External monitor dead on X61s

[ambush]

Suddenly my external VGA has stopped working on my X61s. If I connect the external monitor to the VGA connector or dock the laptop and use the docking station VGA connector, the external monitor doesn't recognize any signal. I have tried the following:

1) Removed/re-installed Presentation Director (latest version)
2) Upgraded and downgraded BIOS (version 2.16, 2.18 and 2.19)
3) Removed, re-installed Lenovo graphics drivers
4) Installed latest 965 chipset graphics drivers directly from IBM
5) Tested with two different Windows installations - Vista and XP
6) Tested different external monitors and monitor cables
7) Tested all video output combinations (single/dual-head/clone + refresh rates + resolution)
8 ) Installed all Windows patches available
9) Replaced mainboard (!)

Nothing helps. Until yesterday I was sure this was a hardware failure but when I replaced the mainboard and the problem persisted I came to my wits end. The laptop works just fine except for the external monitor. No problems reported, no blue screens - nothing. When I cycle through the display modes with Presentation Director, the internal screen works fine both in single, dual-head and clone mode. The external monitor stays black regardless of mode. Then drivers recognize when I connect the external monitor as the multi-monitor alternatives become available in the Intel graphics driver tools only when the external monitor is connected.

Anyone has an idea what could be the reason for this?

[Harryc]

Try a different external monitor as a test.

[ambush]

6) Tested different external monitors and monitor cables

Thanks, but already tried that one.

[colorrot]

I've been having the exact same problem on my X61 tablet and have tried all of the same things except installing Vista (which i have been considering until i read this post) and getting a new mainboard. I've also come across forum's of people with X6x with the same problem and have not seen any resolution to the problem. The one weird thing is that my monitor use to work, so the tease that it can work is really grinding my gears and making me go insane.

[91011]

You've done an amazing amount of troubleshooting but I have one question. I have a new (to me) x60s so to test your problem I removed the HDD, booted to the BIOS screen and, using F7, I am able to switch between internal and external monitors (obviously no dual/clone). Does that work for you?

If so, there must be a software issue somewhere. If it were me, I would start with a clean install of Windows. If you are still able to use F7 after installing Windows, then try to determine when you lose the ability to drive the external monitor. Install the Intel video drivers first - and see if you can still, at the least, flip between internal/external (if not, see below). If it still flips, load the Presentation Director software. I have no use for it so it never gets installed but I can see the potential of two pieces of video control software not playing well together.

Also, one time I was unable to get the external display working on a relative's T60 and, if I remember correctly (and I may not since I can't duplicate it on the x60s), the fix involved setting the Intel software to laptop only display and letting the T60 do the switching.

Would be interested in knowing how you resolve the issue. As would several others on the Forum.

Good luck,
John

[ambush]

I tested what You suggested:

1) Shutdown my X61s and removed the HDD
2) Booted into BIOS configuration
3) Switched between internal/external monitor with Fn/F7

External monitor stays black here as well. As I've replaced the mainboard there is only two things this could be as far as I could tell:

Internal screen messing up the external output somehow
or
BIOS related

I therefore disconnected the internal screen and booted the laptop using only the external monitor connected. I could only judge from the HDD sounds if Windows was loading, when I was logged in etc. Needless to say the monitor stayed black but I successfully managed to boot the PC, log in to windows, open a command prompt and shutdown the PC again using shutdown command (not first time I do this without monitor ).

So, only thing that remains would be the BIOS as far as I'm concerned. I've downgraded two steps - from latest 2.19 to 2.18 and 2.16 without any improvement. Any reason to try other BIOS versions?

[Harryc]

What happens if you set the external monitors resolution to something that is conventional, like 1024x768? This may sound like an odd request, but I can tell you that my X61x does not support my external LCD, which is 1600x900. I went through an extensive process to prove that resolution is not supported in the (at the time) X61 BIOS.

[ambush]

I decided to try earlier BIOS versions as well. I tried version 2.06 and 1.06 - earlier than that I could not use due to CPU incompatibility. None of these BIOS versions improved the functionality neither. On both BIOS releases, I tested the following:

1) Booted into BIOS and switched between internal/external screen
2) Booted into Windows Vista and switched between single (internal) and internal+external (clone)

[ambush]

What happens if you set the external monitors resolution to something that is conventional, like 1024x768? This may sound like an odd request, but I can tell you that my X61x does not support my external LCD, which is 1600x900. I went through an extensive process to prove that resolution is not supported in the (at the time) X61 BIOS.

I've tried all possible resolutions and frame rates from 800x600 to 1280x1024 and 50-85 Hz. Nothing helps. Even installed Powerstrip to try to set the output frequency etc manually but unfortunately it didn't support the mobile 965 chipset.

[91011]

When you swapped out motherboards, and still had the problem, there were at least three parts, probably more, which migrated to the newer MB - the RAM, which I'm sure you've already tried swapping out, and keyboard but also the case – is it possible the case could be shorting out the signal to the external monitor? Have you tried breadboarding the motherboard? Remove everything possible (WiFI, modem, BT,etc.) Put the MB on an anti-static mat & only plug-in the external monitor, power and keyboard (you'll probably have to hold the keyboard above the MB). However unlikely, it might also be useful to try a different keyboard.

John

[ambush]

There is a 4695AGN WiFi mini-PCI card attached and I've tested with that removed, as well as using only one of the two RAM modules (tested removing both individually). I have also removed the fingerprint reader but not the keyboard.

At the moment, I will try to find some time to contact IBM again and inform them of the situation and the troubleshooting done - hopefully they will allow me to return the unit for a new one.

[colorrot]

any word from IBM? Has it been confirmed to be some sort of hardware failure?

[hsaadi10]

I have exactly the same problem with my X61s. If anyone has a clue how to solve this, please let me know.

[pgoelz]

I wonder if there might be a signal present but something about it (levels, timing, etc.) does not look legit to your monitor. It would be interesting to test with an old CRT monitor.... one that does not do any logic on the incoming signal and simply shows what is being sent whether it thinks it can display it or not. Failing that, look at the RGB pins with a scope and see if there is any activity.

Paul

[Amika]

one of my director's X61 also having this same problem, for my case the situation are as follow:-
if you plug the external monitor cable to the NB VGA port and startup the system, you will able to see the bootup process on the external monitor, but it will switch back to NB display once it reach the vista userID login screen, you can switch over to external display at this screen without any problem, after login vista username & password and showing the desktop it will switch back to NB display again, but you can to switch back to external display again for the last time, after this you wont be able to switch again if it's switch back to NB display.

What have i done;
1) updated the presentation director to v4.03
2) reinstalled Intel GM965 display driver v7.14.10.1437
3) updated Lenovo System Interface Driver to v1.01.0805
4) updated Hotkey utility to v2.11.0000
5) updated Power Management driver

Hope to have a solution to this problem.

[richk]

Go into the bios and under config/display, set the option to "both". That will eliminate any hotkey problems.

[Amika]

Go into the bios and under config/display, set the option to "both". That will eliminate any hotkey problems.

ok.. i've tried this, it doesn't really work, but at the same process i found out another interesting thing. i uninstall the on screen display program restart the X61, press F1 to go into BIOS, select config then Display and set the option to both, press F10 to save and reboot, after i go back to vista I can actually switch between external monitor display and NB LCD display without any problem, yes without the On scree display program, only downside is i can't call any Fn key function except for the Thinklight function. So I reinstall the On screen display program again reboot and now i'm having problem with switching between external display and NB LCD display again...

[ambush]

The problem is now resolved. The second mainboard replacement solved the problem. It seem that both my original board and the first replacement suffered from the same problem! Now, external monitor is working is it should - the only thing that is not working is the OSD. I've re-installed the OSD utility but no go. This is a minor problem though as the volume controls etc still work - it just doesn't indicate on the OSD.

Unfortunately I did not check the mainboard revisions to see if there was any indication that the failure could be related to any specific revision of mainboards - I guess I will never know exactly what caused this.

[hsaadi10]

After numerous attempts to solve this issue I have finally decided to send my notebook to an IBM authorized repair center. They checked the notebook and it seems there is a fault in the motherboard. Luckily my notebook is still under warranty and they have ordered a new one for me which I should receive within 2 weeks.

My advice for anyone with similar problem to do the same since it is not a software configuration issue.

[joelfisch]

I have the same issue. One day the ext. video output just died. There is a signal - I can see the image using RDP from another PC. I swapped hard drives with another Thinkpad. My HD on the other machine is fine. With the swapped HD, my X61 still has no external Video.
Lenovo support has been useless. Basically they don't repair problems, but tell you to get a new motherboard - i.e. $$$ like buying a new notebook.

I have no warranty - did not realize that when you buy from the Lenovo U.S. website and it says "Global Warranty" it means nothing. You need to know and check the "machine type" and then find a link to the particular country and see if that machine type is on an approved list - all very user friendly. Information I found out about too late.

I even wasted $130 on a VTBook PCMCI video card - turns out that IBM used a cheapo card bus bridge that limits high throughput

After 10 years of ThinkPads, I am sorry that this is going to be my last one. Next notebook is going to be an Apple.

[91011]

If I understand correctly, the machine is still under a USA warranty but the warranty is not honored in Israel. If so, do you have anyone in the US you could ship it to? A Thinkpad warranty follows the machine and not the owner, so anyone in the US should be able to have it repaired for you.

John

[joelfisch]

John,
Thanks for your suggestion. When I neared the end of the 1 year standard warranty I got in touch with Lenovo about extending it (I still have the emails). They promised to get back to me with a form to complete and admittedly, i was remiss and did not chase them when they didn't get back to me. In short, the machine no longer has the U.S. warranty.