Guide lines -First thing to do with all new T400

Hello all,

I’m waiting to receive a new T400 with Vista Home Premium (btw...never used the Vista… only the XP).

I am wondering if there is anything in particular that I should/need to do after I will receive the laptop - if it possible from the owners of new T400.

So, I read and I read:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=295513
and http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=295863
and: http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php/t-219228.html

and I start to check if there are some guide lines in one place regarding the first thing to do when you receive the T400 .

What are the steps to follow...one by one?
(Something likes “Clean Install Guide” from the link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783)

Yes…I have many questions…For example:

-the battery came full charged or I should plug the laptop in to charge when I get it (how)?

- I want to keep Vista…what is the first thing to do?

-If something go wrong with Vista which are the steps to restore the system to the factory state?...I understand there are 3 DVDs: Operating system disc+Product recovery disc+Supplemental disc (???)
-To be more precisely: How can exactly use the recovery discs and?...Yes, I could use the Step 1 and Step 2 - but there is no info about these 3 discs and how to make and use - from the link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783 …

-Did somebody from you used or how can be used the "Create Product Recovery Media" tool under Thinkvantage to create these discs?

-What is the hidden partition regarding T400?


Thanks in advance for any help!

Cheers,
SG

 

Hidden partition is the backup of your factory state pre-installed VISTA on you laptop that is hidden and take up 10GB of memory on ur HDD. You don't need to create recovery media discs to restore the computer to factory state, but it's a good idea since you could have HDD failure. I would like to have some person who knows about T400 to write up a guideline for new T400 users too!

 

Indeed. I messed up my recovery disks and now I'm left with useless coasters and no access to my recovery partition.

 

Have you called Lenovo and asked if they could send a set of recovery disks since the your discs got messed up?

 

im also wondering about the battery charge thing. should i charge it up first? does it come charged first? no idea

 

Mine came with the battery at probably around 80%, I don't remember exactly.

The 90W adapter the T400 comes with has sufficient juice to charge while you use the system, so this is a non-issue. Plug it in, turn it on, enjoy that "new computer smell".

 

First thing to do = mail it to me to the address that I'll PM you.

 

I am not sure too whether it comes charged already (it should not though). New Li-ion batteries have no memory effects, so you could do anything you want so long as you don't leave ur battery on when on AC power (which will kill it). Its a good idea to charge your battery to almost a 100% and recharge when it reaches 10-20%. Store it at 40% when you do not want to use it, and calibrate monthly.

 

For the record, all the basic answers about the first time battery charge, recovery discs, etc. are in the user manual and quick start guide. Honestly, you guys should read it. That should be the FIRST thing to do.

 

I agree...Thanks for the advice

 

Sorry chen, my comment wasn't directed to you, I think I was writing that when you were writing your post too. Anyway, my point was, it's actually important to read the user manual, I've always read them. About the battery, they're never fully charged when it's new, but you can still use it right away and charge it at the same time. Personally, I prefer doing the first time charge while it's off, but it's not really something that has been proven to be better though, it's just personal preference.

 

that's what i've heard from many others how to charge the battery for the first time though no one explained to me why. i hope some "battery geek" could solve this myth

 

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND TIME.

The idea of this thread was to have in on place some guide lines regarding T400...was to share and to learn from your experience(T400 owners).

Was about How can exactly use/create the recovery discs(to avoid all the future problems) about How you keep your battery charged (below 36% and stop charging at 40%.?is true?) and so on...

Yes, of course I will read all the documents including the user manual...as far as I know this help you only to start...but when you read all the problems\threads who could appear after...sorry...again...this was only my impression.
Btw please look at this link: http://www.laptop-battery.org/batterytips.html
Have a nice day !

 

Given the couple of reports of people's troubles with the Product Recovery Media, it might well be worth it to use a decent backup software package like Acronis True Image and make a full system image backup. As in, turn on the system, go through the setup steps, and when you get to the desktop (finally) install Acronis TI, make an Acronis boot disk, and do a full system image backup of all partitions to an external USB drive. It's about 22G or so, not that big a deal. Then in the worst case scenario, you can restore the system to that point.

Yes, I've burned the Product Recovery Media. What you list is how you run it. First disk is a CD (though a DVD will work), then two DVD's. Total of three disks: Start Recovery Disk, then Product Recovery Discs 1 &2. I tested these by using them to load up a new fresh 7200rpm hard disk.

 

Thank you all for your time and help.
Lew, I will follow your advise regarding Acronis True Image (or Norton Ghost).
Thanks.

 

Yes, what LEW said. Use something that isn't proprietary LENOVO to make the bakcup image. I used to do this for all my machines using Norton Ghost. I've learned my lesson the hard way about depending on proprietary backup options. Especially a new version of a new machine being supported by the vendor.

From my situation, though, I'd probably still be screwed because I wouldn't have made my own image until all the software and updates were on the machine and stable. (I was planning to do this, never got to it.)

The thing that really sucks about Lenvo shipping only image backups is that you can't just format the hard drive, pop in your Vista disk and install. (If I'm wrong on this, someone chime in on how I can get the Vista license off the disk, and to fdisk and format)

 

Search the forum—there’s a tread somewhere that details this.

 

What does calibrate monthly mean?

 

First thing to do: Clean Install Windows