I sold my beloved spectre x360 that i had for almost a decade - long story short due to budget constraints I ended up with a x1 carbon g6 i7-16-256 although the ram isn't upgradeable its more than enough for now! This is my first time using a thinkpad - the keyboard, glass trackpad, trackpoint etc. build quality is absolutely amazing - i don't particularly like the rubberized display bezel on it as it can become sticky if cleaned with isopropyl alcohol!
This is wonderfully timely. I just bought a refurbished T480 to use build my first Linux system. Unfortunately, this process came to a screeching halt when it came to booting from a USB for the RAM check. I have gone down the rabbit hole of information to try and figure out how to do this. I can get into the boot screen but when I choose booting from a USB, the choice flips back to PCI LAN. So I went back into the BIOS changed boot order and disabled Secure Boot. Success! Thank you.
Wow, amazing video. I really appreciated all the info you shared. I am in the process of looking for a second hand laptop for traveling. I am brand new to thinkpads. Thanks
Hello, thank you for the clear video! I have a used lenovo T490. When I follow your instructions and enter into the bios, it states that *password at boot device list is enabled. According to your video this should be disabled. What are the implications of this - will I be able to do a clean install of windows/reformat still? Should I return the laptop? Thanks. (additionally the bios says that the absolute persistence module is enabled )
Is Absolute Persistence enabled or activated? If it's activated, then you won't be able to do anything. If it's enabled but not activated, you should be able to disable it by choosing "Permanently disabled" in the UEFI setup... if this option is not protected by the supervisor password. If the boot device order is locked in the BIOS, you probably won't be able to boot from any installation media to reinstall the OS. Personally, I would simply return the laptop, it's probably more hassle than it's worth.
Excellent! So far the most comprehensive, practical and easy to understand video about the subject! Congrats! I'm buying a used laptop and this will definitely be my first guide! have a question I hope you'll have time to answer.... I have now a 10 year old laptop and just purchased a 5 year old laptop.... just trying to keep up.... no gaming or anything like that... I'm working with Windows 8 and I like the way my laptop is setup now with all my programs and such..... I'm buying a laptop which has Window 11 now.... Could I install and use my Windows 8 ssd hard drive I have now and install it in my new used Laptop to keep everything the way I have now? It would save me so much time!!! and effort!! Thanks!!
the computer I purchased has an Intel Core i7-8850H CPU @ 2.6Ghz so it's pretty old but it's newer than mine lol seems that Windows 8.1 should handle it don't you think? @@yeoldestuff
RU Шикарное видео, на Reddit не так много инфы и нет чёткой инструкции, так что однозначно лайк. EN Awesome video, there is not much info on Reddit and no clear instructions, so definitely like.
@@yeoldestuff thank you for your reply, but the battery is present, and it is recognized by both the bios diagnostics and Dell Power Manager as in excellent health. The problem is 1. It has a discharge profile that lasts only 1 and a half hour , with an abrupt transition at about 60% to 7% ( I captured it on video, the last one I have in my chan) 2. The manufacturing date shown in the bios diagnostics (august 2023) does not match the date code in the PPID (starts with 4, meaning the year ends in 4).
@@dossierEON the fact that it abruptly drops from 60% to 7% means that at least one cell inside the battery is not holding the charge. Is it possible that the battery was rebuilt with generic cells and then the microcontroller was flashed in order to make it appear that everything is OK?
thank you for this great video!! I just bought a used X1 gen 7, I will follow your video. It came with windows 11 installed and office 2021..I am going to wipe the drive or replace the drive. I was reading that the BIOS can have trackers installed ..is that true? is there a way to test for this? Or once I wipe the hard drive after I follow your instructions for testing BIOS it will be safe? thanks again ! so much good information!
@@yeoldestuffcomputrace is enabled but not activated. That's safe then? There is unfortunately a bios password but inside nothing major is locked. Boot order isn't locked. Should I keep this? It was pretty cheap for the good condition.
@@DrMerkwuerdigliebe89 if CompuTrace is not activated then it should be safe, although personally I would not keep a laptop with a password-protected BIOS
@@yeoldestuff is there any sort of way to remove it ? I know in desktop computer you can just change the little piece that controls bios or something is it the same thing with laptops?
You messed up step 1, which is to disinfect it. Seriously you don't KNOW what they were doing and then touching those keys with. Step 1 is always clean the keyboard 🤣
I totally agree, I actually cleaned the whole laptop with IPA before touching it. While working in a large company, I witnessed people doing all sorts of gross things.
This video proves one thing... The best refurbished laptops to buy are Lenovo ThinkPads. Built like tanks!
I sold my beloved spectre x360 that i had for almost a decade - long story short due to budget constraints I ended up with a x1 carbon g6 i7-16-256 although the ram isn't upgradeable its more than enough for now! This is my first time using a thinkpad - the keyboard, glass trackpad, trackpoint etc. build quality is absolutely amazing - i don't particularly like the rubberized display bezel on it as it can become sticky if cleaned with isopropyl alcohol!
This is wonderfully timely. I just bought a refurbished T480 to use build my first Linux system.
Unfortunately, this process came to a screeching halt when it came to booting from a USB for the RAM check. I have gone down the rabbit hole of information to try and figure out how to do this. I can get into the boot screen but when I choose booting from a USB, the choice flips back to PCI LAN. So I went back into the BIOS changed boot order and disabled Secure Boot. Success!
Thank you.
Thank you for the guide, helped with checking ebay sellers claims of good battery life.
Great vid, just bought an almost 10 year old razer blade off ebay and its currently going through the memtest ringer but everything looks great!
Great clear and insightful video! Thanks for the tips.
Wow, amazing video. I really appreciated all the info you shared. I am in the process of looking for a second hand laptop for traveling. I am brand new to thinkpads. Thanks
Thank you, to the point explanation, so much appreciated👍
Excellent video! Im just about to buy a used laptop, and this video showed up on my youtube homepage
Thanks for the video. Very straightforward, easy to understand follow.
ur the goat bro this is so clean
Hello, thank you for the clear video! I have a used lenovo T490. When I follow your instructions and enter into the bios, it states that *password at boot device list is enabled. According to your video this should be disabled. What are the implications of this - will I be able to do a clean install of windows/reformat still? Should I return the laptop? Thanks. (additionally the bios says that the absolute persistence module is enabled )
Is Absolute Persistence enabled or activated? If it's activated, then you won't be able to do anything. If it's enabled but not activated, you should be able to disable it by choosing "Permanently disabled" in the UEFI setup... if this option is not protected by the supervisor password.
If the boot device order is locked in the BIOS, you probably won't be able to boot from any installation media to reinstall the OS.
Personally, I would simply return the laptop, it's probably more hassle than it's worth.
@@yeoldestuff thanks
super helpful
Thank you
kindly show the keyboard short cut you used to access the report
There is no keyboard shortcut, you have to manually open it
Excellent! So far the most comprehensive, practical and easy to understand video about the subject! Congrats! I'm buying a used laptop and this will definitely be my first guide! have a question I hope you'll have time to answer.... I have now a 10 year old laptop and just purchased a 5 year old laptop.... just trying to keep up.... no gaming or anything like that... I'm working with Windows 8 and I like the way my laptop is setup now with all my programs and such..... I'm buying a laptop which has Window 11 now.... Could I install and use my Windows 8 ssd hard drive I have now and install it in my new used Laptop to keep everything the way I have now? It would save me so much time!!! and effort!! Thanks!!
It may work, but unfortunately Windows 8 does not natively support Intel CPUs and chipsets past Gen 6.
the computer I purchased has an Intel Core i7-8850H CPU @ 2.6Ghz so it's pretty old but it's newer than mine lol seems that Windows 8.1 should handle it don't you think? @@yeoldestuff
Your video very helpful! Thank you.
thanks for the video, man
Thanks for watching!
Thanks! Ill be checking mine now hopefully it'll be great XD
Thanks for the video 👍
Can you quickly tell me how to access bios like you did here. Thanks
Press Enter when the logo appears on the screen and then F1
Awesome
whats the melody at 0:23?
I bought it from a royalty free music library years ago, unfortunately I don't remember the name of the tune
It's a great video , but you didn't consider the laptop illiterate people such as me 😂 i would appreciate a longer and more detailed video
How to know it has critical thunderbolt charging issue before buying?
3:10 that's just false, not every usb-c port supports power delivery (aka charging)
RU Шикарное видео, на Reddit не так много инфы и нет чёткой инструкции, так что однозначно лайк.
EN Awesome video, there is not much info on Reddit and no clear instructions, so definitely like.
Tx...and how can i get screen checking colors?
Google 😅
Thank you, I learned a thing or two.
Is there a quicker way to check ram
Any proper RAM test would have to walk the whole RAM, so it would be quite long.
Thank you!
How much did it cost?
дякую
What does it mean when the battery shows up as not installed in batteryreport?
This means that it's either dead or absent.
@@yeoldestuff thank you for your reply, but the battery is present, and it is recognized by both the bios diagnostics and Dell Power Manager as in excellent health. The problem is
1. It has a discharge profile that lasts only 1 and a half hour , with an abrupt transition at about 60% to 7% ( I captured it on video, the last one I have in my chan)
2. The manufacturing date shown in the bios diagnostics (august 2023) does not match the date code in the PPID (starts with 4, meaning the year ends in 4).
@@dossierEON the fact that it abruptly drops from 60% to 7% means that at least one cell inside the battery is not holding the charge. Is it possible that the battery was rebuilt with generic cells and then the microcontroller was flashed in order to make it appear that everything is OK?
@@yeoldestuff yes, I believe this is a plausible explanation. I am going to contact Dell to see if they are interested in this.
Thankyou!
Thanks
thank you for this great video!! I just bought a used X1 gen 7, I will follow your video. It came with windows 11 installed and office 2021..I am going to wipe the drive or replace the drive. I was reading that the BIOS can have trackers installed ..is that true? is there a way to test for this? Or once I wipe the hard drive after I follow your instructions for testing BIOS it will be safe? thanks again ! so much good information!
Hi, thanks for your comment. Check CompuTrace in the BIOS, if it's not activated then everything is fine.
Thanks for your reply . I looked for computrace in the BIOs & the X1 carbon has different menus options no computrace was listed
@@yeoldestuffcomputrace is enabled but not activated. That's safe then? There is unfortunately a bios password but inside nothing major is locked. Boot order isn't locked. Should I keep this? It was pretty cheap for the good condition.
@@DrMerkwuerdigliebe89 if CompuTrace is not activated then it should be safe, although personally I would not keep a laptop with a password-protected BIOS
@@yeoldestuff is there any sort of way to remove it ? I know in desktop computer you can just change the little piece that controls bios or something is it the same thing with laptops?
awesome
I like
me looking this video on the refurbished t480 i just got: :)
How much?
Neat
You messed up step 1, which is to disinfect it. Seriously you don't KNOW what they were doing and then touching those keys with. Step 1 is always clean the keyboard 🤣
I totally agree, I actually cleaned the whole laptop with IPA before touching it. While working in a large company, I witnessed people doing all sorts of gross things.
@ChudDin yes, that is also a very good point. In my case, I don't use Windows, so every computer gets a fresh install of Debian or OpenSUSE
.
111o
Powercfg /batteryreport
Good video.
Powercfg /batteryreport