Sunday, March 3, 2013

x220t Windows 8

I spent the last couple days installing Windows 8 on my x220t tablet convertible and a new SSD CT128M4SSD3.

Here are some hitches and solutions:
1. Won't install to SSD. Keeps saying that Windows can't be installed to this partition or something like that. Using Shift-F10, you can get to the command prompt. Using DiskPart you can play with this disk. I physicall removed my HDD first as to not risk affecting my Windows 7 partition and data. In the end, I finally got it working by converting the SSD to GPT, and NOT doing anything else. Once the disk was marked as GPT, all went well.

2. Windows Update installs updates and then reverts them saying they failed to install. Update the Conexant audio driver first (through Windows Update). That fixes the rest of the updates so they all update smoothly.

3. From my experience, do NOT install Wacom driver from Wacom. It makes the accuracy of the touch screen go way down. Not sure why. After I uninstalled Wacom's generic Tablet PC driver, touch got more accurate.

4. Camera stays upside down, haven't yet figured out how to fix that. The Lenovo Integrated Camera Driver for Windows 7 doesn't work on Windows 8 (Ricoh Bison). Even though it looks like it's installed, it won't show up in the camera app or skype.

5. Microphone doesn't work. Disable the mic's Audio Enhancements option through the sound applet in the control panel.

6. Auto rotate doesn't work. Install Windows 7 version of Tablet Shortcut Menu. Go to location of Tablet Shortcut Menu link, and set compatibility mode to "Run as Administrator". It only opens from the desktop mode of Windows 8, will not open from the Start screen. Once in the tablet utility, choose settings. Then check the Auto Rotate checkbox.

Feel free to leave additional tips in the comments section.
Nachum