T42 Screen Problem? Advice Please

[admsteiner]

Hi,

Just got my T42 (2378-FVU) today. So far so good although there seems to be a warranty issue <rant>(I wanted the thinkpad protection program but the vendor forgot to put it on and since I upgraded my warranty I can't do it again without returning the laptop, talk about a pain - but the vendor might be able to do it so we'll see).</rant>

Anyway, here's the problem. Laptop is great, no dead pixels or anything. However, the top inch or so of the screen has what I think might be a problem. When I'm using IE (as I type this in fact), I notice a pattern of discoloration along the top inch or so. It's different colors, like it's pixelated or something. Nothing major, but it is noticeable. When I face it directly (the screen is at a slight angle right now) I can barely tell it's there. No other parts of the screen have this.

So what should I do? Is this a problem on other T42's or just mine? I have the ATI 9600 and SXGA+. I don't mind returning it if I have to, this is something I'll be using for a while and I want it to start out perfect. And it'll give me a chance to fix the warranty

Thanks in advance,

Adam

[admsteiner]

Update:

I changed the settings from 16bit to 32bit color and the problem lessened but I can still see it (though not as much).
Again, all advice appreciated
--Adam

[Skywing]

i believe thats because the display is only capable of displaying 24bit color even when set to 32bit, the display maxes at 24. thats why theres still a little that looks the way it does.

[t41user]

I've had the same screen problem since I purchased a new t41 seven months ago. I'm not certain that the problem has not changed at all, but it certainly has changed much if at all. I've described the problem to someone who owns an IBM x series over the phone, and he had no idea what I was talking about. However, once I put my machine next to his, my friend noticed the discoloration on both of our machines. Could this problem be pervasive but only noticed by some? For whatever it's worth, I only see the discoloration when running Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. In my experience, the discoloration does not show up on any other software, photographs, pictures, or when running monitor testing programs.

[t41user]

in my last post up there i meant to type that the problem certainly has NOT changed much if at all.

[taphil]

It's more of a software bug than a hardware problem.

It is caused by the ATI power management and Windows power management. When running on batteries, the display runs in 16-bit mode with color dithering (whatever that means) if ATI power management is enabled. To see a more obvious example of this, go to Start->Turn Off Computer. On the blue window that pops up, you'll be able to see concentric circles as they turn from blue to white, rather than an even gradient of color you'd see if it were running in 32-bit color.

To solve this problem, try:

1) Unplug the computer from the AC. The screen may black out and come back. Plug it back into the AC. The screen may black out and come back. This blacking out occurs when the LCD switches color bit mode. That usually solves the problem for me.

2) Disable ATI power saver. You can use the battery icon in the task bar, or go into ATI display settings and disable it there. Then try #1 above. If it still doesnt' work, try rebooting and repeat step #1.

3) Re-install ATI drivers and IBM power management drivers (the driver and the battery meter, two different download/install packages).

To prevent this from occuring:
When I run my computer on battery, the LCD goes to 16-bit color. Then I put my computer to sleep. If I plug in the AC and then wake the computer from sleep, the display remains at 16-bit. However, if I wake it, let Windows wake, and then plug in the AC, the screen goes blank for 1/2 sec and then turns back on at 32-bit color. So....wake the computer and then plug in the AC. Or, just unplug the AC for a second, and plug it back in to switch back to 32-bit color.

[faa-der]

I had a post a week ago talking about how the 15" has sort of a shadow on the R/H side. You talk about a color problem. It sounds like a different problem, but is it possible it is the same?

Mine doesn't have a color problem at all, just appears like a backlighting issue. I have decided to live with it, and see if it gets worse. It seems the same today as a week ago... We'll see.

[admsteiner]

I think it's probably the same thing. I may have interpreted the difference in shadowing and backlighting as different color shades. I haven't really used LCD's all that much.