T42 LCD display blacks out intermittently

[dantor]

From time to time, the LCD display disappears suddenly: the screen becomes black. The computer is NOT in sleep mode or any other saving mode. The hard drive is still active.

When this happens, as a remedy, I use the Fn key + the F4 key to go into sleep mode. After the icon (moon) is lit, I press the Fn key to get out of sleep mode. This brings back the screen. However, sometimes, immediately after the screen is resurrected, it becomes black again and I have to repeat the above procedure several times until the screen stays on.

Although it does not happen every time, this problem occurs at any time, sometimes right after boot up, sometimes a few minutes or half an hour or more after boot up; it also happens more and more frequently.

Sometimes, moving the screen a little brings on the problem on this T42 with a Flexview display.

Any idea what the cause of the problem might be? Thank you for your input.

[Johan]

Welcome to the forum!

What you report may be the very commonly known "loose GPU" problem, which has troubles many T4x ThinkPad's - you may find more information about this issue in the sticky T42 shuts down when i move it. Also, see the sticky in this forum GUIDE: Reflow GPU fix - 56K WARNING!!!.

Before making any decision about way to go, I however suggest you try the hinds mentiopned in the thread T42p won't come out of standby or won't boot after shutdown (see the post there of Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:16 pm).

But, most importantly: Don't give up hope - many people have had similar problems, and have had it fixed, so there are very good chances that your T42 may live for many years to come!

Johan

[sktn77a]

Could also be the little switch on the left hand side at the top of the keyboard which blanks the screen when you close the lid. Fiddle with this with a pencil to see if anything happens.

[Tim M]

I've also noticed these symptoms on occasion when trying to return to the desktop after the "IBM Rebus" screensaver (or whatever the official name is) would engage. Switching to a different screensaver seems to have solved the problem.

It would also be prudent to make sure your video drivers are up-to-date.

Finally, does this problem occur when the laptop is connected to an external monitor? This could help determine whether or not it is a backlight issue.

[dantor]

Thanks for the suggestions. Since I am travelling, Johan and Tim's suggestions are not practical.

I tried touching the switch as suggested by Thinkpadder. As soon as I did, the screen went black. I closed the lid, the unit went into sleep mode, I opened the lid and the screen came back up. I fiddled with the switch again but nothing happened this time, the monitor did not black out. I'll see if this was enough to solve the problem.

Thank you.