Thinkpad T42P video flicker after upgrade from XP to win 7

[louischow192]

Hi,
I just want to put a new post seeking the solution. I have a second hand T42p 2373-P2U system with ATI FireGL T2 video card. I have a screen flickering issue with the video and lcd monitor drivers provided by win 7 update covered in the following two threads:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61937

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=79721

To sum up my problem (in case you don't want to bother with the above threads), sometimes my video works fine, other times it flickers. To solve the problem I need to switch between video modes (using Windows key + P) until it is resolved or to reboot window. Both action sometime work sometime does not. I also find that the driver provided by win 7 update is only have 50Hz refresh rate available for the thinkpad lcd.

On the other hand, when the computer connect to the external lcd monitor, it is no flicker at all and the refresh rate has more options to choose from 60,70 75 Hz).


Moreover, I do not know this issus is related to my problem, I got the latest BIO and Embedded Controller Program updated however, the system unit information ( Thinkpad Model number ) is missing in the Bio and I believe the motherboard was changed without proper reinstall the updated information to the Bio by the previous owner.

Is this possibly some quirky issue that affects some machines and not others? Or am I somehow not using the ideal video, monitor driver? Or it is hardware, icd, video card ...etc problem. Since I do not sure what the issue cause , hardware or driver so I have no idea to get it fixed.

Any tips would be hugely appreciated since I would love to continue using Win7 on this machine and at this point the video issues is pushing me back to XP.


Thanks a lot

[beeblebrox]

Hi,
I just want to put a new post seeking the solution. I have a second hand T42p 2373-P2U system with ATI FireGL T2 video card. I have a screen flickering issue with the video and lcd monitor drivers provided by win 7 update covered in the following two threads:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61937

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=79721

To sum up my problem (in case you don't want to bother with the above threads), sometimes my video works fine, other times it flickers. To solve the problem I need to switch between video modes (using Windows key + P) until it is resolved or to reboot window. Both action sometime work sometime does not. I also find that the driver provided by win 7 update is only have 50Hz refresh rate available for the thinkpad lcd.

On the other hand, when the computer connect to the external lcd monitor, it is no flicker at all and the refresh rate has more options to choose from 60,70 75 Hz).


Moreover, I do not know this issus is related to my problem, I got the latest BIO and Embedded Controller Program updated however, the system unit information ( Thinkpad Model number ) is missing in the Bio and I believe the motherboard was changed without proper reinstall the updated information to the Bio by the previous owner.

Is this possibly some quirky issue that affects some machines and not others? Or am I somehow not using the ideal video, monitor driver? Or it is hardware, icd, video card ...etc problem. Since I do not sure what the issue cause , hardware or driver so I have no idea to get it fixed.

Any tips would be hugely appreciated since I would love to continue using Win7 on this machine and at this point the video issues is pushing me back to XP.


Thanks a lot

Win 7 runs without any problems on a friend's T42p. You might re-install the video driver.

[chan_man]

I have windows 7 pro running on my T42P with no problems. Make sure you upgrade all the drivers. Go to Lenovo and install System Update 4, this version recognizes Win 7 and will download the correct driver for your machine.

[RolfThinkPad]

T42, ATI RADEON 9600 64MB

I have the same problem: the screen flickers in Windows 7 because it is running at 50Hz instead of the correct 60Hz. It cannot be changed to 60Hz. The monitor is also listed as a generic and does not want to be a ThinkPad monitor - weird.
(Also weird is that on an external Dell monitor there is no problem with the refresh (it's 60Hz) or the monitor driver.)
All is OK at 60Hz in Win XP - no flicker and monitor driver is ThinkPad.

I have spent MANY hours on this! I have tried everything in this forum and the web.
The only solution for me was to change the video driver to the XP one (v6.14.10.6547). This worked and all issues went away! Also the monitor driver became ThinkPad (as per ThinkPad monitor drivers v4.38.0.0 on Lenovo website).

Hope this helps.