Upgrades And Options

Reset or Clear Thinkpad BIOS Passwords - How To

2012-02-07T10:37:00.000-06:00

Lenovo Thinkpads have three options for securing the system with passwords. In the system BIOS are selections for setting a:

-Power-On password
-Hard-Disk password
-Supervisor password.

I'll explain these options and walk through how to initially set them up, remove the passwords, and finally, how to clear a BIOS password.

To start, when you first get a new Thinkpad it's a good idea to secure it against unauthorized use. The following steps explain how to setup passwords through the system BIOS. After these passwords have been set, the system will prompt for them on boot.

To Set Power-On Password

1) Boot the machine and press F1 to enter the BIOS.
2) Select Security option
3) Select Password option
4) Select Power-On Password option
5) Enter your new password twice in the fields that say Enter New Password
6) Hit enter twice to save this password.

To Set Hard-Drive Password

1) Boot the machine and press F1 to enter the BIOS
2) Select Security option
3) Select Password option
4) Select Hard Drive Password option
5) Select User password*
6) Enter your new password twice in the fields that say Enter New Password
7) Hit enter twice to save this password.

*You have the option of selecting a user+master password that offers another layer of protection by having you enter a 'master' password which can be used to erase or override a 'user' password.

To Set Supervisor Password

1) Boot the machine and press F1 to enter the BIOS
2) Select Security option
3) Select Password option
4) Select Supervisor Password option
5) Enter your new password twice in the fields that say Enter New Password
6) Hit enter twice to save this password.

A note on these passwords:
A Power-On password secures the system and will prompt for the password on system boot. If the Power-On password is forgotten, it can be erased or cleared fairly easily as described below. It's important to consider the level of protection needed. A Supervisor password cannot be cleared or reset, which offers the highest protection, but if you forget this password the system cannot be accessed and will need to be replaced. Same goes for the Hard Drive password, you cannot clear or reset this password if forgotten unless a 'master' hard drive password has been set.

Removing the passwords is identical to the above steps but instead of entering a new password, you would enter the Current Password and then press enter twice in the field that says Enter New Password. This will blank out or clear the password.

How To Clear The Power-On Password With The CMOS Battery

1) Make sure system is turned off and remove the external battery
2) Remove the palm rest
3) Remove the CMOS battery, it will be wrapped in yellow and plugged into the motherboard
4) Wait a few seconds and turn on the system. The Power-On password should now be gone.
5) Turn the system back off and replace the CMOS battery, palm rest and external battery.

As stated earlier, this only works for a Power-On password. A Supervisor password cannot be removed.

Lenovo Recycling Programs

2012-01-25T09:48:00.000-06:00

Lenovo Recycling Programs

What to do with older,outdated Lenovo equipment? You want to be environmentally responsible and not just throw old rechargeable batteries in the trash bin. Lenovo has the answers for you. Below are two great programs allowing you to recycle Lenovo machines in an easy responsible way.

Battery Recycling-

In the U.S., recycle or dispose of Lenovo rechargeable batteries for free by dropping them off at any RBRC location. See the link for details.

Computer Systems-

In the U.S., free home pickup or drop off Lenovo computer systems and/or components at locations nationwide. – visit AERCCR Website for details and forms.

For those outside the United States, visit the Product Recycling Programs by Region site.

Format Blog Text in Gray Boxes

2012-01-24T13:36:00.000-06:00

I was looking to highlight certain text inside posts by placing it in gray boxes. Below is the code to do just that. You can adjust the colors to suit your needs.

<div style="background-color: #f0f0f0; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 1.2em;">

Insert Text Here >

<br />

</div>

IBM Storwize V7000 Upgrade Procedure

2012-01-17T14:49:00.000-06:00

IBM Storwize V7000 Upgrade Procedure

Recently upgraded the firmware on two V7000 Storwize systems. Both went smoothly by using the GUI manager. While one node is being upgraded the other takes over control so there is no downtime. However, there might be a possible performance decrease during the upgrade. After the upgrade I've noticed the error logs are no longer being filled with software errors; which I knew the new firmware was to fix.

Storwize V7000

Download the following files from the www.ibm.com/support website:

The latest IBM Storwize V7000 code level(firmware).
The latest IBM Storwize V7000 Upgrade Test Utility.

The V7000 Upgrade Test Utility can be used to check for known issues which may cause problems during a Storwize V7000 software upgrade.

From the Storwize V7000 Gui Manager:

1. Go to the Configuration>Advanced panel in the GUI

2. Select Upgrade Software

3. Press the Launch Upgrade Wizard button

4. When prompted, upload the upgrade test utility package to the system and click Next

5. When prompted, enter the software version you intend to upgrade to and click Next. This field will be automatically populated with the latest available software version if it is available

6. The following page will contain the results of the upgrade test. Review the output from the upgrade test utility to see if any actions are required before starting the upgrade

If you wish to continue with the firmware upgrade at this time, click Next to proceed with the upgrade process. Otherwise click Cancel to exit the upgrade wizard

The V7000 Code(firmware) upgrade process will take about an hour and a half during which time the fans may run at maximum speed. Check the error logs for entries stating the firmware upgrade has been completed.

During the automatic upgrade process, each node in a system is upgraded one at a time, and the new code is staged on the nodes. While each node restarts, there might be some degradation in the maximum I/O rate that can be sustained by the system. After all the nodes in the system are successfully restarted with the new software level, the new software level is automatically committed.

During an automatic software upgrade, each node of a working pair is upgraded sequentially. The node that is being upgraded is temporarily unavailable and all I/O operations to that node fails. As a result, the I/O error counts increase and the failed I/O operations are directed to the partner node of the working pair. Applications do not see any I/O failures. When new nodes are added to the system, the software upgrade file is automatically downloaded to the new nodes from the Storwize V7000 system.

RHEL6.1 Kickstart Configuration How To

2012-01-17T13:51:00.000-06:00

I recently was tasked with creating a Redhat kickstart server so we could install lab machines automatically across the network instead of installing each one manually with a DVD. The following are the steps I took to create an install server and the kickstart configuration file. I'm using RHEL6.1 x86_64 and Intel based servers.

Software Requirements

This applies to RHEL6.1:

TFTP-Server

DHCP Server

Xinetd

NFS

Syslinux

System-config-kickstart (GUI tool to configure kickstart)

Install these packages and ensure each service (dhcp, tftp, nfs, xinetd) is running.
The ports used by these services must be enabled through the firewall, or the firewall must be disabled.

>chkconfig iptables off
>service iptables stop

Installation

Red Hat Kickstart Server Setup

1) Copy RHEL6.1 install media to a directory on your server-

>Mount /mnt/cdrom

>cp –var /mnt/cdrom/RedHat /rhel6.1

>cp /mnt/cdrom/RELEASE-NOTES*.html /rhel6.1

2) Create NFS share that points to your install directory-

Edit /etc/exports file to look like the following:

/rhel6.1 x.x.x.x/24(rw,insecure,sync,no_root_squash) #Replace with your subnet

Run the following to export the directory:

> /usr/sbin/exports –a

3) Configure DHCP for PXE/TFTP-

Edit /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf to look like the following:

# DHCP Server Configuration file.

# see /usr/share/doc/dhcp*/dhcpd.conf.sample

# see 'man 5 dhcpd.conf'

allow booting;

allow bootp;

subnet x.x.x.x netmask 255.255.255.0 { # Replace with your lab’s subnet

option routers x.x.x.x; # Replace with router/gateway IP

option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;

option domain-name "domain_name.com";

option domain-name-servers x.x.x.x;

range x.x.x.100 x.x.x.120; # Replace with range of DHCP addresses

default-lease-time 600;

}

# Redhat Kickstart

class "pxeclients" {

match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 9) = "PXEClient";

next-server x.x.x.x; # Replace with the TFTP Server IP

filename "linux-install/pxelinux.0";

}

Run the following to restart the dhcp server

>service dhcpd restart

Enable xinetd and tftp-server to run at runlevels 3-5:

>Chkconfig –level 345 xinetd on # tftp is xinet based

>Service xinetd restart

4) Edit /etc/xinetd.d/tftp to look like the following:

# default: off

# description: The tftp server serves files using the trivial file transfer \

# protocol. The tftp protocol is often used to boot diskless \

# workstations, download configuration files to network-aware printers, \

# and to start the installation process for some operating systems.

service tftp

{

disable = no

socket_type = dgram

protocol = udp

wait = yes

user = root

server = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd

server_args = -s /var/lib/tftpboot

per_source = 11

cps = 100 2

flags = IPv4

bind = x.x.x.x # Add your server’s IP address

}

5) Make directories for tftpboot-

>mkdir –p /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install

>mkdir –p /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install/pxelinux.cfg

>cp /usr/share/syslinux/pxelinux.0 /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install/

>cp /usr/share/syslinux/menu.c32 /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install/

>cp /rhel6.1/images/pxeboot/* /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install/

>touch /var/lib/tftpboot/linux-install/pxelinux.cfg/default

Edit /var/lib/tfptboot/linux-install/pxelinux.cfg/default to look like:

default menu.c32

timeout 100

MENU TITLE PXE Redhat Network Install

Label 1

MENU LABEL xSeries Redhat Install

kernel vmlinuz

append initrd=initrd.img ksdevice=eth2 ramdisk_size=10000 #eth number you use ks=nfs:x.x.x.x:/rhel6.1/xseriesks.cfg # Location of the kickstart .cfg file we create next

Restart services:

>service xinetd restart

>service dhcpd restart

Red Hat Kickstart Configuration

Detailed kickstart configurator usage can be found at Redhat:

http://docs.redhat.com/docs/enUS/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/Installation_Guide/ch-redhat-config-kickstart.html

System-config-kickstart is a GUI based kickstart configuration tool to simplify creating a kickstart file that is used to automatically install remote servers.

1) To launch Kickstart Configurator, boot your system into a graphical environment, then run system-config-kickstart, or click Applications → System Tools → Kickstart on the GNOME desktop or Kickoff Application Launcher+Applications → System → Kickstart on the KDE desktop.

-Make the selections based on how you want to install your servers.

-The Installation Method screen allows you to choose how to install. Select NFS install and enter your server’s IP address and the directory that contains the installation source.

-Enter the partition information and network information now or, if you prefer, leave them blank and you will be prompted during the install.

-Add the packages you want installed.

-To save the kickstart file, click the Save to File button in the preview window. To save the file without previewing it, select File => Save File or press Ctrl+S .

-Shown from step 5 above we saved the file as xseriesks.cfg in the /rhel6.1 directory.

That’s it. Now you’re ready to test your installation, boot a server from the network to make sure it grabs an IP and starts to install.

ThinkPad X130e Ultraportable Designed For Students

2011-12-16T09:56:00.000-06:00

Lenovo is releasing a rugged new Thinkpad X130e ultraportable designed for student and education use. Since it's target audience is geared toward a younger user, the X130e has more durable body panels to withstand being slung in a backpack. It's customizable with a choice of AMD or Intel Core processors, Radeon or Intel graphics with a 11.6 inch display.

Source is the Lenovo News release.

The ThinkPad X130e laptop will be available starting Dec. 20 from www.lenovo.com. Pricing for models starts at $469.

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Lenovo Quick Pick

2011-12-15T15:55:00.001-06:00

Jump over to Lenovo for a view at their online configurator. Everything you need in one place to select options for your next Lenovo Thinkpad.

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Lenovo Systems Diagnostics Tools

2011-12-15T15:31:00.000-06:00

Updated December 2011.

Need a couple nice diagnostic tools for your Thinkpad? Below you will find two utilities that should enable you to pinpoint issues with hardware or even software problems.

Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox is a new full featured application from Lenovo that provides advanced diagnostic tools, system health checks and status, and reports system security issues, plus additional tools. It is a step up and a replacement for the PC-Doctor tool which only ran diagnostics. Lenovo ThinkVanatge Toolbox installs under Windows 7, XP or Windows Vista and when launched displays the machine type and model as well as the BIOS level and even when the machine’s warranty expires.

The main functions are:
System health check - looks at Windows Updates, hard drive status, and device properties.

System security check - looks at such things as virus protection, firewall status, password and file sharing.

Diagnostics and tools checks - can create system information reports, test all hardware components, test and defragment the hard drive, connect to Lenovo help and more.
One pretty slick feature is the drive space manager which graphically displays what is installed on the hard drive by either the file type or by the folder name.

Lenovo Hard Drive Quick Test is another useful utility that comes with Lenovo System Toolbox but can be installed as a separate product. It also is installed under Windows.

Lenovo Warranty Lookup - want to know when your machine's warranty expires? Just enter the machines model and serial number..

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Lenovo Thinkpads - Now With Nvidia Optimus Technology

2010-11-18T09:42:00.003-06:00

ThinkPad T410, T510 and T410s now are equipped with NVIDIA NVS 3100M graphics with Optimus technology. This technology automatically switches between the Nvidia graphics chip for high graphics performance and the integrated Intel graphics chip for longer battery life. So no longer is there a need to manually switch between graphics chipsets to fit you're need. The Thinkpad recognizes when more GPU is required or when it can save on battery life and switches seamlessly without user interaction.

Check out the video: LenovoVision

Lenovo skylight

2010-05-20T15:24:00.003-05:00

New Lenovo Skylight. 10" mobile device, under 2lbs. and apparently as thin as a smartphone.

Check it out here: http://www.lenovoskylight.com/
and here: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/landing_pages/info/10/skylight

External Thinkpad USB Keyboard

2009-11-20T12:28:00.002-06:00

Thinkpad USB keyboard with Trackpoint.
Available for users who like their Thinkpad keyboard and would like to have a comparable external keyboard. This compact, slim design has the same look and feel and even includes the built in Trackpoint and function keys. Its part number is 55Y9003 and costs about $60 US dollars.

Find additional information from Lenovo.

Lenovo SimpleTap

2009-11-20T11:05:00.004-06:00

The future of laptops will include a capacitive touch screen. Lenovo's SimpleTap technology enables quick and easy access to hardware controls by simply touching on-screen tiles. This menu of tiles is user configurable and can adjust such things as the ThinkLight, volume controls, screen brightness. The technology is available today for the Thinkpad X200 Tablet and the Thinkpad X400s, both of which feature a multitouch display.

Lenovo's website show a demo of the technology.

2009-11-20T10:16:00.005-06:00

Windows 7 Upgrade Program

Lenovo is offering customers who purchase a laptop or desktop installed with Windows Vista a FREE license upgrade to Windows 7. To qualify, your purchase must have been made between June 26, 2009 and January 31, 2010. The upgrades are based on what Windows Vista version you have.
Lenovo.com explains all the details of this offer here.

Thinkpad Hard Drive Firmware Update

2009-03-19T11:36:00.007-05:00

You upgrade the BIOS on your Thinkpad; you install Windows updates, but have you updated the firmware on your Thinkpad’s hard drive?

As recent as January of this year the latest hard drive firmware was released for IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads. The firmware is downloadable as an .iso file and you select one of two different files depending on the model of your machine. Burn this .iso file to make a bootable cdrom; then boot from the cdrom and follow the instructions to update the firmware. The whole firmware update process only takes about thirty seconds.

The first firmware update file:
Version: FWSH33Release Date: 09/20/2009

Supported Thinkpads:

ThinkPad R400, R500
ThinkPad T400, T500
ThinkPad W500
ThinkPad W700
ThinkPad X200
ThinkPad SL300, SL400, SL500
ThinkPad R60, R60e, R60i
ThinkPad R61, R61e, R61i
ThinkPad T60, T60p
ThinkPad T61, T61p
ThinkPad X60, X60s, X60 Tablet
ThinkPad X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
ThinkPad Z60m, Z60t
ThinkPad Z61e, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t

Supported Hard Drives:

"x" means a character.
Toshiba MKxx32GSX
Toshiba MKxx34GSX
Toshiba MKxx08GAx
Fujitsu MHV2xxxBH
Fujitsu MHV2xxxBH PL
Fujitsu MHW2xxxBH
Fujitsu MHW2xxxBH PL
Hitachi HTS5410xxG9SA00
Hitachi HTS5416xxJ9SA00
Hitachi HTS5432xxL9SA00
Hitachi HTS543216L9SA01FDE
Hitachi HTS7210xxG9SA00
Hitachi HTS7220xxK9SA00
Hitachi HTS7220xxK9SA00FDE
WD WDxxxxBEVS-08RS
Seagate Momentus 7200.1
Seagate Momentus 5400.3
Seagate Momentus 5400 FDE.2
Seagate Momentus 7200.2
Seagate Momentus 5400.4

The second firmware update file:
Version: FWHD56
Release Date: 05/22/2009

Supported Thinkpads:

ThinkPad A20m, A20p, A21m, A21p, A21e, A22m, A22p, A22e, i1800
ThinkPad A30, A30p, A31. A31p
ThinkPad G40, G41
ThinkPad R40, R40e
ThinkPad R50, R50p, R51, R52
ThinkPad T20, T21, T22, T23
ThinkPad T30
ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p
ThinkPad X20, X21, X22, X23
ThinkPad X30, X31, X32
ThinkPad X40, X41, X41 Tablet

Supported Hard Drives:

"x" means one or more characters.
IBM DARA-2x
IBM DJSA-2x
IBM IC25NxATDA04
IBM IC25TxATDA05
IBM IC25NxATCS04
IBM IC25TxATCS05
IBM IC25NxATCS05
Hitachi DK23AA-x
Hitachi DK23BA-x
Hitachi DK23CA-x
Hitachi DK23DA-x
Hitachi DK23EA-x
Hitachi DK23FB-x
HGST IC25N0xxATMR04
HGST IC25N0xxATCS05
HGST HTS5480xxM9AT00
HGST HTS7260xxM9AT00
HGST HTS4240xxM9AT00
HGST HTS5410xxG9AT00
HGST HTS7210xxG9AT00
HGST HTS4212xxH9AT00
HGST DK1xFA-x
HGST HTC4260xxG7AT00
HGST HTC4260xxG9AT00
HGST HTS4212xxH9AT00
HGST HTS5416xxJ9AT00
Toshiba MKx09MAT
Toshiba MKx19GAX
Toshiba MKx26GAX
Toshiba MKxx32GAX
Toshiba MK4026GAX
Toshiba MK4019GAX
Toshiba MK6021GAS
Fujitsu MHN2xxxAT
Fujitsu MHR2xxxAT
Fujistu MHT2xxxAT
Fujitsu MHT2xxxAH
Fujitsu MHV2xxxAH
Fujitsu MHV2xxxAH PL
Fujitsu MHV2xxxAT
Fujitsu MHR2xxxAT
Fujitsu MHS2xxxAT
Fujitsu MHT2xxxAT
Seagate ST980825A
Seagate ST910021A
Note: Seagate firmware update program will take about 2 minutes to complete.

Thinkpad WWAN Broadband Option - ATT 3G Info

2009-03-10T14:15:00.009-05:00

I've been using a Lenovo W500 with the SIM card reader in the back, under the battery, and wanted to find some information on how to use this function and what additional accessories I may need.

After searching for awhile I discovered this information was not easy to uncover. So after searching a little more, I finally found the part number of a Mini PCI Express card option I would need to purchase and install to get the 3G wireless working.

You install this card option and insert a SIM card and you're on your way to accessing the ATT 3G network. Of course, you have to have a service contract with ATT and airtime charges will apply. You should make sure your Thinkpad has the latest BIOS to ensure the PCI card is recognized properly.

Below I copied the information and specs on this Mini PCI Express option as posted on the Lenovo publications website.

Thinkpad Broadband wireless WAN-ready option offers cost-efficient remote access solutions
Lenovo United States Hardware Announcement 108-681 August 26, 2008

Wireless WAN (WWAN) differs from a wireless LAN (WLAN) because it uses cellular network technologies such as WIMAX, CDMA, GSM, HSDPA, or 3G to transfer data. These cellular technologies are offered regionally, nationwide, and globally and are provided by a wireless service provider, typically for a monthly usage fee.

WWAN is a predictable, cost-efficient remote access solution. Instead of managing the setup, use, and payment of multiple connectivity solutions for your remote workers (remote office connectivity, hotel and airport Wi-Fi, and home office access), you can use a single, cost-effective solution with wide national coverage, consistent
experience, simple setup, comprehensive support, and predictable cost.

Description Part number
AT&T 3G BroadBand Option 43R9152
Technical information
UMTS/3G operates in the following frequency ranges:
Uplink (Mobile Broadband Module to base-station)
850: 824 - 849 MHz
1900: 1850 - 1910 MHz
2100: 1920 - 1980 MHz
Downlink (Base-station to Mobile Broadband Module)
850: 869 - 894 MHz
1900: 1930 -1990 MHz
2100: 2110 - 2170 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE data at 850 MHz, 900 MHz,
1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz
GSM Power Class:
MCS1-4 (GMSK): GSM850/900: Class 4/2W/33dBm GSM1800/1900: Class 1/1W/30dBm
MCS5-9 (8-PSK): GSM850/900: Class E2/0.5W/27dBm GSM1800/1900: Class E2/0.4W/26dBm
UMTS Power Class: Class 3 (23dBm)

UMTS reference sensitivity
Band V(850): Nom < -110dBm, Max: < -104dBm Band II(1900): Nom < -107dBm, Max: < -104.7dBm Band I(2100): Nom < -109dBm, Max: < -104.7dBm Performance specifications:
Peak power consumption
Supported Voltage Range 3.0V - 3.6V (3.3V +/- 9%)
Nominal Operating Voltage 3.3V
Average Standby Current / Power (Radio off) <>
Physical specifications
Approximate height: 4.25 mm (0.1675 in)
Approximate width: 30 mm (1.18 in)
Approximate depth: 50.95 mm (2.0 in)
Approximate weight: 0.012 kg (0.026 lb)
Operating environment
Temperature to operating: -10° to 65°C (14° to 149°F)
Temperature to storage: -30° to 85°C (-22° to 185°F)
Relative humidity: 10% to 95% non-condensing

AT&T HSPA Broadband Option 43R9152 $169.00
* List price does not include tax or shipping and is subject to change without notice. Reseller prices may vary.
Trademarks
ThinkPad and Lenovo are registered
trademarks of Lenovo Corporation in the United States, other countries, or
both.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
HelpWare is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or
service marks of others.

Terms of use
Information may be changed or updated without notice. Lenovo may also make improvements and/or changes in the products and/or the programs described in this information at any time without notice.
Lenovo assumes no responsibility regarding the accuracy of the information that
is provided by Lenovo and use of such information is at the recipient's own
risk. Information Lenovo publishes on the World Wide Web may contain references
or cross references to Lenovo products, programs and services that are not
announced or available in your country. Such references do not imply that Lenovo
intends to announce such products, programs or services in your country. Consult
your local Lenovo business contact for information regarding the products,
programs and services which may be available to you. Lenovo's obligations with
respect to its products and services are governed solely by the agreements under
which they are provided.

Windows 7 on a Lenovo W500 Thinkpad

2009-03-04T07:15:00.001-06:00

Review of Lenovo W500 Thinkpad running Windows 7 operating system.

Hardware: W500 Thinkpad model:4061-AC4
Software: Windows 7 beta 32-bit build 7000

This is my third review of the Lenovo W500 Thinkpad. The first was an overall look at the hardware and the W500 Thinkpad Specifications. I continued with an additional and what I though at the time was going to be the last review titled, W500 Further Review and OS Install. It covered my experience installing and running Windows Vista and the ‘switchable graphics’ feature I wanted to try out. But, it turns out that when I obtained the new Windows 7 beta operating system release I couldn’t resist installing it on the W500 to see how it looked and ran.

Man is it nice. Microsoft has refined the install which is much more clean and easy. All this means is there is less user interaction, it installed and had rebooted before I knew it. Upon the first login it had the same great visual looks as Vista, but I found the usability to be much improved. I could locate easily how to make changes to programs, the control panel is laid out nice and everything seemed customizable.

Looking in the device manager showed almost all the drivers installed except ‘Base Manager Device, PCI Serial Port and Simple Communications Controller’. I resolved some of these by downloading Vista drivers from the Lenovo support site. I’m not too concerned with the other because I think it is the modem.

An important feature of the W500 I wanted to try out in Windows 7 was ‘switchable graphics.’ This enables the user to switch between two built-in graphics chipsets, integrated or discrete, depending on your performance or battery life needs. This feature works great under Vista; you run and install an application from Lenovo and from within the OS you can choose which graphics driver you want to use and it switches on the fly.

This application installed fine under Windows 7 but did not work properly. By default the OS chose to use the ‘integrated’ Intel chipset. When I would choose to other ‘discrete’ ATI FireGL chipset, the system would go blank and come back without switching at all. Both these graphics drivers showed up in device manager but the ATI had an issue. So, I tried to disable the Intel driver and force the machine to use the ATI on reboot. This worked of course and the resolution looked a little better with this graphic chipset; I still could not switch graphics cards though. I never could get this to work, I tried all the variations I could think of in disabling, re-enabling drivers, going in the BIOS and setting the options there. It’s not really a big deal right now; this is still a beta OS and the application was designed for Vista so maybe it will work in the future.

Windows 7 beta has been very stable and in fact hasn’t crashed or encountered problems at all. I installed the updates, added applications, changed themes, and pretty much tried to mess with everything I could. I’ve never been a fan of Vista but so far I like Windows 7 a lot and can’t wait for the official release. The Lenovo W500 matched up with this OS makes a nice pairing; I’m glad the beta doesn’t expire until August. I think I’ll keep Windows 7 on here until then.

10 Smart Tips For Traveling With Your Laptop

2009-02-28T20:10:00.009-06:00

I decided to create a list of my top tips for making traveling with a laptop easier and safer. Whether you use a laptop for business or personal use, most likely you take it with you as you travel. This can be short day to day trips such as office to home, or longer business trips. Whichever way your laptop tags along, you can use some or all of these tips to make your life easier.

The available options and accessories for laptops are endless. My selections incorporate not only some of the most needed accessories, but I also wanted to include security steps you should take to ensure your laptop remains protected.

1. BIOS Password
This is a must. Do not overlook securing your laptop in case it gets lost or stolen. It is simple enough to enter the BIOS on boot-up and enter a power-on password and also a hard drive password. The power-on password should be supervisor level which cannot be reset by clearing the CMOS. Also a hard drive password prevents someone from installing your drive in another machine to access your data.

2. Good Carry Case
This is a given and the selection of carry cases is such that you will be able to find the one that is best for you. I wanted to mention the backpack type carry bag. These are popular because they offer a lot of space for accessories in addition to your laptop. Backpacks also distribute the weight evenly and centered across your back which is much more comfortable than a shoulder bag that digs in after a few minutes. Again, the selection is wide for backpacks and you should find one appropriate to you.

3. Spare Battery/ AC adapter
I combined spare battery and AC adapter because I think both can be equally necessary. It makes sense to have a backup battery if you're in a situation that you cannot connect an AC adapter. A nice AC adapter option for Thinkpads is the Lenovo 90W AC/DC Slim Combo Adapter, it is compact and made for portability.

4. USB Options
I've included various USB options for your laptop in this category. One such option is a USB flash/pen drive. You can store needed files to it for backup purposes or sensitive files you want to keep off the laptop. Another option is a full USB hard drive that lets you do complete backups of your system on the fly. Both USB devices come in various sizes to meet your file needs.

5. Software Firewall/ Antivirus Protection
This goes back to security. It's always a good idea to install and run antivirus software on your machine for virus protection. Just as important is a software firewall, especially if you connect to wireless networks in your travels.

6. Wireless Mouse/ Ethernet Cable/ Cable Lock
Any additional accessory you deem necessary can be included but a few handy ones to have are a wireless mouse, ethernet cable and cable lock. These are pretty self explanatory as you never know when you might need them and the cable lock is another way to keep your laptop from walking off.

7. Screen Protector/ Privacy Filter
This is more for situations such as airplane travel where you find yourself sitting close to other people. A privacy filter goes over the LCD screen and blocks side viewing, but lets the person directly in front of the screen to see clearly.

8. Laptop Stand/ Lap Holder
Setting your laptop directly on your lap can get quite warm so a lap holder is just the answer. It simply goes in between and protects your lap from the heat of the laptop.

9. Backup Often Before Your Trip
A good policy to follow is backup often. A portable computer is more likely to have hard drive failures simply because of all the movement. So why not reduce the risk of losing your data by backing up at home or the office before you even start your trip? An easy backup software tool is built right into the Windows operating system. Backup to CD, DVD, or another drive.

10. LoJack For Laptops
This one I have not used but I think is very cool and worth considering. The description below is from the company who makes the product:

Computrace LoJack for Laptops by Absolute Software, Inc., is a computer tracking and loss control software service. It can help authorities to determine the location of a lost or stolen when the system is reconnected to the Internet. When the software is properly installed and working on your computer, the Absolute Software Monitoring Center acts as a sentinel, keeping track of Computrace-equipped PCs. Absolute Software's Web-based reports give you unlimited access to your PC asset data, 24 hours a day.

So that's it. These are my top 10 tips for making any trip easier, more secure and hopefully a complete success.
.

Thinkpad Top 4 Hardware Issues

2009-02-26T10:44:00.015-06:00

I have gathered the top hardware issues I’ve seen with Thinkpads. These seem to be the most common problems not only with Thinkpads but all laptops. . In this post I try to provide problem determination steps to help users resolve these issues themselves before having to call Lenovo support.

These are the top issues discussed:

Battery Charging/Battery Life
Hard Drive Crash
LCD/Video Panel
Power On Issues

Battery Issues:
We’ll start with the battery not charging at all. Obviously check your AC adapter connections to the Thinkpad and to the wall outlet. It happens where we assume the adapter is still plugged into the wall outlet but isn’t and when we trace it down feel silly. If this isn’t the problem then remove the battery from the laptop. Does the AC adapter power the Thinkpad by itself? It should, and we know it is functioning properly. Reinstall the battery and look for the charging light to come on located on the lower part of the LCD panel. If you get no sign of life then it appears your battery has failed and should be replaced.

How about a battery that doesn’t last very long? Battery life normally decreases with age and usage. You can employ power management schemes through the BIOS or Windows to use less power. If you have an older battery that is labeled NiMH you can completely drain the battery then charge it fully to condition it and extend it’s life. Do not do this with the newer Lithium Ion(Li-Ion) batteries, it will cause damage. If you’re still not happy with the battery life after taking these steps you might need to replace it.

Some older Thinkpad batteries have been recalled by Lenovo. They will replace them free of charge if the battery meets the requirements. This link has the recall information.

Hard Drive Issues:
I cover hard drive testing in a previous post. See it for diagnostic tools and steps to take to try and recover data.

LCD Panel issues:
Common problems with LCD panels are seeing no video or very dim video. First make sure the Thinkpad is powered on and not in suspend or hibernate mode. Check the presentation mode by pressing Fn and F7 at the same time. This enables the switching of video output between the LCD and an external display. You want to make sure the video is directed to the laptop’s LCD screen. Also disconnect anything external to the Thinkpad including a dock or port replicator. Next see if you can increase the dimness setting by pressing Fn and Home key. This increases the brightness of the screen and might help if the image you see is very dim. Lastly, reboot the Thinkpad to see if any video shows up during boot up and POST.

Power On Issues:
Some power problems might be related to the battery but here I’ll talk about not being able to power on the machine at all. The first check is to plug the AC adapter into the Thinkpad and look for the power status indicator to come on. You should see a light on the lower part of the LCD panel. This just indicates that the laptop is receiving power which is what we want to see. If you still are unable to power on the laptop then unplug everything and remove the battery. Reseat the hard drive and other devices installed. You can take this opportunity to reseat the memory modules if you wish. I have links to access memory on T6x models and T4x models. Now, plug in the AC adapter but leave the battery removed and try to power on the laptop. If it still will not power up you may have a motherboard issue. Call Lenovo support for replacement.

Lenovo W500 Further Review and OS Install

2009-02-25T15:02:00.009-06:00

This is a continuation of my previous look at the Lenovo W500 Thinkpad. Please read my first posting which lists the specifications and my initial impressions. In this review I cover installing Windows Vista, device drivers and software applications, including ThinkVantage System Update. Then I’ll wrap up with my final thoughts.

In the previous post I said the Thinkpad W500 model number is 4061-AC4 with the following specs:

*Processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo P9400(2.53.GHZ)
*ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 graphics
*Switchable Graphics(see below)
*15.4 inch WUXGA(1920 X 1200) LCD widescreen display
*160GB 7200rpm SATA hard disk drive
*4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 memory
*Mini PCIe 802.11 wireless – Intel 5300
*Intel 82567 1GB ethernet
*CDRW/DVDRW drive

It had Windows XP installed and was working great, all the components were recognized and was a stable system. I decided however to install Windows Vista because of the ability to switch between the graphics chipsets on the fly from within Vista. Windows XP does not have this application or ability; you have to do it through the BIOS. I wanted to check it out and see if switching the graphics through the software was really as slick as I was hoping.. Also wanted to see the overall perceived performance of Vista on this hardware. Other than that I am not a big fan of Vista and am waiting for the official release of Windows 7. Small-Laptops.com has an article on Windows 7 and the different versions that will be available.

OK, now for the install. I booted off the Vista Ultimate CD and installed it using the whole drive and chose a user name, etc; you know the routine. I logged in after the install was finished and looked in the device manager. I was surprised to find so many components not installed with device drivers. A few of them were the network adapters, security devices and the video driver had issues. I wanted to test out how well the ThinkVantage System Update worked installing these device drivers as well as what software applications I could install through the application.

I downloaded the LAN Ethernet adapter driver which was the Intel 82567LM Gigabit Network driver on another machine that could get to the Lenovo website. Then I transferred the file to the W500 using a USB thumb drive. Once the Ethernet driver was installed I could install everything else I needed from the W500 itself.

My next step was to download and install the ThinkVantage System Update application version 3.14 from Lenovo. On it’s initial run it reported it had to connect to Lenovo to update itself which failed. After repeated attempts the update finally was successful and it pulled down all the latest drivers I needed, available ThinkVantage applications I could install and critical updates. I chose applications such as onscreen display, power manager, productivity center, Access Connections and Active Protection system. After all was said and done the laptop rebooted and after logging in I checked the device manager once again. All the devices were now installed properly, the software apps I wanted were installed and I was set to go. I then went to Windows Update and applied all the Security and Hotfixes that were recommended.

I did have to download the Thinkpad Switchable Graphics driver myself though, I’m not sure why system update did not do this for me. The switchable graphics driver installs without much information and I didn’t know how to launch the application. It turns out all you have to do is right click on the power meter and you’re presented with an option to switch between Energy Saving mode and High Performance mode. Energy Saving option uses the Mobile Intel graphics chip and High Performance utilizes the ATI FireGL chip. Interestingly enough, choosing the energy saving option gave me a brighter screen than I had in high performance mode. In any case, the application worked as expected which was great but I guess I was expecting some more fanfare or something exciting to happen as the graphics switched chipsets. Oh well, it’s a nice feature to save energy and extend battery life.

Conclusion:
In the end I like the Lenovo W500 Thinkpad very much. The LCD panel is bright, clear and offers good resolutions. The machine is well built and offers features suitable for most users. Performance is plenty fast for a laptop and includes energy savings settings to improve battery life. With a 15.4 inch widescreen display the machine is somewhat large and I wouldn’t want to lug it around airports or for travel very often. I could however, use it as an everyday machine and not sacrifice speed or performance.

Automatically Update Your Thinkpad With ThinkVantage System Update

2009-02-23T07:20:00.003-06:00

Want to install updates to your Lenovo machine but don’t know exactly what you need or where to find the files you need?

ThinkVantage System Update 3.14 can automatically install and apply updates to software, drivers, firmware and BIOS all from one application. It can be configured to run fully automated where it downloads and installs updates on a scheduled basis or manual mode, where you control how and when it runs.

System Update installs under Windows 2000, XP and Vista and requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 or better to work correctly. The newest release of System Update, version 3.14, seems to be more stable and work much better. I had the previous release installed and frequently received an error message while gathering information and the application would stop. This new release has run flawlessly for the several times I have run it. I usually like to download and install updates myself and am cautious about applying updates to drivers from Windows Update, but so far this application has been pretty nice to use.

Download and install ThinkVantage System Update to make keeping your Thinkpad up-to-date easier than ever. See the full installation instructions from Lenovo here.

Recycle Your Lenovo and Get Paid

2009-02-20T08:16:00.003-06:00

People today are concerned with protecting the environment more than ever before. We look for ways to be energy efficient and are encouraged to recycle, reduce and reuse. Companies are no different and many are getting involved in their own recycling programs.

Lenovo has partnered with ECO International to offer an easy solution to recycle used electronics. ECO either reuses equipment or dismantles and recycles it, there is a zero landfill policy. There is free shipping on all Lenovo products and on select IBM products. Plus, you can also recycle other manufacturer’s electronics and receive a reward for any device that can be reused.

Just follow a three-step process to enter information about your electronics. ECO will estimate a dollar reward based on the information entered and if they can reuse it. Once they receive the equipment they send you the money. Shipping is free for all Lenovo products and all products that qualify for a reward. What a great way to be Green.. and get a reward for it.

Use the Lenovo recycle program for your electronics: http://lenovo.ecotakeback.com/

Lenovo W500 Thinkpad Specifications

2009-02-18T09:49:00.018-06:00

I finally got hold of a Lenovo W500 Thinkpad. On the outside it looks very similar to a T61 but under the hood are some new and improved upon features. It’s price certainly distinguishes it from the Thinkpad pack by starting at around $1200.00 and adding available options will drive the price higher. Thinkpads are known for their quality, innovation and reliability, so any model you choose you know you're getting your money’s worth. The full features and specifications are listed on Lenovo's website.

The W500 I’m working with is a 4061-AC4 and the specs are as follows:

*Processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo P9400(2.53.GHZ)
*ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 graphics
*Switchable Graphics(see below)
*15.4 inch WUXGA(1920 X 1200) LCD widescreen display
*160GB 7200rpm SATA hard disk drive
*4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 memory
*Mini PCIe 802.11 wireless – Intel 5300
*Intel 82567 1GB ethernet
*CDRW/DVDRW drive

*Switchable Graphics has both an integrated Intel graphics chip and an ATI discrete graphics chip in the system. This enables you to save power and battery life by switching to integrated graphics for day to day use, or use the discrete graphics chip for more intensive applications that need higher performance graphics when needed.

The Thinkpad W500 weighs in at just about 6lbs. which is slightly more than T61 models I have seen. The Switchable Graphics feature is available from inside Windows Vista which is very convenient and means no reboot is required. The model I have is loaded with Windows XP and I can still switch the graphics but have to do so by entering the BIOS; still pretty cool. The performance is very fast as expected as is the wireless connectivity. One option for the W500 I want to briefly explain is a mini PCIe Turbo Memory card. This caches frequently used data for faster performance on Windows Vista installed machines.

Thinkpads have an Energy Star 4.0 rating and the W500 has a Silver rating from EPEAT which means these laptops consume less energy, are more efficient, and make use of recyclable materials. Be sure to check out Lenovo’s Thinkpad Energy Calculator to compare and see your energy savings.

I haven’t used the Thinkpad W500 long enough to have reached a final conclusion, but so far I am very impressed with the machine in terms of both quality and performance. The features packed into the W500 should be plenty for most users for quite some time.

UPDATE: I've added part 2 reviewing the installation of Vista and the graphics options. Find it here.

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T60p Expansion ROM Not Initialized - Intel NIC boot issue

2009-02-16T12:04:00.005-06:00

A Thinkpad T60p with an Intel integrated NIC boot error recently came across my desk. The T60p on boot-up would pause with the following message:

Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.31

PXE-E05: The LAN adapter's configuation is corrupted or has not been initialized. The Boot Agent cannot continue.

Then after a couple of seconds would beep and display another message:

ERROR
Expansion ROM not initialized - PCI on Motherboard
Bus:00, Device:00, Function:00

Press [ESC] to continue

So after hitting the [ESC] key I entered the BIOS to look around at the settings. Everything was set properly but I changed the ‘Internal Network Option ROM’ setting to disabled just to see what effect it would have.
On reboot I still saw the same error message so I decided to upgrade the BIOS, but to no avail. The error was still there..

Decided it was time to search this issue on the web and see what other people were experiencing. Seems this is a fairly common problem and for some unknown reason the Ethernet NIC got into a screwed up configuration that prevents it from working properly.

The solution was found in a bootable cdrom that reconfigures or resets the ethernet EEPROM. All you have to do is download the .iso file, burn it to cd and boot from it. Then select to run the PROBOOT tool to reset the NIC.

You could also search the Intel site for the PROBoot.exe file, download it and make a bootable floppy, but someone has made it easier by putting the files in a bootable cdrom. Here’s a link to the file -- CDProBOOT-0.2.iso.

--This utility worked for me but I assume no responsibility in others using the utility on their systems. There is potential risk involved whenever you re-program or flash a component on your computer. Use at you own risk.

--UPDATE--
Seems the link above no longer works. Follow these instructions for a manual fix.

Thinkpad and Lenovo 90W Slim AC/DC Combo Adapter

2009-02-12T10:58:00.009-06:00

If you travel frequently with your Thinkpad you know well the aggravation and discomfort of lugging around a computer bag full of weighty items. Even if you own an ultraportable notebook the accessories that accompany it can be bulky and not easily packed.

Lenovo now offers a multi-purpose AC/DC power adapter to make life a little easier. The Thinkpad and Lenovo 90W Slim AC/DC Combo Adaptersupplies power to your Thinkpad and charges the battery at the same time. The adapter plugs into a standard AC wall outlet, an automobile power plug or an airplane in-flight power connector.

The thin slim-line adapter is easy to carry and weighs just under a pound. Included interchangeable connector tips provide 20v or 16v output and an option is available to power your notebook as well as another device such as a cell phone simultaneously.

The price for the adapter is $119.95 and includes a carry pouch, AC and DC cables and the voltage tips to power different notebooks.

The specs from Lenovo.com

P/N ----------------- 41N8460
Depth Metric ------- 143.5 mm
Height Metric ------ 15.5 mm
Height US ----------- 0.610 in
Weight Metric[2] --- 0.430 Kg
Weight US[2] ------- 0.95 lbs
Width Metric ------- 78.0 mm
Width US ----------- 3.071 in

Keyboard removal for the IBM/Lenovo T60, T60p

2009-02-12T07:38:00.001-06:00

These procedures describe the steps required to remove and re-install the keyboard and palm rest for T60 series Thinkpads.

- Turn off the computer and disconnect the AC adapter.

- Close the display and turn the laptop over.

- Remove the battery.

- Remove four screws that have a drawing of a keyboard securing the palm rest and one screw securing the keyboard.

- Turn the machine over and open the display cover.

- Carefully push on the palm rest and lift it away from the computer.

- Detach the connector from the palm rest to the motherboard.
-Lift the keyboard out of the laptop paying attention to the connector cable attached to the motherboard and detach this cable.

-Reverse these steps to re-install the components.

Upgrades And Options

Reset or Clear Thinkpad BIOS Passwords - How To

Lenovo Recycling Programs

Format Blog Text in Gray Boxes

IBM Storwize V7000 Upgrade Procedure

RHEL6.1 Kickstart Configuration How To

Software Requirements

Installation

Red Hat Kickstart Server Setup

Red Hat Kickstart Configuration

ThinkPad X130e Ultraportable Designed For Students

Lenovo Quick Pick

Lenovo Systems Diagnostics Tools

Lenovo Thinkpads - Now With Nvidia Optimus Technology

Lenovo skylight

External Thinkpad USB Keyboard

Lenovo SimpleTap

Free Windows© 7 Upgrade

Thinkpad Hard Drive Firmware Update

Thinkpad WWAN Broadband Option - ATT 3G Info

Windows 7 on a Lenovo W500 Thinkpad

10 Smart Tips For Traveling With Your Laptop

Thinkpad Top 4 Hardware Issues

Lenovo W500 Further Review and OS Install

Automatically Update Your Thinkpad With ThinkVantage System Update

Recycle Your Lenovo and Get Paid

Lenovo W500 Thinkpad Specifications

T60p Expansion ROM Not Initialized - Intel NIC boot issue

Thinkpad and Lenovo 90W Slim AC/DC Combo Adapter

Keyboard removal for the IBM/Lenovo T60, T60p