ThinkPad T410

The Lenovo ThinkPad T410 is a business-class notebook computer built on the Intel Arrandale platform.

Features include a magnesium alloy rollcage, 7-row keyboard with TrackPoint and the Lenovo UltraBay. The 14.1-inch 16:10 display is LED backlit with 1280x800 (WXGA) or 1440x900 (WXGA+) resolution.

Configured with a first-generation Core i5 or i7 processor, integrated camera, optional hybrid graphics and multiple wireless options, the ThinkPad T410 provides an excellent balance of mobility, performance and connectivity.

The resources assembled here are intended to help owners get the most out of their ThinkPad T410. Please use the contact form below to suggest any additions or changes.

OVERHEATING / CPU ISSUES

Turbo Boost under Windows on the T410 and T410s can cause the CPU to overheat and shut down. A simple workaround will remedy this issue and keep the CPU running at normal temperatures:

Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options
Select Change plan settings of the power plan you are using
Select Change advanced power settings
Select Processor power management and set Maximum processor state to 99% for both On battery and Plugged in

The maximum CPU clock speed may be limited when the system is operated on the 65W AC adapter and no battery is installed. To prevent automatic CPU throttling, leave the battery in place while running on AC power or use a 90W AC adapter.
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BATTERY ISSUES

Check here to see if your battery is subject to the Lenovo battery recall
Run the battery firmware update to address potential problems with the battery not holding a proper charge
Reset the battery gauge by launching Power Manager (click the battery icon), select Advanced > Battery > Battery maintenance > Perform Reset
- To perform the reset if Power Manager is not installed: fully charge the battery, unplug the AC adapter and let the battery completely discharge, then fully recharge the battery

SOUND ISSUES

The ThinkPad T410 often exhibits a problem where audio output through the built-in speakers cuts out after a period of normal playback. This problem manifests under different operating systems and with different audio drivers and is believed to be a hardware issue. Audio output through the headphone jack and DisplayPort is not affected.

An excellent discussion of this problem and attempts to develop a solution is available here.

RAM SUPPORT

The ThinkPad T410 supports a maximum of 8GB (two 4GB modules) of 204-pin DDR3 PC3 8500 1066MHz non-ECC RAM
Faster RAM such as PC3-10600 or PC3-12800 can be installed but will operate at PC3-8500 speeds
Install two modules of any capacity to enable Dual Channel memory speeds
Avoid high-density RAM which has been found to cause compatibility problems in the T410
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STORAGE

Primary hard drive bay accommodates standard 2.5-inch, 9mm drives and supports SATA II (3Gb/s) speeds
Install a Solid State Drive (SSD) with a SATA II or faster interface to significantly improve overall system performance
Recommended SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 250GB

BIOS

The current official BIOS version as well as previous versions can be downloaded from Lenovo here
A modified version of this BIOS that removes the “whitelist” check and allows the installation of a wider variety of internal components such as wireless cards can be downloaded here. Original source here.

WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL RECOVERY DVD SET

Images of the three DVD set to recover Windows 7 Professional to your ThinkPad T410 can be downloaded here (alternate source here)
The installation process will also create a fully-functional recovery partition that can be booted by pressing F11 at startup
Instructions for use of these images are in the included Read Me file