Got my replacement R400

Hi all...

Some of you may have read my thread(s) about the creaking palmrest and how I approached Lenovo Warranty to either get it fixed or replace the machine.

I am happy to report that after two months and 6 days, Lenovo replaced the creaking machine with a brand new one.

Since the machine that was replaced came with a Win 7 Pro 32-bit OEM System Builders Copy, there was a problem in installing it on the replacement machine. And, as Lenovo was making a lot of noise about the OS, I just told them that if they would compensate me for the money I spent on the OEM copy, I would buy my own retail version of the OS. Verbally, I was told that they would refund me the money, but I ain't holding my breath.

Anyways, I took the opportunity to buy a 64-bit version of Win 7 Pro and installed it. Since the replacement machine came with something called FreeDos, my installation of the OS was fresh.

Some observations:

I find that the 64-bit version loads up slower than the 32-bit version. I don't know why. Secondly, while doing the Windows update, there were two updates. One of them is the ThinkPad PM Device, which when I tried to install using the Windows update always throws up an error: Code 80070103. I have tried installing this through Win Update a number of times, but I get the same error. I have no idea what is causing this. However, I did use the TP System Update to install the various Power Management utilities and drivers and all seems to be working. I have no idea what this means.

The second update is something I have never seen before (maybe because I have never used a 64-bit OS before). This is the update for Windows 7 x64-bases systems (KB971033). I looked this up and it is Windows validation tool - something like the WGA. Though all the software on my machine is legal (including MS Office), I really have no problem in installing it, but reading about it on the web shows that this calls MS every so often, which is OK (since I am hiding nothing), nevertheless, it kinda rankles.

So, what you folks think? Install it and forget about it? And, what about that Code error generated by the TP PM Device? How come that shows up on Win Update especially because all devices and drivers seem to be working fine?

One other interesting thing I noted is that the keyboard on the new machine is quiet and somewhat rubbery (which makes typing a little more comfortable) as compared to the replaced machine which was more "clicky" and which made a racket of sorts in silent environs.

Guess that ends a saga in my R400 ownership. Hope you folks can help me out with the two points I mentioned above. And, thanks for all your help and insight over these past two months plus six days!

Cheers!

Edit:

About this Code 80070103: It seems like sometimes Windows searches out drivers which are not as up-to-date as the ones that the OEM issues. When this happens, apparently, this error is generated. It was suggested that if this is too bothersome (to see this hanging in Win Update), one can always hide it, which is what I did. So, now all that remains is that WGA-like tool! Cheers!

 

I noticed the exact same thing... but in Vista. Strange huh? Must be driver-related.

 

Probably. But unless I am just imagining things, it seems that the boot-up time has decreased a trifle. Btw, I took of Avira and repaced it with MSE. Maybe that would have also contributed? I don't know.

On another note, the folks at Lenovo very kindly have offered to refund me the cost of the OS. I appreciate that gesture. Very nice of them!