PROBLEM ATI Radeon X1400 in T60

[RRHODY]

I'm getting the ATI2DVAG loop on a project T60 [type 2008]. Device manager says the display adapter is the ATI Radeon X1400. If I uninstall the ATI and try to re-install and use the ATI driver program the ATI driver program says no compatible video device is installed. The HWMM is silent regarding any FRU video component so I'm assuming the video board is actually part of the MB and it has become defective.
Is this a correct assumption?
Is there any solution other than replacing the MB?
[Since the display is cracked, it hardly seems worthwhile to do the replacement.]

[Harryc]

Run PC-Doctor diagnostics on the graphics adapter.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html

[RRHODY]

And when I do my adapter is OK. Now what?

[Harryc]

What operating system is this and what model T60? (see the bottom sticker).

[RRHODY]

Type 2008-CTO with Win XP Pro

[Harryc]

When you say "ATI driver program", are you referring to this driver linked below? If not, try that one.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62841

Note all prerequisites, including the BIOS update.

# Update the system BIOS to:

* Version 1.04 or higher for ThinkPad R60
* Version 1.05a or higher for ThinkPad T60, T60p
* Version 1.00 or higher for ThinkPad T60, T60p (widescreen)

[RRHODY]

That's it, the one that comes up as a full red screen with extra large ATI. So Win XP Pro Device Manager says the video is ATI Radeon X1400 BUT the ATI programs says NO COMPATIBLE DEVICE is present. All this is while in Safe Mode because normal Win XP reverts to the Blue Screen ATI2DVAG loop.

[richk]

If you start in safe mode, the thing starts without graphics chip enabled. My guess is that the MB is fine

[Harryc]

Don't know how tech savvy you are, but if you are comfortable doing it I'd suggest booting up a Linux Live CD and enabling the ATI graphics as a test. Linux Mint is a good one to use. If that all sounds foreign, then you're looking at an XP reinstall.

[RRHODY]

If you start in safe mode, the thing starts without graphics chip enabled. My guess is that the MB is fine


So - the guess is that the MB is fine, but if the graphics chip is not enabled how does it get reported in Device Manager?

[underclocker]

Don't know how tech savvy you are, but if you are comfortable doing it I'd suggest booting up a Linux Live CD and enabling the ATI graphics as a test. Linux Mint is a good one to use. If that all sounds foreign, then you're looking at an XP reinstall.

This is how I would proceed with troubleshooting it, too. Try an Ubuntu or other boot CD or USB memory stick.

The fact that you see it in the device manager stumps me. If it wasn't there, I'd say someone swapped your ATI GPU mobo with an Intel integrated GPU board. (I might also pull the keyboard just to verify there is an ATI chip on that mobo.)

[RealBlackStuff]

Check out what parts that machine came with ex factory.
Enter Tyoe and Serial Nr. in this screen:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo
The mobo (or planar as IBM calls it) P/N should be traceable in the HMM and tell you what GPU you are supposed to have.

[underclocker]

The OP mentioned in the first post that the machine type was 2008. That indicates an ATI GPU for sure. Unless there was a build mistake (unlikely) or a mobo swap or base swap (possible), then there should be an ATI GPU in there.

I've yet to see a GPU go bad this way, but anything is possible.

[Harryc]

I've yet to see a GPU go bad this way, but anything is possible.

Agreed, particularly one that passed PC-Doctor diagnostics.

[RRHODY]

Well, here’s an update. Took a new Hitachi drive never installed anywhere and loaded WinXP Pro, SP 2 and SP 3. Hard wired to my DSL router and got all windows updates [with numerous reboots]. Loaded the wireless driver [via a disk from a download to my desktop], disconnected the DSL wire and got system update from Lenovo. All was working fine. Got one Critical update [something about Intel chipset and Win XP] from System Update and rebooted. Re-ran System Update and got four Recommended updates, one of which was an ATI package, including a driver. As soon as those four finished installing a reboot was required – AND the blue screen ATI2DVAG loop stopped Windows. It had not appeared in over four hours of fiddling and with numerous reboots, but as soon as the “new” ATI driver was installed it materialized.

[Harryc]

Weird symptoms, but it's time for a new systemboard.

[RealBlackStuff]

Are the Type/Model and Serial numbers in your first BIOS screen the same as the Type/Model (or PROD-ID) and Serial # on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop?

[underclocker]

Weird symptoms, but it's time for a new systemboard.

Indeed. I've had the occasion of picking up adapters and mobos with damaged or missing transistors. Since they are tiny, it's very hard to see or find the damage, but intermittent errors occur.

[RRHODY]

To RealBlackStuff

That is one fine idea; will do.

[RRHODY]

The BIOS reports 2008-V4P not CTO [understandable] and the serial numbers agree. Here is what Lenovo reports for the V4P:
Product: ThinkPad T60 2008-V4P [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: Based on 2008-CTO: T2400(1.83GHz), 2GB RAM, 60GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 128MB ATI Radeon X1400, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Home