Thinkvantage

What ThinkVantage programs are essential for the TP R61 (should be kept)?
Or can all (entire ThinkVantage suite) be removed, as it slows down the pc a lot)?

 

I don't know what to say but since I bought my X61 I never removed anything from ThinkVantage. I even did regular updates. I read people consider them bloatware ? I find it rather useful, the wireless manager with profile locations, the battery manager and so on.

 

You can remove all of them; none of them are essential, but I recommend the Power Manager (more accurate than OS) and the Active System Protection in case you drop your notebook.

 

I kept all of them on mine. I find the wireless manager especially useful.

 

I am at the stage where I am trying to determine the same thing, what thinkvantage software to keep. I must admit that I blew them off in the beginning as bloatware, but now I am finding some of the software is very nice, much better in some instances than Vista's tools.

The one I am using right now is the access connection software to hook up to my Wifi network. Very nice, simple and exactly what I was looking for. I played with Vista's network manager for a while last night and will say that I hate the Wifi portion of it atleast. My main complaint is that it is very difficult to use/connect with a WIfi network that doesn't broadcast its SSID.

I have yet to try the other pieces of software. I just stumbled across a thread that Zaz posted that looks awesome. It explains what each of the software items do. I haven't had time to read through it though. Check it out here and determine for yourself which ones you like!

 

It depends on what you like.

When I had my T60, I used APS and Power Manager - alongside Notebook Hardware control.

One of the BIG advantages of the Power Manager is the ability to set charging thresholds which come in handy for saving unneeded charging cycles.

 

If I do remove all of them (except Power Manager & System Migration Assistant), how can I restore them & from where (i.e. where are the install (.exe) files located on the R61 laptop, as I can't find them)?

Also, does anyone know how one can use ThinkVantage 'Backup & Restore' ... is this program similar to Norton Ghost/other disc image programs? Is it paid version or free?

Thanks,

 

You're better off downloading the newest versions on Lenovo's website.
Otherwise they should be in SWTOOLS.

 

Keep APS, Power Manager, and Software Update (in case you decide you want o install those apps again, or want to check for a BIOS update).

 

Where in 'SWTOOLS' folder? (attached is expanded 'SWTOOLS' folder (as html file, with sub-folder contents), can't find the individual ThinkVantage modules in there).

 

For this, the ASP (Active system Protection) has to be turned 'on' all the time?

 

If you disable APS, it will not work.

 

I am using Rescue and Recovery for some months. It's a quite complete software . You can backup the whole disk with incremental backups. It also allows you to restore any single files in the backup. By using it on an external harddrive (e.g. a partition of it), you can make it bootable (done by R&R) and be your R&R recovery disk (probably your thinkpad support booting from usb drive). I highly recommend it =) (as we have already paid for it... )

 

Is it like Norton/Symantec Ghost or Acronis TrueImage? (i.e. a disc image program)?

 

Well that's it.
EZEJECT must be Easy Eject, CONWIZ must be the wifi connection software, etc. You'll have to try each one to see what it is.

 

Is there any way to update only Resue & Recovery (R&R), without going into update for any other modules/programs?
Alternately, from where can I d/l the latest ver of R&R for TP R61?

I have already made a set of Recovery Discs (1 DVD & 1 CD) early on, in 1st week after getting the laptop. So, I think this means that I cannot make any more of Recovery CD's or use it as a bootable backup from an ext HD as 'chapmanenskog' has suggested?

 

I've been able to create 2 sets of CD's. After the 1st one I performed a factory system restore, and reinstalled rescue and recovery (which hadn't been reinstalled by the restore...Don't know why). After that, the possibility to create a set was offered again.