"Stuttering" issue with X201

Hi all,

I have a little problem with my X201. Sometimes I will be using the computer just normally without any intense CPU activity, then all of a sudden my mouse will pause and stop moving for 2-3 seconds. After the "pause", everything returns back to normal.

Also, most of the time when I play Flash videos online, the video stutters every now and then even though the CPU isn't even close to being on a full load.

Any suggestions on what I should check for? I'm running a clean install of Windows 7 Professional x64.

Thanks!

Faruk

 

Is it possible that you're hitting the trackpoint (or touchpad, whichever you aren't intending to use) when the mouse is pausing? On my X201, it pauses the mouse if you hit both mouse-controlling devices at once (something my T60 doesn't do).

 

Hey thanks for the reply! I guess this wouldn't be my issue, since it also happens when my laptop is docked and I am using a USB mouse.

I read about this sort of "stuttering" issue happening with older MLC SSDs that used the JMicron controller... But this wouldn't be the issue for me either because I'm using a standard 7200RPM hard drive.

 

How about the Active Protection system? You could try turning it down or completely off in the case of SSD.

 

It seems that the computer is either going to hibernate/standyby mode?

 

Are you by any chance using Google Chrome? I started noticing this too, but now that I pay attention it looks like it only happens if Google Chrome is open.

 

Funny thing is, I thought that it might be Firefox so I installed Chrome but it still continued to happen.

I also had the same thought of "hey it only happens when I have Firefox open", but now that I think about it.. I pretty much ALWAYS have a web browser window open

BriS2k: It happens even when my laptop is docked (and therefore stationary). So I don't believe it has anything to do with Lenovo APS.

hitman: This is also unlikely, because it happens while I am using it. I'll be doing something and all of a sudden the mouse and keyboard will just stop responding for about 3 seconds.

 

Maybe it's Firefox and Chrome? Because I usually don't have a web browser open, and it has only happened with a web browser open.

 

Do you have Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Beta installed?

I think I saw the final version released a few days back, let me try to update and see if I will continue to have the problem...

Edit: I installed the final version.. let's see how this goes!

 

I have 10.0. You might be on to something though because the webmail which I have open when I do have my browser open apparently uses flash (because when I went to update to 10.1 it told me it couldn't because flash is in use, and then when I closed that tab it installed fine). Se let's see if it was a flash pre-10.1 final thing.

 

Well, it still did it, so I closed my webmail, and now it seems to have stopped. I guess I'll be setting up the POP and ditching the web-based portion of the email.

 

Well it happened one more time after I updated to Flash 10.1 final.

I did some searching and it seems that we're not the only ones who have encountered such an issue. Here are just 2 of the many pages that I found on google:

Windows 7 freezes for a few seconds - Page 3 - Overclockers Australia Forums

Windows 7 RTM 64-bit mouse freezes/stutters multiple times per minute

It seems that it is probably a device driver issue, and network adapters are a common culprit. I just uninstalled the Intel PROset Wireless software, and instead installed the newer driver-only package. Intel's software package also came with some extra "MyWifi" driver which would add an extra wireless adapter to my network connections. Let's see if that makes a difference...

If the wifi driver doesn't do the trick, I'll try to move on and try disabling things in device manager until it stops happening. Then I'll try finding a driver that works. I'll keep you updated.. and let me know if you find anything too.

 

I'll let you know if I find anything, but it doesn't look like I'm going to have the problem ever again since moving my webmail onto Mozilla Thunderbird.

 

Oops, double-post...

 

Hey marlinspike, so far so good...

Are you using the WiFi drivers from Lenovo or Intel? Try giving the Intel driver a shot and see if it helps Don't download the PROset software package, just the small (4MB I think) driver package...

 

I use the drivers thinkvantage update gives me. So you uninstalled intel proset and simply installed just the drivers. What about access connections?

And yeah it appears to be web browser based, not flash based (as even with the webmail gone I still get it if I have chrome open)

 

That's correct, I uninstalled the Lenovo software package for WiFi and I downloaded this straight from Intel's web site:

 Intel® PRO/Wireless and WiFi Link Drivers-Only for Windows 7*

So far, no more stuttering!

 

when you say software package though, does that include access connections?

 

Oh sorry I forgot to mention that, I don't use Access Connections...

But as far as I know, Access Connections is a separate program. So uninstalling the Intel PROset software shouldn't affect Access Connections.

 

OK, I uninstalled the proset but when I ran that download you linked to it doesn't do anything. It asks me if I want to run it, I say run, and then nothing happens. Or is that how it is, there is no installation wizard? My wifi is working so I guess I must have whatever I need?

 

I guess you downloaded the .exe file? I downloaded the .zip and did it manually.

Check the "Driver" tab of your wireless adapter in Device Manager, and if it says "13.1.1.1" for the driver version you should be all set

 

Hmm, no, it's 13.0...I guess I'll try the zip one.

EDIT: zip version worked. Now to leave Chrome open and see if I still have a stutter.

 

Sounds like my issue. I thought that it was Chrome at first but I see the stutter in word sometimes. I haven't solved the issue yet. I'm thinking something to do with the ssd or video driver?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/484407-t410s-chrome-random-pauses-while-scrolling.html

 

I know for me the issue wasn't pausing while scrolling, just pausing, even if Chrome was minimized, as long as it was open. It seems to be cured after falling Faruk's recommendations though.

 

I have the WiMax driver version 5.2.32.3 (9/15/09) d/l from Lenovo. I'm going to uninstall the Lenovo one and install Faruk's recomended one (Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250: 13.1.1.1) using the .exe
I'll report back.

 

You know what, I don't think this fixed my stutter. I think it's a flash thing. Maybe we just need to wait for them to come out with 64 bit flash (which should be the next release).

 

From what I can tell the new driver fixed my issue. Thanks Faruk! That was driving me CRAZY!!!

 

velocitytrap: I'm glad it solved the issue for you!

marlinspike: That's disappointing... You know, I'm fairly certain that this has something to do with a device driver. I think you should try checking the Windows Event Log for errors, and try disabling various devices (i.e. try having WiFi disabled while you're at home, and see if it still happens). You might be able to isolate the issue like that...

I think I'm pretty convinced now that Lenovo makes garbage drivers (also see the other thread I made about the graphics driver)... But I still love the hardware too much to give up my Thinkpad

 

How frequent were your guys pauses? Because I seem to remember them being more frequent before going to this driver, but now they're fairly rare (few times a day), and only happen when something with flash is open.

 

I seem to be experiencing the same results as you. They used to drive me crazy but now they only happen a few times a day. The only driver that I changed is the wifi so I may look into changing the video driver now as well. I noticed it in word today but I'm wondering if its a ssd drier issue or save function or something. Obviously the driver made a huge difference so if this is as good as it gets I can live with it. I'm going to keep an eye on this thread.

Faruk,
Can you post a link to the video thread?

 

For me it used to happen maybe 5 or 6 times a day.. But now it's been a few days and it hasn't happened at all.

And velocitytrap, here's the thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...problem-microsoft-word-anybody-else-have.html

So the 3 major changes I've made have been to ditch Lenovo and install the WiFi and video drivers both from Intel.. And of course, I updated my Flash 10.1 beta to the final release. I think the WiFi driver was the one that made the difference, but I'm not sure if the other 2 had any effect as well.

 

Hey Faruk, since you haven't experienced it, can you try something for me? Well, first, I see you're in Canada...is there a Canadian equivalent for hulu.com? I am finding the stuttering issue to be almost non-existant...except now that I'm watching a show on there it happens a lot if I do 480p or 360p and maximize the screen (it's flash based). And no, it's not choppy playback.

I really am leaning towards it being flash itself (because there no 64-bit flash yet), but thought I'd see what your experience is since you haven't been experiecing it at all lately.

BTW, it doesn't happen when I leave the video small, only when I full screen it.

 

I think I figured it out. Get into your flash settings and uncheck "enable hardware acceleration"

 

Just posting an update.

Dumping the Lenovo WiFi driver and going with the Intel version fixed about 90% of th stuttering effect that I was seeing on my T410s ( ssd HD, i5 processor, 6250 WiFi/WiMax, 4GB ram). When I replaced the Lenovo video driver with the Intel one the stuttering issue went away completely. I agree with Faruk's assessment that the Lenovo drivers are not well written and that Intel divers are the way to go.

If you go on the the Intel site they have a Java utility that will figure out what drivers your laptop needs. Just delete your current Lenovo driver(s), connect to the Intel site and run the driver utility. Easy as pie.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

I can reproduce a 2-3 second pause/stutter when I'm using Alt-Tab. One easy way to reproduce it is open the Alt-Tab menu and leave it open (by keeping Alt pressed) and run the mouse over the window thumbnails. Should happen in under 30 seconds, sometime it happens right away, just Alt-Tabbing to another window directly.

 

trying to tackle this issue on my x201... i've downloaded the intel video driver, but every time i'm running the install, i get stopped with a message saying it is not supported and i should get the lenovo one. how did you guys get passed that?!

 

If I remember correctly, I think you need to uninstall the video driver before you can install the newly downloaded driver. I had these random stuttering issues initially but forgot what I changed to fix it.....

 

The driver linked to at Intel's site is ver. 13.1.1.1 dated 2/26/2010. I just checked device manager and my driver is version 13.2.0.30 dated 3/18/2010. I don't know where this driver came from, it was installed by the Lenovo Authorized Service Center in my city -- they ordered the 6200 card and installed it for me. I couldn't get the "Thinkpad b/g/n" card to work under Linux so I upgraded.

They probably got the driver off of Lenovo's website. I ran Lenovo Update and that may have installed the newer driver but I didn't see that happening. I'm pretty sure they're using whatever driver is now on Lenovo's site.

I haven't had the issue being discussed here and I don't use Access Connections. My flash version is 10.1.53.64 and hardware acceleration is turned on. I use Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Also, I have a pretty fast internet connection and have had no stuttering with flash at all, either streaming or local, windowed or full-screen, SD or HD. One variable that might be relevant is that in Power Manager I have Maximize Performance selected where it says "Intel Graphics Power Plan" under System Settings.

 

There is a way to "force feed" the driver into Windows. You have to extract the files and manually install the driver through device manager by pointing it to the exact location of the driver files (.sys, .cat, .inf). This method usually works when the installer chokes but you first have to uninstall whatever driver is currently installed. And you should turn off updates (both Windows and Lenovo's) or they'll just overwrite your work and you'll be back where you started.

 

when did you guys build your system?

spec? maybe theres a common hardware among the problematic systems

 

Interesting.. The funny thing is, I sometimes experience "pausing" when I preview windows from the taskbar. But I'm not sure if this is just a general Windows 7 thing.

You need to completely uninstall the Lenovo driver first. After that, the Intel driver will allow you to install.

Well I guess with the X201 there isn't much to customize.. But I'm using the Intel 6200 WiFi card, Core i5, 2x2GB RAM, Seagate Momentus 7200.3 320GB...

And another interesting thing to add: About a week ago I was experiencing some random hangs/reboots, so I ran some tests to try to find out what was going on. It turned out that I had 5 bad sectors on my HD, so I booted up into DOS and ran Seatools to repair them. Everything seems to be working fine now... I'm thinking maybe we could add that to the list of potential suspects - anybody want to run a full manufacturer's diagnostic test on their HD? The funny thing is, Seagate's "short" test didn't catch my errors, but the "long" one did... so if you try it, be sure to run the full set of tests.