Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

[astrohip]

Anyone have any troubles putting a good SSD in the W520? I think I read it has SATA III which would be great.

I have two SSD drives. I ordered it with one, the only one you can get from the factory (Intel 160GB?). Then I added an aftermarket SSD in the mSATA slot. 128GB MyDigital.

They both work superbly (other than a couple of blips caused 100% by me due to brain farts).

[mystryda]

Would someone help me figure out a configuration for the W520?

What I'd really like to do is boot off a SDD and have a 750GB HDD for mass storage. Can I do this while still having the optical drive? mSATA for the boot drive? Or do I have to ditch optical drive and use a 43N3412 for the HDD?

Is there a reason that Lenovo doesn't offer a 750GB HDD?

Anybody out there running Matlab simulations on this thing?

[Razorbak86]

Would someone help me figure out a configuration for the W520?

What I'd really like to do is boot off a SDD and have a 750GB HDD for mass storage. Can I do this while still having the optical drive? mSATA for the boot drive? Or do I have to ditch optical drive and use a 43N3412 for the HDD?

No reason to ditch the optical. mSATA for boot drive. 750 Gb Seagate Momentus for mass storage. Optical drive in the UltraBay slot. Just order the smallest conventional HDD from Lenovo, and then upgrade the drives with aftermarket parts from Tigerdirect, Newegg, or Amazon.

[mystryda]

Are there mSATA SSD's that don't work? Or one that works really well?

[zuperloco]

yup it seems that their overseas operations are incredibly dubious I find it ridiculous that they won't answer about damaging the customers equipment, completely unacceptable!

My gf continues to write them and they just ignore her?? I told her to sign up so that her story will be heard and also to make some official complaints

Some folks here seem happy with US customer support but it would make sense that a brand that takes itself seriously would make sure their overseas operations are up to the brand standard, otherwise that just makes the brand value decay, and I can tell you for a fact that in Colombia, Chile and Argentina Lenovo is NOT taking customers seriously, the repairs take incredibly long, and they simply ignore you when you ask them to fix something they broke!

So big warning people, if you're going to have deal with customer support outside US/Canada BEWARE!

Sorry to hear about your experiences Zuperloco, Lenovo should be able to support you in Chile considering the W520 are normally eligible for IWS.

If it helps this the direct line to them in Chile if you're struggling to get contact of Lenovo:

Lenovo Chile
800-361-213 or 188-800-442-488 Toll Free

As for experience personally I got stung by IBM which handles Lenovo repairs in the UK, it took over a month of correspondences before they finally relented to repair my hinges under warranty. It really does seem the quality of service depends on where you're based which is a shame.

[carage]

yup it seems that their overseas operations are incredibly dubious I find it ridiculous that they won't answer about damaging the customers equipment, completely unacceptable!

My gf continues to write them and they just ignore her?? I told her to sign up so that her story will be heard and also to make some official complaints

Some folks here seem happy with US customer support but it would make sense that a brand that takes itself seriously would make sure their overseas operations are up to the brand standard, otherwise that just makes the brand value decay, and I can tell you for a fact that in Colombia, Chile and Argentina Lenovo is NOT taking customers seriously, the repairs take incredibly long, and they simply ignore you when you ask them to fix something they broke!

So big warning people, if you're going to have deal with customer support outside US/Canada BEWARE!

It's a Chinese company now, what do you expect?
Thank God, US Customer Support is still handled by IBM.

[ddong]

That damn trackpoint must be kidding me. Does it sometimes goes crazy in google maps for you too (when using it to zoom)?

[Razorbak86]

Are any of you getting prompted to install this "recommended" update from Lenovo?

Revision : 02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software name Intel Wireless Display

Support models ThinkPad L420, L421
ThinkPad L520
ThinkPad T420, T420i, T420s, T420si
ThinkPad T520, T520i
ThinkPad W520
ThinkPad X121e, X130e
ThinkPad X220, X220i, X220 Tablet, X220i Tablet

ThinkPad Edge 14", 15"
ThinkPad Edge E40, E50
ThinkPad Edge E120, E125
ThinkPad Edge E220s
ThinkPad Edge E320, E325
ThinkPad Edge E420, E420s
ThinkPad Edge E520

Operating Systems Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit, 64-bit

Refer to marketing materials to find out what computer models
support which Operating Systems.

Version 2.1.41.0

Support devices Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N + WiMAX 6250
Intel HD Graphics Family


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT THIS PACKAGE DOES

This package installs the software (Intel Wireless Display).

The following devices are supported.

Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N + WiMAX 6250
Intel HD Graphics Family

Refer to marketing materials to find out what computer models support this
software.

If this package has been installed, updating (overwrite-installing) this
package will fix problems, add new functions, or expand functions as noted
below.

This program is language independent and can be used with any language system.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN THIS RELEASE
Versions 2.0.31.0

[Important updates]
Nothing.

[New functions or enhancements]
- Added support for ThinkPad X130e.
- Added support for HDCP2 output protection.

[Problem fixes]
Nothing.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETERMINING WHICH VERSION IS INSTALLED

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.
2. Make sure "View by Category" is selected, and click Uninstall a program.
3. Click Organize, select Layout, then select Details Pane. The Details Pane
will be shown at the bottom of screen.
4. Select Intel(R) Wireless Display.
5. Check the product version in the Details Pane.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES

- Prerequisite for installation:
The following hardware and software should be installed in your computer
before installation of this software.

- Intel Wireless LAN adapter card and driver, version 14.0 or higher
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N + WiMAX 6250
- Intel HD Graphics Family, version 8.15.10.2418 or higher
- Intel My WiFi Technology, enabled
- Intel Management Engineering Component, version 7.0.0.1144 or higher


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Note:
- If your computer runs satisfactorily now, it may not be necessary to update
the software. To determine if you should update the software, refer to the
Version Information section.


Manual Install

This section assumes to use Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.

Downloading file
1. Click once on the underlined file name. Once this is done, some pop-up
windows will appear.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen.
3. In the window to choose Run or Save, click Save.
4. Choose the folder you would like to download the file to and click Save.
A different window will appear and the download will begin and complete.
Once the download has completed, there may or may not be a message stating
that the download completed successfully.

Extracting file
5. Make sure to be logged on with an administrator account.
6. Locate the folder where the file was downloaded.
7. Locate the file that was downloaded and double-click it.
8. Follow the instructions on the screen.
9. In the Select Destination Location window, click Next. If you would like to
select a different folder, click Browse.
10. In the Ready to Install window, click Install. All the necessary files will
be extracted to the folder selected in the step 9.

Installing files
11. Make sure the checkbox next to "Install ..... now" is checked and click
Finish.
12. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete installation and restart
the computer.

Finally delete the file saved in the step 4.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNINSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.
2. Make sure "View by Category" is selected, and click Uninstall a program.
3. Click Organize, select Layout, then select Details Pane. The Details Pane
will be shown at the bottom of screen.
4. Select Intel(R) Wireless Display, and click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete uninstallation and
restart the computer.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERSION INFORMATION

The following versions have been released to date.

Package Build-ID Rev. Issue Date
-------- -------- ---- ----------
2.1.41.0 8AW610WW 02 2011/12/01
2.1.41.0 8AW610WW 01 2011/11/18
2.0.31.0 8AW608WW 02 2011/06/10
2.0.31.0 8AW608WW 01 2011/05/19
2.0.27.0 8AW605WW 05 2011/04/28
2.0.27.0 8AW605WW 04 2011/04/10
2.0.27.0 8AW605WW 03 2011/03/18
2.0.27.0 8AW605WW 02 2011/03/10
2.0.27.0 8AW605WW 01 2011/03/08
1.2.15.0 80WG03WW 01 2010/06/11

Note: Revision number (Rev.) is for administrative purpose of this README
document and is not related to software version. There is no need to
upgrade this software when the revision number changes.

To check the version of software, refer to the Determining which version is
installed section.


Summary of Changes

Where: < > Package version number
[Important] Important update
(New) New function or enhancement
(Fix) Correction to existing function

<2.1.41.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad X130e.

<2.1.41.0>
- (New) Added support for HDCP2 output protection.

<2.0.31.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad X121e,Edge E120,E125,E320,E325.

<2.0.31.0>
- (New) Added support for full HD (1080p).
- (Fix) Fixed an issue where the version 2.x of this software did not work with
the version 15.22-based Intel HD Graphics driver.

<2.0.27.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad X1.

<2.0.27.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad X220,X220i,X220 Tablet,X220i Tablet.
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad Edge E220s,E420,E520.

<2.0.27.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad W520.
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad L421.

<2.0.27.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad L420,L520,T420s,T420si,Edge E420s.

<2.0.27.0>
- (New) Added support for ThinkPad T420,T420i,T520,T520i.
- (New) Added support for 1080p full HD.
- (New) Added support for 5.1Ch audio.

<1.2.15.0>
- (New) Initial release for ThinkPad Edge 14",15",E40,E50.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIMITATIONS

- No silent uninstallation is supported for this software.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRADEMARKS

* Lenovo and ThinkPad are registered trademarks of Lenovo.

* Intel and Centrino are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
* Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Other company, product, and service names may be registered trademarks,
trademarks or service marks of others.

[bogatyr]

That damn trackpoint must be kidding me. Does it sometimes goes crazy in google maps for you too (when using it to zoom)?

Make sure you're not resting your finger on it. That will cause it to move around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zvuqniki]

Sure, I'd appreciate the reps extension. I know I can get 10% via the email thing, I'm hoping for 20% at least. How do you like yours so far?

Just go in and chat with someone.
Before I bought mine, I configured it up to ~3400USD (after the 10% discount advertised on the site)
Logged in, started talking with a guy, and just asked him straight up, can you bring the price lower.
He said, save your cart, and let me see what you're ordering. Saved it, he looked at it, then he said:
"...I can save you around 450$, and bring the total to 2950" (these are approximate numbers, but the reduction did have the digit 4 in the front)
I asked in amazement: "is that price including accessories and everything?"
And he answered positively.
The total cost me 3111$ after NY tax, with free two day shipping

Now my sweet notebook just needs a caddy so I can hook up a 1tb HDD instead of the now almost extinct optical drive.