Thinkpads Forum

I had to upgrade to windows 8 becuase I had a bad recovery disc for win 7.


Since then I tried upgrading to windows 10 and still have an issue of my external screens flashing when docked. I'm using the VGA (Dell S2440L) port on my dock and the DVI-D (Asus VG248) port.

It happens about every 10-20mins only on the VGA monitor and goes black for 2 seconds or so. I wouldn't mine but it also moves my mouse to the center of the DVI-D monitor and moves the window from the other destop to the DVI-D monitor.

Had no issues with the same set-up until I upgraded to windows 8.

I'm using a T530 with a ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3

So far I've gotten a more powerful power supply and tried setting the resolution to lower settings, still nothing has helped.

Annoying issue anybody have a solution or what to try next?

Sounds like a graphics driver issue. Updating the driver may solve the issue.

brchan wrote:Sounds like a graphics driver issue. Updating the driver may solve the issue.

Both updated and rolled back the drivers and same.

One way to tell if this is a software or hardware problem is to burn a 'live' linux distro (ex. linux mint) to a usb stick or dvd and boot from it. If you get the same problems, then the problem is probably hardware. Docking is well supported on T6x systems the last I tried it a year ago, and should be for newer systems as well.

brchan wrote:One way to tell if this is a software or hardware problem is to burn a 'live' linux distro (ex. linux mint) to a usb stick or dvd and boot from it. If you get the same problems, then the problem is probably hardware. Docking is well supported on T6x systems the last I tried it a year ago, and should be for newer systems as well.

Great advice I'll give it a try! Report back soon.

false_lip wrote:

brchan wrote:One way to tell if this is a software or hardware problem is to burn a 'live' linux distro (ex. linux mint) to a usb stick or dvd and boot from it. If you get the same problems, then the problem is probably hardware. Docking is well supported on T6x systems the last I tried it a year ago, and should be for newer systems as well.

Great advice I'll give it a try! Report back soon.

No crashing under linux mint running of USB using same set-up. Guess it's software/driver issue. What's my next move?

Do you run Windows 10 now? I have T530 with Windows 10 installed, using external screens through docking station and no problems (one DVI and one display port)

I had my share of problems with the NVIDIA optimus solution in past, but now it works without flaws. The important thing to note is that you need to have correct NVIDIA and Intel GPU drivers installed...

I have 10.18.10.4276 intel driver and 10.18.13.5362 Nvidia driver.

kajencik wrote:Do you run Windows 10 now? I have T530 with Windows 10 installed, using external screens through docking station and no problems (one DVI and one display port)

I had my share of problems with the NVIDIA optimus solution in past, but now it works without flaws. The important thing to note is that you need to have correct NVIDIA and Intel GPU drivers installed...

I have 10.18.10.4276 intel driver and 10.18.13.5362 Nvidia driver.

This is promising, few questions though.

1) What type of dock are you using and have you tried the VGA + DVI port combo with no flickering?

2) You have a nvs 5400? The driver you listed doesn't say it's made for the card. Does that matter, should I just install it from the Lenovo site?

Yes I am running Windows 10

Thanks for your response!

I'm using this dock: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Mini-Dock- ... B0085MQLGC

I've actually tried the full combo - 3 external monitors (2x dvi or Display port + 1x VGA) + T530 own screen and it worked without problems, I haven't tried it in Windows 10 though.

I have nvs 5400, you can download 9.18.13.5324 version here: http://support.lenovo.com/cz/cs/downloads/ds103458

But I think that is what I started with and got upgraded to 5362 through windows update or Lenovo System Update.

kajencik wrote:I'm using this dock: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Mini-Dock- ... B0085MQLGC

I've actually tried the full combo - 3 external monitors (2x dvi or Display port + 1x VGA) + T530 own screen and it worked without problems, I haven't tried it in Windows 10 though.

I have nvs 5400, you can download 9.18.13.5324 version here: http://support.lenovo.com/cz/cs/downloads/ds103458

But I think that is what I started with and got upgraded to 5362 through windows update or Lenovo System Update.

Well I reverted back to the driver your running and it's still happening but I did figure out a work around it seems. I went into the BIOS and switched the graphics option to dedicated graphics to bypass the intel HD 4000
chip and it's not having any issues. So it may have been the intel gpu the whole time causing the issue. Now I'm just stuck with my fan running and my laptop being super hot from the nvidia card.

I'm using a similar dock, mine is a 4337 mini-dock (except with out USB 2.0 not 3.0) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085MQL3K

I have idea why the intel card is causing such an issue, running all the same drivers as you. I'm starting to think it might be the dock.

Thanks!

Just an update after a few weeks of use. So the work around for this is as follows :


While docked disable the intel integrated card. You will receive no screen flashes. The downside is when you undock you must enable it again or your stuck with low resolution. It's still annoying but it's atleast not flashing any longer.