Windows Vista x64 on a T61p
June 1st, 2008
To install Windows Vista x64 I used Keith Combs’ post on how to install Windows Vista x64 on a T61p as a basis because it was very detailed and worked very well.
We also have a list on w3ki of what works and what doesn’t on Vista.
Important: Make sure not to install any IBM Software to C:\Program Files as it is not compatible with it! – I installed to paths like C:\Notes and C:\IBM\WAS61.
The steps I performed to install what I need on Vista x64:
- Install as described on Keith Combs’ post + some additional drivers that I wanted from the Lenovo site.
- Install Sierra Card driver
- Right Click on Desktop > Personalize > Adjust font size (DPI) > Larger Scale (120 DPI)
- Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Change System Sounds > Sounds > Sound Scheme: No sounds
- Install Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.13 as it works much more reliably with internal applications than IE7.
- To make sure software downloads and other IBM sites are more compatible with IE7 security settings I needed to configure the following:
IE > Tools > Internet Options > Security > Local intranet > Sites > Advanced > add “*.ibm.com” as trusted site.
Although this will make w3.java.ibm.com work, XL software downloads will not work reliably even with these settings.
- For download director to work install IBM 32-bit SDK for Java 2 V5.0 as the system SDK and enable it as the SDK for Firefox and IE.
- Install Intranet Labor Claiming 1.3.2 – Switches color scheme back to Windows Vista Basic, but otherwise seems to work.
- Install Lotus Notes 8.0.1 (C19U1EN) including productivity tools and deploy your ID file and configure Notes
If you don’t want to use the integrated Sametime client you can also use Lotus Sametime Connect 7.5.1 Blue
- Install Rational Application Developer V7.5 Beta – Hangs on install unless you set all locales to en-US. – Given that Vista x64 is not supported in the beta, I was happy that it worked at all.
- Install WebSphere Application Server V6.1.0.15
- Install AT&T Network Client
- Install Personal Communications (C90WHML) and configure VAMP zSeries 3270 telnet for RETAIN access – Personal Communications is supported on Vista x64
- Install Vodafone Mobile Connect from A1
- Install Beyond Compare 2
- Install PuTTY
- Install WinSCP
- Install some IBM Screensaver
- Install VMware Workstation 6 for 64-bit Windows
Optional Security Software:
Things I haven’t tested:
- Microsoft Office Standard 2003 w/o Outlook
- Microsoft Office Standard 2003 Proofing Tools EMEA
- Microsoft Visio 2007
- Adobe Acrobat 8 – Refer to the guide from Adobe on how to make Adobe Acrobat 8.1 work on Vista x64
- ITCS 300 compliance
- Tivoli Storage Manager client
Not working:
- Global Print doesn’t work at all and printing from Vista is not supported
- RKA is not working as the binary is not compatible with Vista x64