T530 stuck in extended display mode

[Charles Krug]

Just started this morning: A remote user undocked her T530 2392-4BU, but the TP continued to run as an extended display (an external display is primary when the dock is used).

The major problem is that the Start menu is not accessible in this mode, nor other settings like Fn+F7. We've docked the TP & tried adjusting the video from the external display, but nothing sticks -- after a restart, still the same. Also ran the TP undocked with the external display connected. When all settings were made "primary" for the TP display, disconnecting the VGA display causes the TP display to go dark.

All our notebooks are T series & we have a number of docking stations, but I've never seen this. What am I missing?
Thanks!

[brchan]

Are you saying that on restart, even the boot screen tries to use an external display? If so, try removing the cmos battery, pressing the power button a few times (to discharge any remaining charge), and then replug in the cmos battery and starting the laptop again.

[RealBlackStuff]

Make sure someone knows the Supervisor password (if there is one), and remove it BEFORE the CMOS!

[Charles Krug]

The user is in another city & I'm not sure how she'll feel about opening up the system herself, but will find out. Would just resetting the CMOS to defaults be worth trying?

Thanks for the tip on the supervisor pw.

[RealBlackStuff]

Your safest bet would be to UNinstall the graphics driver, either booting in Safe Mode, or if the docking allows it, when you are in regular Windows itself.
Switch off, remove the laptop from the dock, reboot laptop.
Reinstall the graphics driver.
For me personally, usable Lenovo Thinkpads stopped with T420/T520/X220.
(Anything after that is a step or steps backwards.)

[Charles Krug]

The user replaced the Nvidia driver as described and all is well -- thank you.
We've been using TPs since the intro of the 700 series. Have been satisfied with most models until the T440. That touchpad may be an okay idea, but the execution is inconsistent, & had a bad one right out of the box. Whether it's poor QC or design, I hope the problem is fixed soon.