Thinkpads Forum

Bit confused by this switchable graphics stuff...I have the Intel driver installed and the display fine. However in Device Manager there is an error next to the ATI video adapter. All attempts to install a driver for it have failed.

Is it even possible to install one? Might I have to go to the BIOS and select the ATI adapter and enable it or something like that?

Thanks!

What OS are you using?

There is a BIOS setting. For switchable, it should be set to "automatic", or something like that. But if it show in Device Manager, there's no BIOS tinkering to be done.

It's Vista Business x64 mate.

It should work. Unfortunately, I don't have Vista up, but With W7, on two T400, and three of the similar W500, no problems have occurred.

I have just checked the T400 BIOS settings. In
"Config-->Display-->Graphics device", there are three choices:
[Integrated Graphics]
[Discrete Graphics]
[Switchable Graphics]

It should be set to switchable. If the driver does not install, there is, unfortunately, the possibility that the graphics chip is broken in some way that still allows the machine to run.

Think I know what the problem is and I've been rather stupid. When I first got the laptop I immediately wiped the hard drive and installed Linux. I decided to go back to Vista yesterday. When I re-installed Vista Business because I didn't have install discs and had wiped the drive I just downloaded a copy of Vista Business off the internet and activated it.

I'm guessing the laptop originally came with a special Lenovo Vista Business OS that had the vital driver needed to make things "switchable"? Does that make sense?

A standard driver cannot be installed with the switchable graphics option enabled in the BIOS. For XP/Vista/W7, there are "special edition" switchable graphics drivers. So if I understand you correctly, you are right.

In case you get interested in upgrading to W7, AMD had a page link for download of a switchable graphics driver that I tried and found compatible. The Lenovo driver archives also contain suitable drivers.

Off-hand IIRC you will need:

Intel chipset driver --> http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product ... s/DS014952

Lenovo Power Manager Driver --> http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product ... s/DS101364

Lenovo Power Manager Program --> http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product ... s/DS014924

Driver for switchable graphics from Lenovo Support --> http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product ... s/DS002740

Before installing those drivers go into BIOS. Navigate in BIOS to Display>> Graphics Device (set to "Switchable Graphics") >> OS Detection for Switchable Graphics ("Enable" this setting).

After you do that then install the drivers in the order I have listed. When all drivers are installed once you get to desktop right-click on the battery symbol on your lower right taskbar (it should be a green icon) and there should be a setting indicating "Switchable Graphics" that leads to "Energy Saving" or "High Performance." (Pic of setting here: https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/image/serv ... 2?v=mpbl-1) The "Energy Saving" is Intel graphics while the "High Performance" will switch the desktop over to ATI (will be indicated by the catalyst icon on the taskbar). Good luck!

Just google think vantage system update.

Install it.

Let it do its thing.

You will need the .net framework.

To install the latest graphics drivers, first install the Lenovo power manager, then the switchable graphics driver from Lenovo. Then download the driver update tool from AMD and let that run and install the newest graphics driver for the discreet graphics. That is how you get switchable graphics with the latest AMD drivers for the HD3650.