T60 flashing display when on battery?

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AuroraGuy · #1 Post by **AuroraGuy** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:12 am

so I updated my T60 to the latest BIOS and latest Power Manager and latest video driver....

BIOS 2.14
PM Driver 1.15
and Video driver 6.14.10.4785

What I am seeing now (at times) is when I go on Battery, my screen starts to flash on/off rapidly...like 1x per 1/2 sec. Its not a flicker but on/off and on/off

If I reconnect the AC - it stops. It is totally duplicatable.
As long as I am on AC - I have no issues....

Anyone see this and have any thoughts? - the only thing I have in PM settings for battery is to reduce the brightness 1-2 steps down. Everything else is matched for AC.

Help?

-JD

Mugrunty · #2 Post by **Mugrunty** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:07 pm

I have exactly the same problem. I can get it to do it when opening a certain foler that has videos in it. But yes, i have had this problem. I would be reading something online or something and then the screen would flicker a few times. It also only happened on battery. I'm not sure if it is still doing it. my BIOS version is now 2.14.

adrian.chung · #3 Post by **adrian.chung** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:42 pm

Interestingly, I just searched and came across this, I've had to revert back to 6.14.10.4693 (which I had a tough time finding) to correct this problem on an X60.

I've got 3GB of RAM (2GB and 1GB SO-DIMMs). If I leave only one DIMM in, I get a flashing screen which will not stop until I reconnect the power.

With both DIMMs in, I get a multicoloured screen and a STOP 0x8e and a reboot when the AC is unplugged.

Seems like a problem with the driver.

tebore · #4 Post by **tebore** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:05 am

I get a few flashes too at times then it stops and works fine but it's strange. I get a flash when I open or close Windows Media Player. I'm using Mobile Cat 7.6 from ATI and the latest BIOS and PM drivers and PM.

smiler · #5 Post by **smiler** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:04 pm

I just started to get this pb on my T60 since I went BIOS level 2.13.to 2.14...may be a coincidence.

Remove AC..sometimes flashes violently over total screen...will not stop, even if display brightness dimmed. Plug AC back in and ok.

I can cure the flashing LCD while it is on battery by Fn+F7 to cycle round LCD+ext monitor modes, then it is fine on the battery. It is not a solid pb going from AC>battery, only sometimes. Battery is always 100% charged when it happens as well.

Also happens when I go from my minidock > undock that uses a different power supply.

I will call support and try get a new battery under warranty first.

smiler

T60 1951-A47
LCD 1400 x 1050
BIOS 2.14
CPU T7200 (DIY upgrade)

rnem170 · #6 Post by **rnem170** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:45 pm

I have the same problem...
T60 1951-CZ1 running 79ETD6WW (2.16) BIOS.

I'll report the problem internally within IBM tomorrow. I wanted to check if I was the only one with the problem, but it would appear not.

If you open a command prompt, then force it full screen (alt-enter) then back again, it clears the problem - so it has something to do with the video mode.

dwaynel · #7 Post by **dwaynel** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:30 am

Can advise that I am also getting this problem with latest drivers - rolling back to an older video driver fixed the problem. This is on an X60

caffemusse · #8 Post by **caffemusse** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:07 am

Just to let you guys know, I too have tried this screen flashing, though on battery, and it seems to cure itself. Hav no idea what it is, so Ill b happy to hear how you others solved it, and I will try the same treatment.
really makes my t60 feel unstable.....

Tamas · #9 Post by **Tamas** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:21 am

This problem is caused by the faulty Intel GMA 950 graphics driver.
The solution is simple first you should uninstall the existing Intel driver under Add/Remove programs, after this you can install a new version from the Intel website:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product ... 1&lang=eng

Maybe Lenovo also noticed this problem because the old driver is 'Temporaly Unavailable' at the support website but they've not linked the newer updated driver from Intel, I don't know why.

SpawnyWhippet · #10 Post by **SpawnyWhippet** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:43 pm

I too suffered this intermittent problem running on battery power on my 6371-A3U. I updated my Intel 945 Express video driver to 6.14.10.4859 and the flicker problem seems to be resolved for now.

puma · #11 Post by **puma** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:15 pm

Hey Spawny, where did you download that driver from, i cant seem to find it.

puma · #12 Post by **puma** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:16 pm

Found the driver but it says it is not compatible with my system... t60 6371 e4u

smiler · #13 Post by **smiler** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:30 am

I downloaded the file win2k_xp1431.exe but it will not install, get messsage during setup that driver is not validated for this system and setup exits. I have a 1951-A47 and my current driver is 6.10.14.4785.

Any ideas ??

AnywayI just unstalled new video driver to try to fix this pb:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67838

Version 6.14.10.4860

See how things go...

pezpaul · #14 Post by **pezpaul** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:22 am

I am experiencing this problem as well, but do not have the Intel GMA 9xx graphics card.

I'm running a 2613 with the ATI x1400. It began after I upgraded to the latest BIOS as well, so I would imagine that could be part of the problem...

Kind of annoying for the last couple of months. It's like the flickering of a fluorescent bulb once every couple of hours. Strange indeed.

Mugrunty · #15 Post by **Mugrunty** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:25 am

Same with me. I dont have the intigrated graphics but the X1300 card. i have the same symptoms but it seems to have some relation to movies or windows media player. I remember i had a folder full of vidoes, and when i opened it the screen would flicker like 6 times. It happened over time i opened that folder. Some other video folders had no effect. Sometimes windows media player makes the screen fliker once.

simsphil · #16 Post by **simsphil** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 2:54 pm

@all

Hi,

Maybe, you should try, as me to check the frequency refresh (don't know exactly the term as I've a french Windows) in your IBM Power Management Utility. The choosen mode manages the frequency switching between 50 and 60 Hz.
Take a look also in the Intel Graphic Utility, in the "screen setting", set the frequency to 50 Hz, and try some times. For me, the flickerring seems to have disapeared...

Hope it'll help...

Phil

missee · #17 Post by **missee** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:32 am

Same problem too...

I just noticed I can fix it to put my T60 to sleep mode and then weak up.

I checked Device Manager --> display adapters. Why there are 2 drivers for display adapters ?

--------
Display adapters
Mobile Intel 945GM/GU Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel 945GM/GU Express Chipset Family
-------

And Monitors, there are also several monitors:

---------
Monitors
Default Monitor
Default Monitor
...
...
Generic Television
Generic Television
Thinkpad Display 1024x768
Thinkpad Display 1024x768
----------

I have sometimes removed those, but there are several again... Why ??

Display driver is 6.14.10.4785. I tried to update it, but there was no newer.

simsphil · #18 Post by **simsphil** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:15 am

@missee

coz, we have "2" video... 1 internal: the T60 LCD screen, and 1 external where you can plug an external monitor (VGA connector). So, 2 video management... the resolution, frequency, etc, can be different.

Don't remove it, as it'll come back !

P.S. I think I can now confirm the flickering problem comes from the frequency switching...

Simsphil

missee · #19 Post by **missee** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:27 am

simsphil wrote: Don't remove it, as it'll come back !
Simsphil

OK.

This problem have begun few times ago. Now I remember, there was update for Intel video adapter on Windows Update. Maybe it is problem?

There is "Roll back driver" on Device Manager. What do You think?

wswartzendruber · #20 Post by **wswartzendruber** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:03 am

My fix for this was to open the "Intel(R) GMA Driver for Mobile" control panel item. Choose "Display Settings" from the left pane and then choose the "Power Settings" button. From the new window that pops up, disable "Intel(R) Power Saving Technology."

missee · #21 Post by **missee** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:49 am

wswartzendruber wrote:My fix for this was to open the "Intel(R) GMA Driver for Mobile" control panel item. Choose "Display Settings" from the left pane and then choose the "Power Settings" button. From the new window that pops up, disable "Intel(R) Power Saving Technology."

Good point !

I think I fixed it by rolling back display adapter driver:
6.14.10.4785 ---> 6.14.10.4436

Maybe there is conflict between Intel and Levono power saving..?

T60 flashing display when on battery?

T60 flashing display when on battery?

X60 with 6.14.10.4785 does this too.

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