x200 Tablet - Screen goes blank on rotate

I have been having a problem with my x200T the last week or so.

When I rotate the screen (both directions, but it seems more common when turning clockwise) it will go blank. This is sometimes also accompanied by a few green lines scattered across the display. The screen generally cuts out close to the stopping point in the hinge, but occasionally it will occur during the middle of the rotation.

Rotating the screen back to where it was previously will usually cause the picture to return. I can then adjust the angle of the display (front to back tilt) before rotating it (to the place that was previously black) and it will work fine. Therefore, the angle of the screen seems to play a factor (but it never goes black when tilting the screen forward or back).

This isn't a crippling error (the x200T doesn't crash or anything) but it is highly annoying.

My questions are as follows:

Is this a simple cabling error, or could it be a more insidious hardware problem (e.g. issues with the graphics chipset)? On rare occasions I have seen artifacts (such as the green lines above) flicker on my screen when it is otherwise working normally.

If it is a cabling problem, such as a loose LVDS connection, is this something I can fix myself? Have any other tablet users ever experienced a similar problem? My computer is still under warranty, but if I can fix it without having to send it in that would be ideal.

One other minor issue I might as well throw in here. I can't recall the last time that my internal microphone (located just below the LCD) has functioned. I know that it did once upon a time, but the last several times I've attempted to use Skype or otherwise record (very rare) it has not been functional. It's not a software issue because an external microphone plugged in the 1/8" jack works just fine. This may or may not be related (I have not checked the wiring diagram).

I haven't had any notable drops or falls recently, but I don't baby my computer and it has been subject to two years of use and abuse so I could easily see a cable getting loose.

 

From what you've described, it sounds like cabling is the culprit. Fortunately for you, the x200t is very easy to disassemble.

 

it could be the GPU or the cable.   if it's intermittent then i'd be more inclined to blame the cable.

the stereo microphones are attached to the sub card shown here at location #10.   while this could be related to a bad cable, it could be an unrelated issue.   given that the tablet LVDS cables are strands of micro-COAX, it's possible that a few strands of the cable have become damaged over time.   that damage could include the mic wires and part of the signal wires.   while rare, i wouldn't rule it out.

this is a difficult one to diagnose.   while instinct says it's probably the cable, i'd hate to see you spend money on it and be wrong.   setting up a support call is honestly your best bet here unless you're willing to experiment.

 

Thanks for your thoughts erik. I am willing to experiment, but letting Lenovo handle the issue is probably a better call. I do have spares and shouldn't need my tablet too much in the next few weeks so I'll give them a call and see what I can work out.

The one thing I'm worried about with support is they may claim it's not covered. A bit of the screen bezel on the top left side chipped off from being dropped (the damage was actually caused by the zipper in the Lenovo Tablet sleeve). This happened well over a year ago and the tablet has performed flawlessly until very recently. However, I could see support blaming the current issue on that and refusing to repair it (I don't have accidental coverage).

 

there's no way to know if the drop did anything.   besides, sometimes a small bump can cause the same or more damage than a full drop.   since it's a complete unknown, all you can do is send it into service and see what happens.   i'm sure you'll be fine.

 

No sense being concerned until it's an issue.

 

I have dropped my X61 couple of times and parts of the case have chipped away (around the heat vent), but they still replaced the LCD, heatsink and motherboard for me under warranty.

But they did make a note in their diagnostic report about the external casing damage to that area.

 

I called Lenovo and they're shipping me a box to send in my tablet. I will update with details in the future.

 

hopefully they can tell you which component is at fault, sometimes the depot would change all the parts when they can't nail the problem down.

 

Update:

I got my x200 Tablet back and it's fixed, but I went through a bit of an ordeal.

As I feared, the depot decided to place my machine under billable hold after reviewing it, they wanted about $800 to fix it or they would send it back without addressing the issue

With some help from Erik about whom to contact I was able to escalate the issue. After a bit of work and a few weeks in the shop they agreed to perform only the cable change that I had suggested (the crack in the bezel and microphone were not addressed). However, as I figured this DID fix the problem that I sent it in for

Additionally two parts of the bezel that were cracked beforehand (next to the latch and on the top left side) are now completely missing. UPS is just as likely at fault here as the depot and it was only a matter time before they fell off anyway so I'm not too concerned about it.

Overall, I remain satisfied with Lenovo support. However, as always if you remain firm and are able to diagnose your own problems you do better than if not.

 

Overall, I remain satisfied with Lenovo support. However, as always if you remain firm and are able to diagnose your own problems you do better than if not.


But why?

They wanted to charge you $800 for replacing a cable? It takes all of 10 minutes to completely disassemble the x200t minus the screen assembly. Your cable was just loose (tape holding ziff lock was worn out) and didn’t even need replacing. Just add a piece of tape and problem solved! If not for Erik, then what? It shouldn’t take an all out verbal assault just to get a warranty repair issue solved/fixed.

 

Lol yeah, honestly I'm not sure I want to know how the tech support that you aren't satisfied with, looks like.

Tech support is "good" because there are very helpful folks @ NBR who will go out of their way and work on your problem?

 

It was likely a broken wire within the cable
As there is no tape holding this together at the motherboard
end.
The connection is held to the extension cable card with screws and then that is held in place to the motherboard with screws as well.
At the hinge is the only place this cable has flex.

Highly unlikely that there was any problem with the cable connection at the back of LCD.
Cable flex to travel that distance is rare to say the least when
there is cable play built in at the hinged.

I have pulled these tablets apart many times.

It seems i read many more stories about lenovo service centers holding product for ransom $s more often than any other brand.

 

the exterior damage to jon's system is what tied things up.   it's a cause/effect scenario.   the technician most likely looked at it and said that it broke due to dropping the system - a plausible but less likely result - thus giving (some) grounds to deny warranty.

a situation like this would be akin to damaging the front of a car and taking it to the dealership complaining that the A/C system isn't working.   even if the two events are unrelated, the mechanic will likely question the front-end damage being a possible cause.   right or wrong, it's the mechanic's job to question such correlations.

jon and i discussed repairing his system on his own.   i agreed that the LCD cable was likely the cause, especially since tablet cables are strands of micro-coax rather than the typical printed LVDS ribbon found in notebooks.   jon decided he wanted to go through the depot despite the exterior physical damage to his tablet - something we both knew might throw a red flag.

in the end it was handled and the red flags were lowered.

while i agree this may seem like a negative support issue, one must consider both sides of the situation.

 

erik,

Well said and thank you for helping out

 

Erik said it well.

I'm satisfied with support because I was able to get my problem fixed. I knew that the bezel damage is something that was not covered (I don't have accidental coverage), and I figured there was a good chance the depot (like most warranty repair houses) would use it as a reason not to fix the machine in general.

However, you do raise a valid point. A person that was less able to diagnose their problem and didn't know how to escalate something within Lenovo could have been SOL in this case.

 

Exactly!

If they would have first diagnose the problem, they would have known the cause was most likely not due to a drop, rather a normal wear situation. But because there was something broke or worn out on the outer shell, they just assumed that was the cause of the problem and didn’t want to own up to their responsibility. What happened with giving the customer the benefit of the doubt? That x200t with warranty was not free, and companies need to realize that when dealing with customers who go the extra mile to get a warranty.

I still think the only thing was wrong was a loose cable that connects and disconnects the LCD panel from the motherboard chassis (I do have tape over mine FTR). If it was a faulty wire, I’m sure you would have experienced other problems display related without rotating your screen. But hey, it’s done and you’re happy.

It’s ironic how Lenovo claims their notebooks are spill resistant and can be dropped and nothing happens, yet want to charge you if they feel you dropped your notebook. =))

 

considering the fact that you neither saw jon's system, the cable, or the technician's report, i'd say your statement above is a giant assumption in and of itself.   as an outsider, you can't know with 100% certainty that the drop had absolutely nothing to do with the fault.

it's difficult to dissect a situation with any semblance of accuracy unless you're there in person with broken parts in-hand.   otherwise you're left guessing, playing pundit on the internet.

don't guess; don't assume.

the situation has been taken care of and jon is back up and running.   let's leave it at that.

 

kobe
I am not sure what x200 you have?
The tablet does NOT use tape, the connections are SCREWED together @ the motherboard.

 

Mr. Erik, I'm going to assume what I want. When people come here and ask questions at a forum, there is more assumption and speculation going on than anything, and most of the time it helps. Sure the guy got his laptop fixed, but not until you intervened. What about the ones who don’t know this and would be stuck with an $800 bill? Was that an assumption, or did that actually occur?

He did get his laptop fixed and YOU can leave it at that. You can come on and say what you want, that doesn't change my opinion at all about how this was handled. You're not going to get 100 percent satisfaction, so deal with the good and the bad in a positive manner. I must say, the x200t is one of the easiest notebooks to service. Anyway... thank you for being here and saving customers tons of added cost and dissatisfaction!

 

I have the x200t, just to answer that. If you look at your diagram, which you will not be able to actually tell what I'm referring to unless you take your tablet apart. Item 3 (pictured to the right) is the actual connector coming from the LCD; it is protected by a sleeve/tape. If I were experiencing the problems the thread started described, I would have cut the tape from that connector and looked at those wires that is within the sleeve. Something could have jarred loose, I don't know. Like Erik said, I’m just assuming.

I'm a DIY person, so of course I would have tried to fix my own problem if I had one.

 

That connector is very secure
I just took mine apart friday to check out a spare multi-touch head unit i have.
Yet i agree with you on the means this repair was handled.
Those without the inside help would have a lighter wallet.
I do fully understand why damage could be looked at as the cause.
Thank you Erik for stepping up once again.

edit without a thread bump
It is threads like these that are very disturbing.
Sometimes it almost looks like lenovo goes out of their way to avoid services in the name of reducing costs.
Maybe its something cultural of current ownership, since the sale from IBM.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=93587

The part that reads volume to myself was:

Thank you again Erik for stepping up, even though cases like this should never need your intervention.

It almost looks like intentional record scrubbing or the avoidance of rendering services in the name of reduction of costs.
Lenovo needs to get a handle on this asap as the stigma that these stories create WILL reduce revenues on the sales end for lenovo over time.

I doubt this contribution of mine stays up long prior to being purged since lenovo is also a advertiser here as well

Let it be know, i have owned many and still own Lenovo/ibm products.
Currently the x200t and a t410