Resolution change when closing lid /t60

I have just received my T60 today. It's a great machine but there is a very annoying issue I very much hope you guys can help me with. Everytime I close the lid and reopen it the resolution change to 800 x 600 (from 1024) for a few seconds before it instantly returns to normal. All icons, however, are messed up. Is this normal? What can be done? Your help is very appreciated!

Cheers,
Henry

PS: Is screen rippling (distortion of the image) normal when the lid is open and closed? I know that is an issue with some laptops but I was under the impresson not with the Thinkpads. I own a 14 inch model.

 

I can't comment about the distortion, but I have the same thing happening with the screen resizing. It really is annoying when my icons are changed around. My only thought is the laptop thinks your going to connect to to an external screen (when you close the lid) and therefore resizes it to the exteral resolution. Thats just my guess. I hope somebody has an answer.

 

You will be happy to learn that I solved the issue. This required three steps which I will describe in detail.

1. First you need to update your system to BIOS 1.06. Our problem was specifically addressed in the readme file which came along with that BIOS version. To update the BIOS you need to hit the ThinVantage key on your Thinkpad and update your system (cannot give you the command's exact name since I am working with a German OS). Second, you must select not only to show critical updates but all available updates. Select the BIOS and start the process. Your old BIOS file will be saved in case you wish to use it later.

2. After the new BIOS is installed enter the presentation manager (FN + F7) and choose LCD Screen only.

3. Close your lid and open it. The resolution should now permamently switch to 800 x 600 (and not pop back to 1024).

4. Enter your Display settings (where you can normally change resolution) and change your resolution to your LCD's native resolution.

5. You are done!


Please let me know whether this works for you. If you have any questions (e.g. due to the quality of my English) please do let me know, too.

Cheers,
Henry

 

while I have not had to do this, I must say that was a perfect walkthrough. Not a single problem with your english and clear instructions indeed.

well done and thank you

 

so what si the best BIOS version to use? 1.04 or 1.06? any other issues in conflict with these two?

 

hi bman22, i believe you have the z61t.. did you happen to resolve the issue with screen resolution change? i am having similar problem with my new z61t and the new bios update doesn't cover this issue.

not only the resolution changes it also changes the color settings to 16 bits on mine.. i will call up lenovo tech support and see what happens.

 

Dear all,

in a different board I encountered a user who had the same problem with an X60. Having ascertained that the issue is actually not (!) BIOS related we embarked on a rather complex email exchange. This is what worked for him. Please let me know whether this has been of any help to you.

So when you suggested uninstalling presentation manager I cringed. However, I overcame that hesitation and went ahead and uninstalled it. The first thing I did after the uninstall was to click FN+F7 to see if that would still work, because I might need that in the future. It did work, but differently than with the presentation manager. When I press it once, my laptop goes blank (I'm guessing that it switches the display to an external monitor but I didn't have one plugged in so I'm not certain). When I press it a second time, an icon that looks like two monitors pops up at the bottom center of my page. I've seen this before but I had never seen them both lit up like they were both in use. That's when I realized something, the laptop lcd was at 800x600, permanently! Remembering what you suggested in one of your first emails, I checked on the resolution and saw that it was set for 800x600. I changed that to 1024x768 and clicked apply. I then closed the laptop and opened it up to find that it always goes back to 1024x768!

 

My god I have been having this problem for 3 months now and I CAN'T fix it!!!!!! When I saw that you fixed I was sooo excited only to have my hopes crash and burn....again, when it didn't work. I tried what you suggested but on step two when I close my lid my resolution changes back to 1400x1050 (native res). I also have the presentation director uninstalled so maybe that is the issue but I see the person above me has success even with in uninstalled.

I know this is a old thread but is there anyone who can help me out???!!!???

 

I started having this problem a couple months ago after some system updates and the suggestions above didn't help. Now with the latest system updates (bios=2.20 display driver = FIREGL=8.441....) it has gone away. There's a note in the bios update that previous versions are incompatible with something about the video for t60s.

 

i don't have a z-series (t43 is what i am using), but i did have the lid closing resolution problem.

after reading discussions in many different forums, someone suggests that the lid closing resolution problem may be due to external monitor setting (i.e. the display driver thinks it should adjust to external monitor setting when the lid is closed).

taking this assumption, i have found a simple work-around that works for me.

- create a new scheme that uses both LCD & external monitor and set external monitor to use the same resolution as LCD native resolution (1400x1050). i created this scheme using Fn+F7, but i believe using ibm PM will also do.
- move this new scheme and place it right below "My Normal Display Settings"

this way, when lid closed, the driver is fooled to use 2nd scheme for external monitor, but still using the same resolution

this works for me, ymmv