Thinkpads Forum

Hey... I spent all weekend trying to fix this and decided that maybe some people online can help out.

Lets just preface this with the fact that I am well experienced with computers and we can skip all the basic.

I have a brand new T60. I have been using the vga output for about a month now on a daily basis (going to an external screen) and it has worked perectly. About a week ago it just stopped working. I kept thinking it was the monitor but have no checked it with a dozen screens and it doesn't work on each. The video card detects the plugged in monitor but sends no signal. I have tried re-installing the video card drivers several times with no luck. I have also tried an array of resolution and refresh rates.. but the ones I have used before should have worked. All i can trace back to the time it stopped working is a bios upgrade maybe and maybe a new mouse... I am going crazy with this ... please help! Oh and I have the x1400 video card...

Any ideas? Is there maybe some kind of application to test the vga port?

It sounds like a hardware problem. Here's what I would do (this assumes that you're not using a Dock):

1. In the BIOS, set the external display as the boot screen. See if you get external output during POST. If not, I'd blame the hardware.

If you see output to the external display during POST, then I would...

2. Uninstall Presentation Director. See if maybe a bug in that Program is causing this problem.
3. Press Fn+F7 once or twice to cycle the internal/external display setting.
4. Just in case something has gone bad with the ATI Catalyst software, I'd unstall and re-install that as well.

Also.. I couldn't find any Plug And Play (PnP) settings in the Bios ... ATI guys said to also dissable USB in the bios (as a test) and I didn't find that either. The only USB option in the bios doesn't disable it. Any ideas?

Thanks RonS!

I am not using a dock and have tried setting the external display to boot from.. still no signal. I would really hate for it to be a hardware issue.. I can't afford to not have my laptop for a week while IBM looks at it..

Oh, and i already tried #2, #3 and #4.. no luck

If you ever want it fixed, I think you're going to have to bite the bullet and send it in. I know -- it's tough being without your system for even a day.

If/When you send it in, be sure to remove the hard drive first. Send it in without a hard drive.

Thats a good idea... do they allow you to send it without the HD? Can't they say the issue is software related and just not fix it then?

Also, is there any chance their local "service repair" places would be able to do something like this (mobo replace)?

I don't have any direct experience with sending in a Thinkpad for repair. I've read several times on Thinkpad.com about others who send in their system without a hard drive, and it hasn't been a problem. Many people who DO send it in get their system returned with the h.d. restored to factory.

I don't know how local repair centers work either. Can somebody else chime in?

Thanks RonS! Any chance there is some setting in bios that might have been dissabled to cause this? I still can't find a PnP setting.. ATI's site says something about USB interfering with the video card sometimes and they say to disable USB in bios.. but i don't see that either. Any ideas?

I wouldn't pay much attention to the USB/PnP idea, at least not on a Thinkpad.

Here are a few more things you can try:

1. Go into BIOS setup and press F9 to use factory setup defaults. Reboot and see if the problem remains.

2. Power down and disconnect ALL peripherals, remove the battery, and hold the power button down for about 30 seconds. Reconnect the battery and VGA cable, and see if the problem remains.

3. Look in the little holes on the VGA connector. In each hole, you should see a metal conductor. If you don't, maybe one of them got pushed back too far. I've seen it happen before on other computers.

4. I'm assuming that you've swapped out the VGA cable in case it's bad? If not, try that too.

Thanks Ron.. I am going to give it a try.. come to think of it, it does look like one of them could have gotten pushed too far back.. what would I be able to do about that? I'd open the thing up, but i don't want to void the warranty.

Nope.. no luck.. I keep thinking that maybe I should try disabling USB.. any idea how to do that? I can't find that option in the bios.. Windows won't let me change the IRQ's and such on the video card either...

It can be as simple as the vga port being moved back a little to far... but i won't know unless i open it.

Also, running a program in windows detects the monitor.. brand, model .. etc.. just doesn't send a signal.. very very strange.

A bad contact on one of the pins in the VGA port that prevents the video from working might not prevent the info signaling. If the connector is damaged you may be looking at a new mobo

[censored]... so there is no way they can just replace the VGA head? And I am guessnig a new mobo means it has to be sent off ? (Has anyone had any experience with the service centers?).

amelen wrote:[censored]... so there is no way they can just replace the VGA head? And I am guessnig a new mobo means it has to be sent off ? (Has anyone had any experience with the service centers?).

It's got a warranty. Why wouldn't you want to make use of it? Besides, if you go modifying the motherboard you will void the warranty for the future.

How does the warranty process work? You send it to them.. and how long is the usual turn around?

amelen wrote:How does the warranty process work? You send it to them.. and how long is the usual turn around?

I cannot tell you from personal experience since I have never needed the warranty to date. Here is one thread with some information: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=29612 . You can use the search button at the top of the page to find out other users experience with warranty service.

I would call Lenovo to find out how long they say a warranty turnaround will take. Delay times probably change depending upon the time of the year and other things.

Service center #1 - lost their certification
Service center #2 - 2 certified tech's just quit
Service center #3 - not picking up
Service center #4 - out of business

LOL

IBM said 7 business days turn around

I think i might have to just give up on vga and get a docking station.. although im kind of [censored] that a brand new $2,000+ laptop would do this.

In case anyone is wondering.. $360 for IBM to come to your house and fix it... I can get me a new mobo for that ;9

...or upgrade your warranty to an on-site warranty, wait a few days and then call for service.

you have tried this on different external monitors, with the same result? ?

Preferably a modern LCD external monitor.

If that fails, send it in for service.

Don't bother to mess with the BIOS PnP settings. use the defaults.

Hit FnF7 to switch outputs, wait 5 sec between presses when you have the different external LCD connected