T520 Optimus headache. [ Edited ]

[kingofthering]

Hi all, 

I've been using a T520 (i5-2520, 4GB RAM) with the Optimus-equipped NVS card for a few months now. For some strange reason I cannot run Nvidia's control panel. Every time I start it it it almost instantaneously crashes to the desktop. It worked for a few months but it stopped working. 

I have tried updating, reinstalling, and even wiping using driver cleaner in safe mode and reinstalling, but it keeps crashing. It sucks because I cannot change my default graphics controller for various programs and this means I'll be running Acrobat at full blast even though the HD graphics can deal with that. 

A quick google says something about installing the Nvidia drivers in Discrete only mode for the W520. Is that the case here? If not, what should I do and should I call up warranty?

EDIT: The file that crashes is nvgames.dll. We're talking about 30 crashes in the past week. 

Thanks. 

[crisdean]

Hi,

Start/Run: sfc /scannow. If that repair fails can you use a system restore? 

Any other programs etc. installed that might be causing this issue? Can you tell us about the time frame aroud when the problem first appeared. It might as well be related to another install that could've corrupted the driver.

[tripplec]

If you uninstalled the tool/application and when specifically to remove and delete all instances of the driver. Then after a shutdown and reboot install will put a clean drive file along with other files.

I would search for the driver first to see where they are and then can verify they were removed. If there is a second driver in a temperary install directory. You make get away with a quick fix by copying and overwriting the driver the the system/system32 directory for example or wherever it running from.

I hope this works out.

On another note I've see no imforation on that Optimus panel and personally even though I found it on my own. I was not able to edit/alter its behaveour. I my testing the 4200M in Optimus mode is NOT faster than run HD 3000 (Intel graphics in BIOS). Its either heavy under clocked from spec or a dog chipset. There are 3 more above it in the samve NVS family which are increasingly better but of course not selected.

[PeterTWJ]

Hi kingofthering

Maybe you could try

1. Use System Update (Control Panel, Lenovo - Update and drivers) to get the newer version of OEM Intel / NVIDIA Optimus driver.

2. If not, you could try the official Intel / NVIDIA driver to see if it's driver-related issue?

Official NVIDIA
http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro-notebook-win7-winvista-64bit-296.35-whql-driver.html

Official Intel

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3231&DwnldID=20842&ProductFamily=Graph...

Have a nice day!

Peter

W520 (4284-A99)

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[ThorsHammer]

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kingofthering wrote:

Hi all, 

I've been using a T520 (i5-2520, 4GB RAM) with the Optimus-equipped NVS card for a few months now. For some strange reason I cannot run Nvidia's control panel. Every time I start it it it almost instantaneously crashes to the desktop. It worked for a few months but it stopped working. 

I have tried updating, reinstalling, and even wiping using driver cleaner in safe mode and reinstalling, but it keeps crashing. It sucks because I cannot change my default graphics controller for various programs and this means I'll be running Acrobat at full blast even though the HD graphics can deal with that. 

A quick google says something about installing the Nvidia drivers in Discrete only mode for the W520. Is that the case here? If not, what should I do and should I call up warranty?

EDIT: The file that crashes is nvgames.dll. We're talking about 30 crashes in the past week. 

Thanks. 

---

Frankly, it's going to be hard to determine the state the machine is in now that the "driver cleaner" has been run.  If you have a spare HDD, I would install the factory DVD image you made when you received the machine to determine if it's a hardware or software issue.

Sounds like a new installation of the OS and apps are going to be needed.

[kingofthering]

I ran the laptop under nVidia only and it's giving me a code 43 error under device manager and can't/won't run aero or have the minimum requirements for the Intel car either. 

Should I send it back for warranty repairs? There's a drop-in not far away. 

[ColonelONeill]

Try toggling the Optimus setting to Intel in the BIOS then. It's possible the discrete GPU is defective, but not too likely.

Also, try an Ubuntu live CD while on discrete only.

[ThorsHammer]

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kingofthering wrote:

I ran the laptop under nVidia only and it's giving me a code 43 error under device manager and can't/won't run aero or have the minimum requirements for the Intel car either. 

Should I send it back for warranty repairs? There's a drop-in not far away. 

---

Do you have a spare HDD or SSD?  If so, I would install the factory image again, or clean install Windows then apply the core drivers.  If the problem reproduces on the second installation, it's a solid indication there is a hardware issue.