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This is my last resort of getting qualified help on the matter, so any help from members of this forum is appreciated!
My laptop crashes randomly, but every couple of hours. The machine freezes completely with cold reboot as the only option.
Sometimes, but rather seldom, it recovers in 8bit VGA mode reporting smth like:
"The igxprd32 display driver has stopped working normally"
The setup:
Lenovo ThinkPad X61s
Intel GM965 chipset with onboard graphics
2x2GB PC5300 DDR2 RAM
External 20" monitor @1600x1200
The external monitor, keyboard and mouse are all connected to a docking station.
WinXP SP3
Latest video drivers and M$ updates
Brief crash report:
Code:
THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER 0x000000ea
I'm aware of, that this is most probably a graphics driver issue. But I have already obtained the latest version, and I cannot replace the graphics card itself of obvious reasons. Lenovos support is more or less helpless. And this problem has been acknowledged by many other users with Lenovo machines from series R, T and X which all use Intel's GM965 chipset.
Downgrading to a much earlier version DOES seem to help, but I cannot use my external screen in that version
Tried so far:
- Installed the latest graphics driver - no effect, BUT the minidump is being written in only 10% of the cases!
In other words, the event logger won't even report an error in most cases after a crash!
- Tested RAM with Memtest86+: passed all 7 tests!
(Though, when setting "memory sizing" to "probe", system stops right there. I've read, that this is normal.)
- Scanned for viruses from USB-stick and from online scanners - all clean.
- Tested without docking station or any other external hardware - no effect.
Personal analysis:
I'm not sure when the problem has appeared first, but I don't think it's been there since the clean windows install, although I might have used the earlier driver version.
Perhaps some other Lenovo driver or software is conflicting with graphics, cause Lenovo's laptops have a huge pack of drivers and software. But, I'd rather get another laptop, than spend weeks and weeks of determining what exactly causes the issue....
I noticed, that problem especially occurs, when I open, maximize folders with many files and my many browser-fans. But it can also be just after the restart and when I'm opening the first folder....
The odd thing is, lots of Lenovos laptops use GMA950 chipset, especially T60/T60p, but I haven't heard of a problem like this.
UPDATE:
Lenovo's latest driver version 6.14.10.5218 can only be pushed to 1600x900 resolution on the external screen.
I'm currently running the same version directly from Intel, which provides 1600x1200. Both version still cause BSOD/driver crash problem!
A very old video driver version, like 6.14.10.4926, does seem to help, but it does not have external monitor support!
UPDATE2:
I recently discovered, that if I use one of my programs, Rainlendar2 (which displays calendar as a widget on my desktop) causes the driver to crash more frequently. But even if I don't start it, I still get the same type of crashes couple of times a week.
Any qualified suggestions are appreciated
P.S. My laptop is still in warranty, but I'm not sure it's the hardware issue, or the software only for that matter.
Does Lenovo have any ticket/report system for software/drivers issues at all ??
