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    Power Manager Gauge Disappears on Explorer Restart

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by djshack, May 9, 2009.

  1. djshack

    djshack Notebook Geek

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    I've noticed this little bug for a while, but it gets really annoying sometimes (and it's still present in the newest version).

    First off, I'm running Vista 32 on a T400 with switchable graphics.

    Whenever Explorer restarts (crashes, theme change, program installation, etc.), the power gauge does not reappear until I restart the computer. How anyone figured out a way to fix this?

    One other question:

    Is there a way to switch the graphics card without the power manager gauge? I cannot find an option in the Power Manager or anywhere else, but it seems strange Lenovo would limit the option to that battery icon.

    Thank you for all your help.
     
    djshack, May 9, 2009
    #1
  2. gavfung

    gavfung Notebook Guru

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    for the power gauge problem, disable ati external event utility from your services. Then when you need to switch graphic cards, re enable it and then try the switch. For me, I disable Ati external event utility on startup, and make it start manually.
     
    gavfung, May 9, 2009
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  3. djshack

    djshack Notebook Geek

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    I don't really understand what that would do, but I tried it anyways.

    Either way, I've tested this issue ending and restarting Explorer. If I end and restart Explorer, the gauge does not reappear. It will come back with a simple log off and log on, however.
     
    djshack, May 9, 2009
    #3
  4. Convoluted

    Convoluted Notebook Evangelist

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    I have this problem as well. If Explorer does crash, best to restart the computer anyways as some services may be disabled (perhaps could make system more vulnerable?).
     
    Convoluted, May 9, 2009
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  5. gavfung

    gavfung Notebook Guru

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    I was investigating the issue, and found out that ATI event utility and power manager cause explorer to crash when they start at the same time. By allowing PM to boot first, the manually activate ATI external utility later, it does not cause explorer to crash for me.

    In my case explorer always crash on boot, so that is not a really good fix
     
    gavfung, May 9, 2009
    #5
  6. arlab

    arlab Notebook Evangelist

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    This also happens in my T61p (that has no ATI event utility), so the problem may be another...
     
    arlab, May 10, 2009
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  7. docdeh

    docdeh Notebook Geek

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    the irritation is that even when I check the box to specify I want the power gauge to always show on the taskbar it does, as you describe, disappear. That's on a T61 running Vista Ultimate.
     
    docdeh, May 10, 2009
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  8. pacmandelight

    pacmandelight Notebook Deity

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    Are you running the latest Power Manager 2.43? That version is supposed to have fixed that bug.
     
    pacmandelight, May 10, 2009
    #8
  9. djshack

    djshack Notebook Geek

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    That's the version I'm running.
     
    djshack, May 11, 2009
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  10. martinmach

    martinmach Notebook Evangelist

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    This problem had no fix in the last couple of months. logging off does not help sometimes, you need to restart the machine
     
    martinmach, May 11, 2009
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  11. MastahRiz

    MastahRiz Notebook Evangelist

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    I've only had this problem a few times myself, but I'm still using the 2.42 version. Logging on and off helps most of the time.
     
    MastahRiz, May 11, 2009
    #11