W520 Docking issue - attached monitor won't enter power saving mod

[DougWelsby]

When my W520 (Win2008R2) power management profile shuts the display off (after 10 mins, for example), the externally DVI connected screen no longer receives a signal, but the screen doesn’t go into power saving mode.  Instead, the monitor stays powered on (the green power light normally turns yellow), and displays the message “Cannot display this mode”.  It’s a Dell monitor, and this message appears to be a Dell message, nothing from the Lenovo or Windows.

It’s a new W520, and a new docking station – the ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 170W.  The previous W510 and previous docking station ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 135W both worked fine with this monitor, and were able properly stop sending it a signal.

So…where do I start troubleshooting?  Is this a Lenovo docking station issue?  Are others having this problem?

[Serge1410]

hey DougWelsby,

welcome to the forums and for this is hard to say if it is the docking station or is it something else.

is it possible for you to test a different monitor with the docking station or to have test the current monitor of yours directly with the W520 ?

If you can, do reply back with your findings.

At the same time, do hop over to http://support.lenovo.com and crosscheck the download list and ensure all drivers (including bios) is up to date.

[DougWelsby]

Thanks for the reply.  I just finished testing with a different (brand new) monitor, and it seems to work as designed.  All good - seems to have been an issue with the old monitor I had.