 7 on my new T400 - I installed 64 bit Home and then just used the Lenovo System updater software and found it worked really well for most stuff. I installed the Monitor driver manually and then replaced the graphics driver manually (via Lenovo) to get the OSD working again. No more XP for me and I'm only using 2gb ram and it's working just fine with Win 7 64 bit. It was a nice simple process and I'm happy.

The only thing that's a bit of a disappointment in Windows 7 is that under XP I could left click on the battery on the taskbar and change power scheme settings just from the mini pop up that you get. In Win 7 it opens up the whole power manager programme instead and that's a bit annoying as it takes a lot longer.

 

I'm using Windows 7, and clicking on the battery opens up a mini-popup that allows me to select Maximum Performance, Balanced, etc - doesn't open up the whole Power Manager suite.

I'm guessing this is a configurable setting either in Windows or Power Manager!

 

Well, I don't see the option/setting in Power Manager. I would love to have the left-click menu again.

 

I can't see this option either - glad I'm not the only one seeing this - can anyone help us fix this? Many thanks indeed.

Scottie P

 

Not quite what you are asking for but, in Power Mgr, you can set the Fn+F3 hotkey to bring up the power plan selector.

.

 

I can bring up the mini menu by right-clicking the battery icon. Left-clicking opens the Power Manager app.

 

I get a different menu on the right click - but it doesn't give me what I used to get - a mini popup with the different powerschemes listed so I can just click on the powerscheme I want to use.... Left click opens the power manager programme and the right click has Configure battery stretch and various other configuration choices .... not the mini menu.

It's not a big deal but I really liked this feature under XP .... shame it's not in Windows 7.

 

I know, but there used to be a little menu where you can select power plans when you left-clicked on the menu. I just find it inconvenient when I have to open up the power manager when I want to change schemes, since I have Fn + F3 set to power off the display.

Like Scottie said, it's not a big deal. I just liked it better.

 

After installing all necesarry drivers (incl. hotkey) buttons Fn + f1..f8 still doesn't work and osd brightness and sound volume doesn't display. Where is a problem ?

And how can i enable bluetooth radio except Fn+F5 combination menu ?

 

Where did the drivers come from? If you let Windows install your graphics drivers - you won't get the OSD as it will just use a standard driver not the Lenovo one. I had the same issue but going to the Lenovo site, downloading and installing the specific drivers from there to replace the standard windows ones fixed my problems. All my OSD work now - including the sound ones. Don't know about bluetooth though as I don't use it.

 

Installed all drivers through Lenovo system update, graphic driver as well.

upd: problem solved! manually download and install and now works fine.