[solved]Windows7 and ATI Mobility FireGL v5200 with display

[amauss]

Hi,

I'm using a T60p (2008-VDQ) with Windows 7 Enterprise Edition (32bit).

My problem: If i attach an external display (monitor or beamer) the computer recognizes the external display but i do not receive a signal on external monitor (no difference between cloning, expanding the desktop). This happens regardless if i attach the monitor directly to the t60 or via a docking station.

HOWEVER, if i attach my monitor to the docking station via a dvi cable, everything works fine. Unfortunately, this is not really a satisfying solution because i also need my laptop on the road and don't want to carry my docking station around...

What i tried so far:
After not finding a windows 7 driver on the lenovo website i donwloaded a driver directly from ATI (version 8.593.100.0, vom 10.2.2010) "modded it" and installed it. The good news: my computer still works; the bad news: I still don't get a signal when i attached an external display directly at the laptop.



My questions:
1. does anybody else has this problem with a similar setup (T6x, win7, ati mobility firegl v5200)
2. are there any solutions/suggestions to my problem?

thanks in advance
Alexander

[Marin85]

Hi,

I have a similar setup to yours, no such problems here whatsoever. Have you tried the ATI driver available via windows update? Also, do you have ATI Catalyst Control Center installed (the only version I found working for me is the CCC from the Vista driver package for FireGL/FirePro). If yes, then you can try forcing detection of the external display from the Display Manager.

[amauss]

Hi,

thanks for your suggestions. As mentioned in my post, I installed a modded ATI-Driver... by doing so, I also installed the ATI Catalyst Control Center (Version: 2010.0210.2339.42455).

If I press Windows+P, choose "expanded" view and then start ATI Catalyst Center there are specifics for "monitor" and "notebook". the monitor is correctly recognized as an Dell 2001 FP. The monitor ist just not getting a signal...

If i press windows+p and choose "only projector" nothing is displayed either on the monitor or the notebook and i can only press the power off button to restart the computer.

Here are some more details/thinks i tried:
1. in bios (Version 2.25, 2009-08-27): Config > Display > Boot Display Device: "VGA+LCD" selected
=> if i restart the computer, the startup screen is only displayed on the laptop

2. thinkvantage toolbox: pc-doctor > diagnostics > test a device > Video
=> short videotest: worked
=> monitor: non-pnp-monitor (standard): not passed (nothing is displayed on the monitor)

3. the following optional updates are NOT installend (lenovo system update)
- thinkpad ultranav utility
- thinkpad energie manager
- thinkpad hotkey features integration package setup
- thinkpad ultranav dirver for windows 32 bit
- thinkpad device experience
=> any of those necessary?

I have the feeling that I am missing something very basic...

Any more suggestions are greatly appreciated!

thanks
Alexander

[Marin85]

Hi,

thanks for your suggestions. As mentioned in my post, I installed a modded ATI-Driver...

I read your post very carefully, that´s why I suggested you trying the standard video driver (available via windows update) instead of the modded one

Sort of silly question, but have you tested the monitor with other hardware equipment after the problem appeared? BTW, what model is the external monitor?

As for the other Lenovo tools and drivers:

- thinkpad ultranav utility -> not needed
- thinkpad energie manager -> not needed
- thinkpad hotkey features integration package setup -> The recent versions of this package also include Lenovo System Interface Driver. The latter might be indeed needed (for some mysterious reason) (unless of course you already have the System Interface Driver separately installed).

- thinkpad ultranav dirver for windows 32 bit -> I strongly doubt it is needed!
- thinkpad device experience -> not needed

I have the feeling that I am missing something very basic... -> power on the monitor? (just kidding)

Keep us posted,

Marin

[amauss]

Hi,

thanks for trying to help - no offense with regard to reading my original post.

I. the monitor is working
------------------------
My external monitor (dell2001fp) works fine, if attached via vga cable to an ibm t41 running windows xp.

II. back to start
----------------
1. To start all over again, I deinstalled the new (modded) ATI-driver and ran driver sweeper. After restarting the computer, only a vga driver is recognized (see thumbnail).


2. I then downloaded the vista driver for my grafix-card from lenovo and installed it:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-66884

With attached VGA-cable and expanded Desktop the monitor is recognized correctly - however, nothing is displayed on the external monitor:


My current ati drivers are the follwoing:


And the ATI CCC is the following:


so, the monitor is recognized everywhere, i am just not getting a signal...

What are your exact drivers? Any more suggestions?

thanks
alexander

[Marin85]

You have quite a strange problem

Driver version (from device manager): 8.561.0.0
CCC Driver Packaging Version: 8.561-081201a1-073150C-ATI
CCC Catalyst™ Control Center Version: 2009.0211.2225.40219

Note that I use only CCC from the mentioned Driver Package.

[amauss]

interesting...

do you still remember where you downloaded your driver?

as mentioned in my post above, by installing the driver from the lenovo site, I have the driver version 8.383.1.1000 - simply "updating the driver" doesn'T help, because windows recognizes that driver as an "up-to-date" driver.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Marin85]

interesting...

do you still remember where you downloaded your driver?

as mentioned in my post above, by installing the driver from the lenovo site, I have the driver version 8.383.1.1000 - simply "updating the driver" doesn'T help, because windows recognizes that driver as an "up-to-date" driver.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I downloaded the driver from Windows Update (see my previous posts). In my experience, the ATI drivers for Windows 7 on Lenovo website are meant only for T400/T500/W500 ThinkPad series upwards, which does not include my Z61p and your T60p. (For that matter it is not really surprising that you are experiencing this problem with the external monitor). My suggestion would be: uninstall the current ATI driver (including the rest of the driver package like CCC, HydraVision if installed etc.) or even better delete it, then reboot (the system will start in vga mode), then run Windows Update and pick the suggested graphics driver, reboot.

Hope this helps,

Marin

[amauss]

Hi,

thanks for your patience. I did as you said... used windows update to update the driver. i'm now running 8_561_0_0 => same version as you do... it's still not working.

i am giving up and blaming it on a faulty VGA-port - let's see what my vendor will say...

I also used a different test: in another forum, someone suggested that i press fn+f7 when i am in the bios - the keys should be hardwired and i should be able to see something on my external monitor. that also didn't work.

best
alexander

[Marin85]

Hmm..., maybe the monitor port needs some cleaning, especially those tiny holes. If your laptop is still under warranty, the best you can do is of course to use it.

[vand3537]

I had something like this happen once, turned out to be the fault of the cheap VGA cable.

[amauss]

the problem has been solved:
the mainboard was broken and had to be exchanged.

thank you for your help
alexander