New Lenovo G570 Teething Issues [ Edited ]

[f8fw8GODxu]

Dear Lenovo-connected moderators, outriders and the like (Please note that in error I originally posted this to the other thread):

I just bought in Europe a new Lenovo G570.  I have the following issues:

1. Since I always resize the C: partition I have removed the possibility of using one-key restore.  It seems bizarre that Lenovo would force keeping the C: partition at its initial size.  Surely it would be possible to write the one-key software to work around repartitioning the HDD.  I did the resize of the C: partition immediately after purchase as part of my personal data and program installation and found out later about the requirement not to resize.  Moreover, as far as I can recall there was no D: partition already installed, which I might have been able to live with (I prefer multiple data partitions).  Any way to fix this problem?  For I restored the C: partition to its original size but that didn't help; I couldn't get the recovery DVD's made; the one-key button was non-functional.  What do I have to do to get the recovery features back?  For I see that for very similar products a fresh install of Win 7 causes all kinds of problems, and in the absence of recovery DVD's that's really the only other option.  I should point out that at the moment the computer is working; I'm just trying to do my preventative medicine for the day the computer crashes.
2. Lenovo's model numbering is very confusing, as is the Lenovo habit of updating system specs on the fly.  My model name is 20079; my model number is CB01031166.  If I download the current specs for the model from the Lenovo site (just did) they don't agree with what I have.  Major differences are that my computer shipped with an Intel i5-2410M processor, a 640 GB HDD and with a separate ATI Graphics Card (Radeon Premium).  Thanks, but this leads to issues about driver updates when I search for downloads for my computer on the Lenovo site.  In particular, it's not clear to me whether I should be reflashing BIOS with the latest BIOS.  On the thread about serious issues with the Idea Pad Z570, I saw recommended the reflashing of the BIOS.  You might ask, well why would I go there?  Because the Lenovo site does not support searching on models that are not branded Think Pad or Idea Pad.  Mine's branded Essentials and it's just not recognized even in the automated search using the Internet Explorer.  So searching for Lenovo G570, that's what a Google search turned up and the specs of the Z570 are extremely similar to the G570 I have.  So if someone could tell me how to find the driver updates for my model, I'd be very grateful.
3. I see in the Z570 thread that if the CD is not the first boot priority then the WiFi doesn't work.  Does this also apply to my model?
4. When I boot with an external Sata HDD attached (to see if BIOS will recognize it for boot purposes), the boot procedure freezes until I unplug the Sata HDD.  Of course the external HDD is plugged into the USB port.  This seems to be a problem with the BIOS, although admittedly I can't recall if the BIOS flash screen shows and it freezes after, or it freezes before it reaches the BIOS flash screen.
5. I also see that the fan that's always running is actually a serious warranty issue.  I hadn't realized that it wasn't some quirk of my software.  So here we are with a serious warranty issue.  Update: 23/2/12.  This does not seem to be a real problem on my machine at the moment.  While the fan works more than I would have expected, it will shut down eventually once the computer is not doing anything.  Possibly the actual software I'm using on the machine is causing heavy fan use.  This is something of a relief.
6. According to the specs the computer ships with a USB/eSata port.  And indeed there is a port in the right place that is different from the other USB ports.  The port of course works with USB.  However, its shape is not the usual eSatap shape.  In particular it doesn't have the cutouts left and right for the usual eSatap jack.  Instead it has a cutout at the top.  But for the life of me and my dealer, there is nowhere on the Net where we can find an image of the Lenovo USB/eSata port and certainly nowhere where I can buy a jack/adaptor/external SATA disk that fits the Lenovo USB/eSata port.

Here's an image of my USB/eSata port.  It's the middle of the three ports.  Of course, on the left is something for TV that is irrelevant, and to the right is a normal USB port.  How do I find anything to work with it at eSata speeds?

Thanks very much.

[f8fw8GODxu]

Dear Lenovo-connected moderators, outriders and the like (Please note that in error I originally posted this to the other thread):

I just bought in Europe a new Lenovo G570.  I have the following issues:

1. Since I always resize the C: partition I have removed the possibility of using one-key restore.  It seems bizarre that Lenovo would force keeping the C: partition at its initial size.  Surely it would be possible to write the one-key software to work around repartitioning the HDD.  I did the resize of the C: partition immediately after purchase as part of my personal data and program installation and found out later about the requirement not to resize.  Moreover, as far as I can recall there was no D: partition already installed, which I might have been able to live with (I prefer multiple data partitions).  Any way to fix this problem?  For I restored the C: partition to its original size but that didn't help; I couldn't get the recovery DVD's made; the one-key button was non-functional.  What do I have to do to get the recovery features back?  For I see that for very similar products a fresh install of Win 7 causes all kinds of problems, and in the absence of recovery DVD's that's really the only other option.  I should point out that at the moment the computer is working; I'm just trying to do my preventative medicine for the day the computer crashes.
2. Lenovo's model numbering is very confusing, as is the Lenovo habit of updating system specs on the fly.  My model name is 20079; my model number is CB01031166.  If I download the current specs for the model from the Lenovo site (just did) they don't agree with what I have.  Major differences are that my computer shipped with an Intel i5-2410M processor, a 640 GB HDD and with a separate ATI Graphics Card (Radeon Premium).  Thanks, but this leads to issues about driver updates when I search for downloads for my computer on the Lenovo site.  In particular, it's not clear to me whether I should be reflashing BIOS with the latest BIOS.  On the thread about serious issues with the Idea Pad Z570, I saw recommended the reflashing of the BIOS.  You might ask, well why would I go there?  Because the Lenovo site does not support searching on models that are not branded Think Pad or Idea Pad.  Mine's branded Essentials and it's just not recognized even in the automated search using the Internet Explorer.  So searching for Lenovo G570, that's what a Google search turned up and the specs of the Z570 are extremely similar to the G570 I have.  So if someone could tell me how to find the driver updates for my model, I'd be very grateful.
3. I see in the Z570 thread that if the CD is not the first boot priority then the WiFi doesn't work.  Does this also apply to my model?
4. When I boot with an external Sata HDD attached (to see if BIOS will recognize it for boot purposes), the boot procedure freezes until I unplug the Sata HDD.  Of course the external HDD is plugged into the USB port.  This seems to be a problem with the BIOS, although admittedly I can't recall if the BIOS flash screen shows and it freezes after, or it freezes before it reaches the BIOS flash screen.
5. I also see that the fan that's always running is actually a serious warranty issue.  I hadn't realized that it wasn't some quirk of my software.  So here we are with a serious warranty issue.  Update: 23/2/12.  This does not seem to be a real problem on my machine at the moment.  While the fan works more than I would have expected, it will shut down eventually once the computer is not doing anything.  Possibly the actual software I'm using on the machine is causing heavy fan use.  This is something of a relief.
6. According to the specs the computer ships with a USB/eSata port.  And indeed there is a port in the right place that is different from the other USB ports.  The port of course works with USB.  However, its shape is not the usual eSatap shape.  In particular it doesn't have the cutouts left and right for the usual eSatap jack.  Instead it has a cutout at the top.  But for the life of me and my dealer, there is nowhere on the Net where we can find an image of the Lenovo USB/eSata port and certainly nowhere where I can buy a jack/adaptor/external SATA disk that fits the Lenovo USB/eSata port.

Here's an image of my USB/eSata port.  It's the middle of the three ports.  Of course, on the left is something for TV that is irrelevant, and to the right is a normal USB port.  How do I find anything to work with it at eSata speeds?

Thanks very much.

[Libra]

I can't help with much but if you go here http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/DriversDownloads/drivers.html and select "laptops and netbooks" in the first area, and then in the next area scroll down to almost the bottom until you find "G570" and continue, I believe you will find the drivers for your G570. I agree this is all confusing. I have noticed other threads about losing the one-touch recovery. I don't know if a fix is mentioned. Here's another link with hints and tips which you have to put the information which I listed above in.

http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/HintsandTips/hints.html

You may find something useful there. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Libra

EDIT:  These are US sites, you may have to go to the main lenovo support side and pick your location before going to the download site.

[f8fw8GODxu]

Thanks.

The driver site asks for a serial number and then gives me a list of drivers for my model, although because of the proliferation of similar models I'm still a little doubtful.  For example, I have to figure out whether I have an Intel chipset or not.  Since I have a separate ATI Radeon graphics card, it's not obvious to me who did the chipset.  I have to check.  Also for the ATI Radeon Graphics card there's a 485MB (!) download.  I have looked at the release numbers but there's not a complete comparability between the numbers given on my machine and one the site.  It wants some care.

But still given it's keying on my serial number, there's progress.

The FAQ type site really doesn't address serious problems; it's more for newbies.

Incidentally, I've corrected the previous post to show that the fan does turn off, so that's not an extreme issue.

[ExJamJus]

The Chipset is the same just that your laptop comes with a discrete thus you can install the ATi video GPU drivers.

Also 512MB for your ATi does not show full 512MB. This applies for RAM or HDD space as well. A 1TB HDD does not show 1TB, it would only show 958MB or something like that.

1. One Key Recovery follows the stock factory partition, if partition is changed then OKR is not going to work. Its the way it has been designed.
2. Automated search on IE is only available for ThinkPad, if you want the drivers for G570, you can just go straight to the G570 page. BIOS applies for both G570 with or without discrete GPU.
3. Z570 WLAN not working should be fixed via BIOS, I don't think the G570 is affected. Though I think the V570 might be affected, can't remember.
4. The BIOS might want to try to boot from the external HDD, might want to put the main HDD in the first boot priority.
5. eSata / USB port means that you can plug in a eSata port or a USB on the particular port. Its designed that way so you can choose to use either one on the particular port.

Hope this helps.

[f8fw8GODxu]

@ExJamJus

Thanks for replying on behalf of Lenovo:

Let's clear up confusion on two points.

1. The download for the ATI Radeon Graphics Card driver update is 455MB.  That's a huge download.  I just want to make sure that installing such a large package on my system is not going to damage it.  This is not an issue about the size of the embedded memory on the Graphics Card, to which you seem to be responding.  I've just never seen a driver download that's so big.
2. Yes, I understand about the eSata/USB dual-use port.  The problem is this: the shape of the port on my computer is NOT STANDARD for an eSata/USB port.  A standard eSata/USB female port has cut-outs on the left and right so that the male plug has to have 'ears' left and right.  The female port on my machine, as shown in the photograph--and as can be seen on any photograph of a G570 on the Web--doesn't have the cut-outs for the 'ears' on the male plug, so a standard eSata/USB male plug doesn't fit into the female port on my machine.  I can't find an eSata/USB male plug to fit that port for eSata use anywhere--it's just ot on the Internet; my computer technician has never seen it before.  It's true that a standard USB male plug works, but that only gives USB 2.0 speeds, not eSata speeds.  Where can I get an eSata plug to use with this port?  Or an HDD that uses an eSata plug compatible with this Lenovo port?  The standard eSata/USB female ports use a DIFFERENT male plug (with 'ears').

Thanks.

[ExJamJus]

Hello f8fw8GODxu,

I went through your pic and compared to a T420 I have here ... Indeed the port is not a eSata/USB port. It looks like an ordinary USB port instead,

There have been discussions here about the port, read link below.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-3000-and-Essential/Does-my-G570-have-an-eSata-USB-combo-port/td-p...

User guide for G570 here -> http://consumerdl.lenovo.cdn20.com/UserFiles/UserGuide/en/User%27s%20guides%20and%20manuals/G470G570...

Also in regards to your Nvidia questions, that one is how they package the driver. I doubt the driver would damage your system however do save an old copy of your driver in your system.

Thanks

[f8fw8GODxu]

Thanks, ExJamJus.

I went to the link for the forum discussion on the port and the consensus is that the port's different and no one but no one whether inside Lenovo or outside Lenovo has any idea why.  It does work as USB but it certainly doesn't have the standard eSata/USB shape and we're all wondering why it's there.  Can't you contact engineering somewhere and ask them what it's all about?

I downloaded the manual.

With respect to the ATI Radeon graphics card (NOT Nvidia), I thought drivers were installed by an installer program, so that it's not merely a matter of going to the windows folder for the driver and copying it.  So how am I going to keep a copy of my driver before I install the 455 MB ATI Radeon update to the graphics card?

Thanks very much.

[ExJamJus]

@f8fw8GODxu,

Based on the shape of the port, its only a USB port where as the one port on my T420 clearly states that its an eSata/USB and indeed it have the "wings" on the sides for the eSata port.

This could be cause by different configuration of the G570, if the unit is suppose to support the eSata/USB then I guess they are going to fit it with a different shape port. I think you should check with the reseller or sales team if your G570 is suppose to support the eSata/USB or is it only config for USB only.

[f8fw8GODxu]

Thanks for replying ExJamJus.

I will ask the local reseller, but I suspect they don't know more than anyone else.  The problem is that the specs are very fluid on these units--after all, I have a ATI Radeon graphics card whereas the specs typically say that its an integrated (on-the-motherboard) Intel graphics card.  Some places, as other users have noted, they do spec it as having an eSata/USB port, but there's just no plug available with that shape with any specification.  My technician who sold me the computer thought that the only possibility was that the plug would be introduced later.  He'd never seen one and he takes computers apart and fixes them.

As for the drivers, I installed all the drivers.  Nothing terrible happened except as follows:

1. One of the ATI Radeon updates, for Hydravision I believe, comes to an end where kdbsync.exe can't start at boot time because Open.dll is missing.  You can follow up on the Internet.  The fix is to download Open.dll and put it in the proper folder in Program files.  It works now--or at least I don't get an error message at boot time.
2. This is import for Lenovo: Lenovo energy management upgrade gave me the option to install on top of the old Lenovo energy management but it would require a reboot.  So I did it.  But what happened was that Lenovo energy management wouldn't start at boot time.  I tried repair, no deal.  So I had to completely uninstall Lenovo energy management and then do a fresh install.  It works now.  This is going to irritate people.  Bad for business.
3. It's unclear in some of these cases just what driver is installed on the computer and it's not clear whether the driver installer programs are always coded to check whether the driver being installed is not older than the installed driver.  So it makes it a little chancy to download and install a driver that was issued not long before the manufacture date of the product.

[ExJamJus]

@f8fw8GODxu,

I've went through the HMM for G570 and I see that they only state 4 x USB ports on their I/O ports section. Thus I don't think that the eSata port is supported on any G570 system.

See HMM for G570 below.

http://consumerdl.lenovo.com.cn/UserFiles/UserGuide/en/User%27s%20guides%20and%20manuals/G475G575/Le...