can't even see bios screen, until i delete my nvidia drivers

[the0ther]

i have a t61 with the core duo 2GH processor & 2GB of ram. i have been using it with a docking station and an external monitor. i like to run with both the screens.

but i got into some trouble lately. i'm running now without my nvidia drivers because at one point i could not even see the bios screen, let alone the windows startup screen. eventually i powered on the laptop and stuck it back on the docking station and was able to get the monitor displaying again.

i still can't get the laptop display to show me anything. anytime i restore the nvidia drivers i reboot and get a screen with a bunch of white lines across it.

anyone seen something like this before? i'd provide more information if that helps.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.

Initially I would say you have set the laptop-LCD's resolution OR the refresh-rate too high!
Upon booting, keep hitting F8 a few times, until you see a menu. Select "Safe Mode".
Once in Windows, check the screen resolution, set it back to 1440x900 if Widescreen, 1400x1050 (SXGA+) or 1024x768 (XGA) if Standard 4:3 screen.
And make sure you have the nVidia drivers from IBM/Lenovo, NOT from nVidia direct!

If this does not help, you may have a bad LCD. Replace it if you still have warranty.

[richk]

If you cannot see the bios screen the motherboard or LCD is sick.

[the0ther]

first off, thanks for your replies. this is a pretty frustrating situation and i need all the help i can get.

i've reinstalled the nvidia driver a couple of times now, and i can only get the machine to boot windows normally when i have no driver installed.

also, i cannot get anything to display on the lcd, but i believe it's fine. i can see it's getting power, i can use the function key to toggle the lcd brightness.

i've been using my t61 for video games and noticed it's been running hot. so i now think that my nvidia chip is fried. i thought i'd get some beeps about it during startup but maybe not.

[richk]

I have seen the nvidia chips die and get no beeps. Is the machine 14" 4:3, 14.1 wide or 15.4" wide model?

[the0ther]

it's the 14.1 wxga model. i'm guessing that this lcd's weird dimensions are why i can't get anything on that screen when running without my nvidia drivers in vga mode. is that possibly the case?

7663 12u is the part # or whatever that's called.

the more i research this i'm starting to think this is going to be a motherboard replacement-type-problem.

cannot replace the nvidia 140m chips from what i've read.

[sktn77a]

Hmmmmm.........., so you get basic VGA graphics without the nVidia driver and nothing at all with the nVidia Driver? Are you sure you have the nVidia chipset? Can't think of any reason the grpahics driver would influence seeing the BIOS, though. When do you loose the display booting with the nVidia drivers?

[richk]

It sounds like the nvidia chip failed. The boards are available, but more expensive than T60 boards. I do have one here for that model. If you want to discuss that or selling your machine as is, send me a PM

[the0ther]

thanks for all the help folks, and thanks for the offer rich, i'm going to give it some thought.