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    my college is giving me a R

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Blast2blaze, Apr 16, 2006.

  1. Blast2blaze

    Blast2blaze Notebook Enthusiast

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    St Johns University is giving me an IBM ThinkPad R series, is this laptopany good. Im not to familiar with IBM. Also would school mind if u have stuff like Limewire on ur hdd? Can they monitor wat u do, cuz that will suck feeling like a prisoner even at home.
     
    Blast2blaze, Apr 16, 2006
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  2. cvec7

    cvec7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Like, are they giving it to you for free?
    Anyway, the R series is a good notebook, hell, it's a thinkpad! And if they do install stuff to monitor you, you can just go and reformat, and wipe everything real good. (like w/ DBAN)
    But if you're paying for it, and have the option, I'd reccomend stepping up to the T or Z series.
     
    cvec7, Apr 16, 2006
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  3. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'd love getting a free Thinkpad, very nice notebooks.

    If you can get another model, like cvec said stepping up to a T series would be good.
     
    Reize, Apr 16, 2006
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  4. Blast2blaze

    Blast2blaze Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ya their giving it as part of the tuition, but they have preloaded software that must remain on the computer. I guess tha means no fun, huh?
     
    Blast2blaze, Apr 16, 2006
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  5. cvec7

    cvec7 Notebook Evangelist

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    ****...so it HAS to be on there....well, there's a loop-hole....

    Use partition magic to create a new partition on ur HD, install windows again to that partition, and set it up how you like. However, I know nothing about monitoring software, but I doubt they have software good enough to go into other partitions....
     
    cvec7, Apr 16, 2006
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  6. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    Depends on what they preload, but, most likely yeah. They'll probably let you install games and stuff, but illegal P2P probably not. Of course, if they don't have monitors on it you can just put it on and then delete it when you need to return it.

    Or of course you could buy an external HD and put whatever you want on it.
     
    Reize, Apr 16, 2006
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  7. Blast2blaze

    Blast2blaze Notebook Enthusiast

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    ^ PERFECT, an external hdd would be just right for my situation.
     
    Blast2blaze, Apr 16, 2006
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  8. Blast2blaze

    Blast2blaze Notebook Enthusiast

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    wait, but wont there have to be roots on the mains ystem if i have programs on the external hdd
     
    Blast2blaze, Apr 16, 2006
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  9. cvec7

    cvec7 Notebook Evangelist

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    You can set-up the HD just like a regular PC HD. Just install windows to it... Then, set-up your bios to boot from it...
     
    cvec7, Apr 16, 2006
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  10. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yep, the school would never be any the wiser... ^.~!
     
    Reize, Apr 17, 2006
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  11. Blast2blaze

    Blast2blaze Notebook Enthusiast

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    sorry for the following newb question:

    If i set the laptop to boot from the external, can I easily set it up to boot from the main hd to? Cuz ill need it when i go to school and do their work.
     
    Blast2blaze, Apr 17, 2006
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  12. cvec7

    cvec7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yea, you can set it up to boot from the external HD when it's plugged in. Want to boot to your regular partition? shutdown the computer, and unplug the ext. HD from the comp. and it'll boot to the internal HD.
    What it is, is you set the bios' boot order. It looks for the devices on the list, and if the device is not present, it moves on to the next.

    What you do is go into the bios settings and change to boot order to boot from the devices in this order:
    first: removable devices (or it'll say something similiar, removable is the keyword)
    seccond: Disc drive
    third: HD
    and there should be a fourth option, it doesn't really matter what you puy there..
     
    cvec7, Apr 17, 2006
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  13. strikeback03

    strikeback03 Notebook Deity

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    are you living in school housing? If so, they don't need to monitor your computer, they can just block network ports and monitor traffic. And lots of schools do.
     
    strikeback03, Apr 17, 2006
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