Thinkpads Forum

Hello Forum Members !

I'm Joe... and I am not very Smart about computers, So please speak in very simple terms --if you are kind enough to reply..and think you might be able to help me ?

I have am having a sudden and dramatic problem with the display on my computer.....

Here's what happened right before the problem showed up: Last night..it seemed that the power supply to my computer was intermittent: I'd get a sound indicating a switch from electric power to battery.power, the screen would dim slightly then it would switch itself back to electrical power...

This may be unrelated to the REAL problem which eventually showed up ?

Here is the REAL problem : Then... suddenly, a "fade in" of an overall PATTERN covered my entire screen ( seems like mostly yellow-colored vertical dashes ...grouped into patterns... giving the effect that I am viewing my screen through a yellowed-transparent sheet of burlap-textured pattern ....

When I watch the pattern, mostly it stays fixed, but sometimes it does change into a different pattern , sometimes there are groupings of lines, dots and dashes which form vertical columns, then they might switch to an overall pattern of lines only separated into groups....

The color of the pattern seems to change depending on the background color of what I am trying to view.. (yellow pattern on white background.. or...blue pattern on black background...etc.)

If I open a pop-up window, the window might show up briefly in a solid transparent yellow color...then fade into a pattern, and when that window is closed-out, the space UNDER that window might actually be FREE of any pattern...(perfect display, no pattern--- ONLY in that space under the pop-up window...and ONLY for a few seconds, THEN the pattern "fades" right back in).

Gentle but firm Pressing on the palm rests and elsewhere does not effect the pattern, but the occasional smack to both sides at once might change the pattern to another pattern, and once briefly smacking the sides rendered the patterns instantly gone (a perfect display)..but again, only for a few seconds, and then it fades back to a pattern....

When I tried connecting my computer on a separate display monitor ..the pattern STILL DOES appear....

I've tried "system restore" and was unable to find a restore point which would work---my computer "appears" to process the restore point, (says "restoring".... then closes down my computer) but then returns to say: " unable to use the restore point you selected, No changes were made to your computer, please choose another restore point"..I've tried several--and none will work...

I've tried turning my computer off for hours (in case it was a heating issue?)..I've tried re-starting my computer, and tried again in "safe mode"...nothing seems to affect the pattern issue..it's always there

Occasionally, the outside frame around composing an email will HAVE the pattern while the inside blank area --where I'd write an email might temporarily be free of any pattern, but seconds later even that area fades into a pattern...

There are too many weird things happening to describe them all....

I've checked out some of the older posts on here, and it may be similar to what has been described as a "Motherboard problem" and might require replacing the motherboard???

Or... it may be a 'graphics card' issue ??..Updated Drivers or "BIOS" ??? (I've read about these issues, but I don't even know what these terms mean !)...

Here are some of the specs on my computer:(although I do not know what all these things mean):

IBM Thinkpad XP Professional Service pack 3 (2600)
(Factory re-conditioned)...bought about a year ago?
System name: IBM-A3A47D759A0
Sytem BIOS date 6/18/07
BIOS version : IBM 3230
SMBIOS version: RETDRWW (3.23)
SMBIOS/DMI version: 2.33
Video system Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 series

Any ideas ?? Is my poor computer "lost without hope" ????...

Your help is much appreciated ! ~JOE

Hi Joe, and welcome to the Thinkpads Forum.
We would very much like to know what model laptap you are talking about.
It's on the bottom of the laptop, on a sticker, starting with something that looks like TYPE 2647-4MU S/N xx-xxxxx
We don't want the S/N, only the 7-character TYPE.

If yours is a PC and not a laptop, you have less chance of finding help here, although a yellowish screen points towards a bad LCD.

Welcome to the forum!
First, it would be helpfull if you could provide the system type (t41/42...) and model number. Since it is an ATI Radeon I would suspect the infamous GPU issue, well documented on the internet. The best way to try is either to press just above the midle button for the trackpoint, or take off the keyboard and press the fan gently right under the button and turn it on. It is common with most ATI radeons of that age, and the method that I would reccomend of fixing it is by supperior reball, since they fixed mine. If you do try a heatgun reflow and mess up, they can fix it but it may take longer.

Good luck

Hi.. Thanks for your replies so far...

To Clarify, It is a Laptop...and the sticker on bottom only says:
"Type 2373" (NO dash then 3 other digits, not a 7 digit number)...

There is a product key----But I don't think that is what you need ?....

Is there somewhere else in the computer I can look for more info on the type number ?

Regarding using the heat gun suggestion ??? I know nothing about that .. or even what you mean ????... Should I learn more ?

Thanks for further help....

It could be related to your graphics card, but your computer doesn't exhibit the "normal" symptoms of a GPU hardware issue. It could also be a problem with your LCD panel.

Does your LCD show these patterns when you are booting up your computer? What about in safe mode?

If it always shows the patterns then it is hardware related. If you only have the patterns once Windows has started then it is software related (probably messed up drivers).

Hi...

When I boot-up my computer, there is no pattern in the background of the starting up page, BUT the pattern DOES APPEAR within the actually lettering of the WINDOWS LOGO on that page---and the pattern is considerably LARGER than it appears once the boot up is completed....

Yes--The pattern did still show up in Safe Mode....

One more thing: (I had not previously considered it related??? But maybe it is??): For about a week now, (before the patterns started appearing)...I'd noticed that some webpages (like eBay and my email) did not show the entire page on my screen,(as they usually would) the right side of the pages were cut off by about 20% or so....I needed to reduce the ZOOM view to as much as 50% in order to see the entire page ....

Still like to get the proper full TYPE.
Upon booting, immediately press F1 a few times, it will go into the BIOS.
On the first screen, you will see System-unit serial number, followed by a 15 character number.
We need only the first 7 characters (starting with 2373...) which makes it a T40/T41 or T42.

What does it show when you hook up an external monitor, still yellow?
If yes, then your GPU has a problem.
If not, then your LCD has a problem.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Upon booting, immediately press F1 a few times, it will go into the BIOS.

And when your in the BIOS Joe, make sure to note if you see the pattern or not.

I am hoping it's just a driver problem but it is most likely a hardware problem. Does your laptop happen to have an extended warranty currently active on it?

Hi... I followed the suggestion to press F1 upon re-booting, and discovered the rest of the number is 2373WFN ...(I Googled that number...and it looks like that means my model is a T-42 ???? ... is that correct ?)

The pattern DOES appear on all start-up pages and when I am in the BIOS page (pattern is there-LARGE).. ..

The pattern appears about 10 times LARGER in the bios page than it does once I'm on a web page....etc...

Okay... so NOW what are y'all thinking ????

It's hardware. You need to have your motherboard replaced most likely. Time to find a service partnet near you that will perform the repairs on your laptop.

I'm sure you can also send it to Lenovo and pay them to repair it, but that also means you need to ship it to them. Finding a local place is probably more convenient.

This is your laptop, ex factory:

Product: ThinkPad T42 2373-WFN [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: Based on 2373-CTO: P M 715, 512MB RAM, 30GB 4200rpm HDD, 14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 64MB ATI Radeon 9600, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Cisco 802.11b wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

It's cheaper to get the motherboard "reballed" rather than send it in to Lenovo, where you will be charged several hundreds of Dollars!

Only problem is the reballing company, which does not always play "ball".
See this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77322

We are not (yet) aware of another reballing company, other than in the UK.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Only problem is the reballing company, which does not always play "ball".
See this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77322

And that it is not guaranteed to work.

I would at least call Lenovo and get a quote before you make any decisions.

Oy Vey !!! Not good news !!! (But not a surprise)

About how much $$$ would re-balling cost ? (Does one send the entire computer ? or only the motherboard? ..and if so, how do I remove it?)

Also... What about computer Security and Privacy when sending my computer out (anywhere) for repair??

I've got lots of sensitive account information, passwords, private photos, emails,etc. on my computer......

I don't like the idea of anyone nosing around in my computer..

What is the current thinking on the issue of privacy concerns when a computer is in for repair???---

I'd expect that computer enthusiasts like those in this group would have already discussed that issue many times before ???

When you send out the system (to any repair depot / business / service enter), do NOT include anything that is not related to the problem at hand. In your case, you'd have to send the motherboard and LCD (at a minimum). Do NOT ship your hard drive, battery or Ultrabay optical drive. You might also remove (or at least heavily document) the memory module(s) that's in the system as there's no guarantee that whoever repairs your system would have the proper modules. A good repair center will also have the correct AC adapter so you shouldn't need to send yours.

Also, if there's any supervisor password enabled, remove it before shipment.

You can download a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the T4x systems from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464

In it you will find instructions for taking apart the system (yes, all of the way down to the motherboard if need be), some part numbers and useful diagnostic and operating information.