Thinkpads Forum

Hi there

I recently smashed the 14.1 XGA screen on by T61 (8898-6DG). I thought I would try to upgrade to SXGA+ on replacing the screen as I remembered that I had an option of an SXGA+ when originally ordering the laptop (being ignorant at the time I didn't know related to resolution).

The replacement SXGA+ I ordered was for the 14.1 T61 so I wrongly assumed I could just plug it in and everything would be ok. I was wrong. When I boot up, I the Lenovo sign comes up on the screen for a fraction of a screen before the screen goes blank (the backlight is working ok). The same happens when I wake it up from sleep when connected to an external monitor. I thought it could be a driver issue but I can't see the screen when I boot up to DOS or BIOS?

Is it my integrated graphics card - Intel GMA 3100 based on the GL965 chipset? This would be strange as SXGA+ was an option with this graphics option when I was looking to buy.

I have plugged and unplugged the ribbon cable endless times to ensure it isn't just a loose connection. Do XGA and SXGA+ have common cables. Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers
Nick

There's only one inverter and one LCD cable for both XGA and SXGA+ LCD's for your machine.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-68222#6
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-72506#4

I'd check elsewhere...fuse maybe? What LCD did you buy? Is it a genuine Lenovo part? What is the FRU# ?

Thanks Harry. I just checked the FRU (42T0373) and confirmed that this the correct part for the T61. The weird thing is that the back light works and I can see lenovo come up on the screen for a fraction of a second before the screen goes black (I can see the back light remains on). It must be a driver issue? Unfortunately when I have attempted to install the driver for the Intel GMA direct from the Intel website it aborts and tells me to refer to the PC manufacturer. When I update the driver from Lenovo, it identifies by XGA T61 and installs the relevant driver, but I think the driver it is installing is XGA specific.

Any other pointers?

Thanks
Nick

Boot up a Linux Live CD. If that fails then you have a hardware problem.
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

What happens when you hook up an external monitor?

External monitors work fine. I still can't get the new laptop screen to work. The weird thing is that I can see something on the screen for a fraction of a second when the system is first whited on/come out of sleep mode/resumes - the resolution is wrong, but I can windows before the screen goes blank. This tells me that it is not a hardware fault but something to do with software.

I have tried updating the integrated graphic card drives per above (forced to do it through the lenovo site) but to no avail. I just wonder whether the driver self installer automatically recognises the laptop as an xga model and installs that driver which for some reason doesn't show any response on my new sxga+ screen. But would't explain why the screen comes to life for a fraction of a second.

I'm pulling my hairout and thinking of just binnig the laptop as buying a replacement XGA is just not worth it - be be a shame as it is/was perfect for my needs even if iT is 4 yes old.

Anyone with any idea what may be causing the problem for one last try?

thanks

If you think it's a software problem, try booting up a live Linux CD (or any bootable CD or DVD for that matter) as I mentioned earlier. If you hold down F1 on boot, does it go into BIOS?

I tried your suggestion of booting into linux - I can get into bios, but the screen still doesn't work (I can see it for a fraction of a second) on boot whilst bios is loading. isn't the basic driver included within bios-otherwise you would never see anything before the os boots up?

You can get a BIOS image displayed even without a hard drive installed. If you cannot, you have a hardware problem.

what happens if you plug your old LCD panel back in? I know it's busted, but does the system boot up normally? Definitely looking like a hardware problem. Possible system board or that new lcd panel you purchased.

A couple of months ago, I purchased a used T61 (8897-02U) that came with a busted XGA screen. I purchased a used Toshiba LTD141EN9B (FRU 13N7063, also FRU 42T0373) SXGA+ screen off ebay. I swapped screens, et voila I had an SXGA+ display. No additional work required. I only run unbuntu 10.04 linux on this machine so I wouldn't know anything about Windows driver issues etc.

That 8897-02U is a very rare 14.1" (4:3) T61 with Intel GPU.
Hang on to that for dear life, especially now that you have SXGA+ on it!

Yes those T61's (4:3) are hard to find, however I was able to snag a T61 8895-2FU from ebay recently "as is". Shouldn't be too hard to get it going again...