Thinkpads Forum

Hello @all,

I finally managed to set up my "new" T60p with all software I need. Today was my first day I used it in my daily business, and today I discovered, that the audio output on the port replicator 2504 ist exremely quiet AND there is no sound from built-in speakers when laptop is on the replicator. I find it strange, and would like to know, if someone here has already experienced such a behaviour and if there is a solution/work-around for the issue.

Regards,
Andrey.

Make sure that the software audio volume is on max when using the mini-dock.

Also check whatever you are connecting there (headphones/speakers) when directly attached to the laptop audio output to make sure it's not a problem of the external equipment.

If both above things check true, it seems like a faulty connection in the mini-dock. It happens.

Hello @all,

here are my latest observations:

(1) laptop without dock: quite clear and loud sound from built-in speakers as well as built-in audio output when hardware volume is between positions 8 and 11. Also the beep-sound from the hardware volume control is there;

(2) laptop on the dock with loudspeakers connected to the dock's audio output: no sound from built-in speakers, quite clear and loud sound from built-in audio output, quite clear and loud sound from external loudspeakers when hardware volumne control is between 10 and 12.

Looks like built-in speakers become "disconnected" as soon as laptop is on the dock.

Another strange thing I noticed today: I have real problems with booting my laptop (both Windows and Linux), when power cord is attached to dock. Actually, I have to boot on a battery and than just plug in the cable. I haven't checked the boot messages of Windows, and Linux (in recovery mode) hangs with a message "ACPI Core revision 20121018"... No idea what it could be, but I will try to check, what's going on there..

Regards,
Andrey.

dr_st wrote:Make sure that the software audio volume is on max when using the mini-dock.

Also check whatever you are connecting there (headphones/speakers) when directly attached to the laptop audio output to make sure it's not a problem of the external equipment.

If both above things check true, it seems like a faulty connection in the mini-dock. It happens.

Yes, in these models the built-in speakers are disconnected when the laptop is docked. In previous docks/laptops it wasn't the case.

Regarding the other problem,

If the laptop is docked and the power is not connected to the dock, it's like it isn't docked.

Can you boot normally with the power supply connected directly to the laptop, without the dock?

If so, the culprit is somewhere in the dock, and there are a few things to check.

If not, it can be the laptop or power supply.

Hello dr_st,

this is a strange solution. Why should the internal speakers be disabled, when my laptop is on the dock? It means, I MUST switch on my external speakers to hear anything.

Booting: I cannot describe you exact scenarios, when it happens (haven't analysed them yet), but in general it looks as follows: in both Linux and Windows I can sometimes boot my laptop with power cord connected to dock (so, the laptop is on the dock), and sometimes (in most cases it happens after restart, not just switching on from the "cold" state) I cannot - Windows hangs while showing rotating logo, and Linux just hangs (in recovery mode message about ACPI revision is shown). When I switch off the laptop, pull out the cord (so, the laptop is not on the dock), I can boot as usually (afterwards I connect the cord again).

It's obviously something wrong with a dock. For instance, I use "Catalyst Control Center" (ATI driver for Vista, installed in Win7) to manage my screens (like I did it on T43p). I have an external monitor, which I usually use to watch TV. So, when I switch an external monitor on, I can extend my desktop on it (so, that I get dual-head construction), BUT I cannot disable this extension when I want to switch off the monitor. I have to use "Presentation director" and set to "LCD monitor only".

At the present I'm very satisfied with the laptop itself, but there are so many issues with Widows 7 and Lenovo software and all that drivers... And this port replicator/dock is quite strange... My previous one was completely passive part, which worked in any situation - with or without power. The new one seems to be more complicated...

Regards,
Andrey.

dr_st wrote:Yes, in these models the built-in speakers are disconnected when the laptop is docked. In previous docks/laptops it wasn't the case.

Regarding the other problem,

If the laptop is docked and the power is not connected to the dock, it's like it isn't docked.

Can you boot normally with the power supply connected directly to the laptop, without the dock?

If so, the culprit is somewhere in the dock, and there are a few things to check.

If not, it can be the laptop or power supply.

Actually, upon deeper inspection - the internal speakers are only muted if the laptop has the external speakers connected. It happens whether the laptop is docked or not, whether you use the dock audio out or the laptop line out.

It makes sense to do it this way. Normally when you connect external speakers / headphones you do not want the sound also coming out of the laptop. If you use headphones, it's because you want to prevent others from hearing the sound. If you use external speakers, you generally do not want an effect of double audio coming through two sources.

It can be that you have a faulty mini-dock. Just in case, though, I would poke around the BIOS and check for various ACPI / Power Management / PCI Bus / Plug-n-play related settings, and see if tweaking them affects anything.

Also, do you use any legacy serial/parallel devices (COM/LPT) connected to the dock? If so, disable the "Legacy ports on mini-dock" BIOS setting (it can sometimes cause problems).

Hello,

sorry for replying so late - daily business didn't let me check ma private mails regularly.

So, the topic of sound issues is closed for me. You are absolutely right, muting the built-in speakers when external are connected is quite logical.

The problem of hanging on rebbot occurs in most cases after installing Windows updates (or GENERALLY after execution reboot from Windows). In this case I either schould way several minutes, or disconnect my laptop (and port replicator) from power supply, boot it and connect again. When I switch it off completely, and then after some time (next day, several hours) switch on gaian, it starts properly.

Any idea?

Regards,
Andrey

dr_st wrote:Actually, upon deeper inspection - the internal speakers are only muted if the laptop has the external speakers connected. It happens whether the laptop is docked or not, whether you use the dock audio out or the laptop line out.

It makes sense to do it this way. Normally when you connect external speakers / headphones you do not want the sound also coming out of the laptop. If you use headphones, it's because you want to prevent others from hearing the sound. If you use external speakers, you generally do not want an effect of double audio coming through two sources.

It can be that you have a faulty mini-dock. Just in case, though, I would poke around the BIOS and check for various ACPI / Power Management / PCI Bus / Plug-n-play related settings, and see if tweaking them affects anything.

Also, do you use any legacy serial/parallel devices (COM/LPT) connected to the dock? If so, disable the "Legacy ports on mini-dock" BIOS setting (it can sometimes cause problems).