Thinkpads Forum

I have a Thinkpad 570. This weekend I had to format the hdd and reinstall windows. I updated the drivers and got all my settings and power management (never turns off or sleeps) back to how I like them.

Now I am having an issue with the monitor losing display. At random times the monitor will seemingly lose power. This has occured at start up and as long as 20 minutes after use. I happens as I am working, or if it's sitting idle. It does seem to do it when the unit is being jostled.

I plugged in an external monitor. Both it and the LCD lost display at the same time. The CRT obviously didn't lose power since it has an independent power source.

Otherwise, the display is in prime condition.

I am thinking this is an issue with a physical connection. Being that this is a $300 refurb model I am not terribly inclined to pay someone to fix it.

I have downloaded the maintenance manual but saw very little regarding the actual connections in this case.

Any thoughts?


Kristen

UPDATE:

Upon further research I've noticed that I cannot replicate the problem when it is docked.

CORRECTION: I just did. It's just not as EASY to do when it's docked.

Also, generally speaking the display comes back when I reboot--of course, how long it stays varies!

Chassis problem? Screw loose?

Kristen

This is usually a connector issue onto the system board. There is normally one for power and one for signal. But you lose display to the external too so it is likely to be caused by the display adapter - loose or faulty.
Might be the internal DC power card alternatively.
Or the docking connections might be damaged slightly and shorting .

It will need some attention from someone experienced in these things to sort it out.

Thanks for responding.

I cracked it open this afternoon and found two screws rolling around. I remove them it's only happened once since.

Of course now the drives on the docking station aren't working, although it is getting power through the docking station....

I think I'll take it apart tonight and see what else I can find in there....

Good for you .

Those screws need to be refitted in their locations. I dont know your model but the display connection and DC cards usually have seuring screws. Often taking connections apart and refitting sorts things out.
USE ANTI STATIC PRECAUTIONS.
Have you made a close inspection of the docking connector. These can get damaged.

Is it just the monitor losing video or the Tpad freezing/shutting down requiring a reboot to recover ?

Just losing video, the system appears to continue to run. Unfortunately, I have to reboot to get the video back. That's another weird part. When I reboot the video comes right back on. I would have thought that if it were something loose then it wouldn't necessarily come back on so easily.

Hmm...

Curiousity got me to use XP's Remote Assistance from my desktop to my laptop.

I replicated the problem. I could still see laptop's display via my desktop's remote assistance even though the display was gone on the laptop. Remebering that an external monitor also lost display when used on the laptop, does this information help me track down where the problem is?

The video is integrated into the system board, yes?

Looking at a diagram I see there is a cable out to the LCD. Does the external monitor port come off this cable, or is there a seperate cable for it off the system board?

This is almost fun, in a twisted sort of way.

If you lost the display on both the LCD and an external monitor but you can still use the desktop through Remote Desktop then the computer is not freezing on you.
That sounds like the video system is at fault and yes it is integrated into the system board.
For a quick fix you can buy barebones bottom halves of 570's on ebay. I bought a couple from these guys, they were in excellent condition. YMMV

Marry me?

Thanks, I picked one up, we'll see what happens!

Kristen

If you lost the display on both the LCD and an external monitor but you can still use the desktop through Remote Desktop then the computer is not freezing on you.
That sounds like the video system is at fault and yes it is integrated into the system board.
For a quick fix you can buy barebones bottom halves of 570's on ebay. I bought a couple from these guys, they were in excellent condition. YMMV

Hehe Sorry Kristen, I am not Mormon and my wife wouldn't like that. , But I am glad to be able to help.
Good luck with your ebay purchase.

KBWimbush wrote:Marry me?

Thanks, I picked one up, we'll see what happens!

Kristen

If you lost the display on both the LCD and an external monitor but you can still use the desktop through Remote Desktop then the computer is not freezing on you.
That sounds like the video system is at fault and yes it is integrated into the system board.
For a quick fix you can buy barebones bottom halves of 570's on ebay. I bought a couple from these guys, they were in excellent condition. YMMV

This just keeps getting worse and worse.

Some of the keys, specifically u,i,o,p,j,k,l,n and m are no longer typing their appropriate letters. They are now typing 1, 2, 3, 4, *, etc.

I changed out the keyboard (had a spare). Didn't help.

I can't wait til my package arrives, this is driving me nuts.

Sounds like you have Num Lock switched on................>Shift and NumLock< to clear .

Just an update:


I got the bottom half of a 570 I ordered and put my LCD on. Worked like a charm.

Thanks for the tip!

Now if I can just figure out why the docking station won't work....