X301 - Intermittent garbage on the screen [ Editado ]

[gursk]

My new X301 laptop is having some intermittent display issues. About every 6th time I bring it back from sleep, the screen becomes littered with small artifacts, commonly in vertical columns.

Check out the photos I snapped ...

ScreenAfterLogin

DesktopAfterLogin

Being patient and logging in doesn't help- only a full reboot restores an unmarred display.

I did all the system tests and all hardware components come out perfectly.

Calling support hasn't been ... supportive. They had me install an older version of the driver, which caused the screen to completely wash out, I had to use a Windows Restore point to get the display to appear with the normal color and contrast settings. They were completely uninterested in looking at the photos that better illustrate the issue.

Anyone else have any insight into this? Sounds to me like it might be a hardware issue.

Thanks for any ideas that might help...

[lmorency]

Hello!   Bonjour!

I have the exact same problem with my screen after hibernating. It's more than anoying. I will contact support tomorrow.

Cheers.

[tom2517]

This problem happened to other thinkpads like T400s as well, not just X301, so it's probably a driver issue, not a hardware problem.

I have the problem on my X301 too, but I noticed that it doesn't occur if the AC is not plugged in when you open the lid from sleep.

I read in other forums that disabling Intel VT in BIOS will fix the problem.

[gursk]

Thanks tom2517,

Just checked the BIOS and Intel VT was already disabled. I was hoping that would be the fix! I'll keep track if this is an AC-only issue.

Thanks for the tips!

[tom2517]

Okay, please do let us know if it's also the AC that caused the problem on your X301, thanks.

What I do now is I unplug the AC first, and then close the lid. And I open the lid (from sleep) and log in, before I plug in the AC. So far I haven't seen the screen issue if I follow this home-made SOP.

Anyways, Lenovo should fix this issue regardless...

[gav46]

Its a bad Intel Graphics driver. Uninstall and revert to the last driver you were using.

[gursk]

As instructed by technical support, I replaced my driver (version 8.15.10.1968) with a previous version (8.15.10.1855), document ID MIGR-73678 and it resulted in a washed-out screen that was completely unusable.

AfterReccomededDriverInstalled

Obviously, not the solution I was looking for and indeed introduced a whole new set of display issues. Hence my doubt that an older driver is the solution to this problem.

To restore screen function (rollback wasn't available as this was an older driver) I had to use a restore point.  After using a restore point from before the reccomended driver install, my screen was back to "normal" however, the intermittent problem is still cropping up.

Bit of background, this is a brand-new machine which arrived 2 weeks ago with Windows 7 preinstalled by Lenovo. Usual X301 specs, but with the 128 SSD HD option.  All OS and drivers are up-to-date and were installed using ThinkVantage System Update and Windows Update.

[gursk]

Thie inital screen garbage issue is still occuring however there is an interesting development...

If, when I bring the laptop back from sleep and discover the screen garbage, I:

1.  Unplug the AC.

2.  Shut the lid to put the laptop to sleep.

3.  Open the lid to wake it up.

4.  Presto, no screen garbage.

So, this issue seems to be linked to the power state.  More information is good ... still not sure how to resolve/prevent.

[CaptainObvious]

Try unplug and replug the AC and check if the distorted display goes away.

[gursk]

Thanks ... Captain. 

Unplugging/plugging the AC seems to be a good workaround, but I would prefer to resolve this issue. 

This behaviour is not acceptable in a brand-new $2000+ Thinkpad...