Just got a New IBM T41....need advice from IBM owners.

[Abhi]

Well, got the "performance" config. 1.7 Pentium M, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hdd, Bluetooth, High res screen, 3 yr warranty.... etc etc...
First impression, this thing is built like a tank!... really liking the feel of it. The looks could have been better though....

A couple of questions about it...

1) A friend bought it for me from Hong Kong and got it to India. How do i transfer the warranty? I have the warranty card (stamped by the dealer).
2) The battery appears to be SLIGHTY loose. Is this normal?
3) My friend didnt get any CDs with the machine. I think he lost them. There are the drivers and i386 directory on the HDD. Will burning them to a CD suffice? (I dont have the XP disc also)
4) I did the online registration with IBM. Anything else i need to do to get it transferred to my name?

Thanks...

 

[Abhi]

Also ...

5) are IBM windows installs bad (like dell)? Is a full format recommended?
6) I have a Win XP Pro CD retail. Can i install XP using that CD and use the product key thats on the bottom of the IBM? Is that legal?

 

[gopunk]

hi, i have the same machine...

2. my battery is also slightly loose
3. i didn't get any cds with my machine either, and it was sealed in the factory box, so i think that is normal.
4. i dunno... i tried to sign up for safeware but they need evidence that i registered this thing. so i emailed ibm, but they have not yet responded. i bought this thing off of ebay so i'm sort of in the same boat as you.
5. i assume not because i have seen other people here talk about it... probably some drivers you should get from ibm.com first though
6. seems reasonable to me, if it's not legal, it's at least fair.

 

[Abhi]

Thanks.. but..... If you dont get CDs... and u have to do a fresh install of windows... how do u do it ?

 

[Yomicron]

You can order recovery CDs from IBM for free within the first 30 days, after that I think they charge $35 (at least for the US). I've heard that some people have been able to get them for free after the 30 days though.

Unless you replace the hard drive you shouldn't need any recovery CDs. IBMs ship with a hidden partition containing the original install image. During boot you can press the 'Access IBM' button and from there you can re-install the OS.

 

[Abhi]

Thanks man..

Any idea how do i get the warranty transferred?

 

[Yomicron]

As far as I know, IBM warranties are tied to the machine, not the owner. So there shouldn't be any transfer process, but because it was between countries and the warranty rules may be different, you may just have to call IBM and ask.

 

[aakerman]

I bought my T41p in Switzerland - had it shipped to Denmark. When I installed windows (IBM install) for the first time, it asked me to enter my name etc.... I made sure the RJ45 cable was plugged in, and the information was sent to IBM. And that was it, I had the full 3 years of warranty after that.

I haven't noticed any battery looseness.. other than you can nudge it 0.1mm, if that's what you mean.

You can do a fresh install if you like.. but if you want to use WiFi, you have to install all the IBM progs again anyway, so you're left with the same progs clogging up the systray. I myself reformatted the hd, to get rid of the recovery partition, and then installed windows 2003 server.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: aakerman
I bought my T41p in Switzerland - had it shipped to Denmark. When I installed windows (IBM install) for the first time, it asked me to enter my name etc.... I made sure the RJ45 cable was plugged in, and the information was sent to IBM. And that was it, I had the full 3 years of warranty after that.

I haven't noticed any battery looseness.. other than you can nudge it 0.1mm, if that's what you mean.

You can do a fresh install if you like.. but if you want to use WiFi, you have to install all the IBM progs again anyway, so you're left with the same progs clogging up the systray. I myself reformatted the hd, to get rid of the recovery partition, and then installed windows 2003 server.

Actually i already registered it... and the info with my details were sent to IBM.

I might be swapping out the hdd, so i ll need to reinstall again anyway.

 

[MuffD]

Originally posted by: aakerman
I bought my T41p in Switzerland - had it shipped to Denmark. When I installed windows (IBM install) for the first time, it asked me to enter my name etc.... I made sure the RJ45 cable was plugged in, and the information was sent to IBM. And that was it, I had the full 3 years of warranty after that.

I haven't noticed any battery looseness.. other than you can nudge it 0.1mm, if that's what you mean.

You can do a fresh install if you like.. but if you want to use WiFi, you have to install all the IBM progs again anyway, so you're left with the same progs clogging up the systray. I myself reformatted the hd, to get rid of the recovery partition, and then installed windows 2003 server.

Isn't there a way to get the WIFI working with the T40? That's the only driver I can't seem to get working right after I reformat.

 

[aakerman]

MuffD - I didn't have any problems.. i have the a/b/g card from IBM - just downloaded the drivers, and everything was peachy.

 

[MuffD]

I guess I'll try this again. Did you install the drivers in any particular order? Also, what drivers/software did you install?
The only things I could not get working were my LAN Drivers and my wireles ones.

 

[MuffD]

Okay, I figured it out. Didn't know that the drivers were in a folder on your c drive. I thought it would just install automatically. I just need to figure out what the network controller is an dhow to get the middle scroll button thing to work.