Unknown problem with graphics card

[Filip Becaver]

Hi, my problem started about 2-3 weeks ago. It was a normal day, everything worked normally. My laptop downloaded windows updates and requiered restart. I restarted it in the evening because i had nothing to do. But then, i ran a game, and after a few minutes, it started to lag. My fps dropped from 50 to 30. I checked the driver, and everything was set as it was supposed to. So i restarted laptop again. I ran the game, worked fine for a few minutes and then again. I thought, that it might be something wrong with updates, so i did a system restore to a point before the updates. No change, problem occured. I had really no idea what happend. I have a Lenovo ThinkPad E520 with two graphics cards, Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD HD Radeon 6630m. That AMD is 2gb. I was checking with lenovo toolbox for a problem. And i found out, that with the INTEL card, there was a line saying that it has 2gb, and no such thing was written with AMD card. So a thought crossed my mind, that what if, somehow, the amd card transfered those 2gb to that INTEL card. I dont know, and i really doubt that something like that is possible but it would make sense, because that intel card was stronger than before. For exampe, when i played CS:GO on intel card, i had around 30-40 fps. After this thing that happend, i had around 50. And with AMD i had around 30. Ofc, graphic in game looked worse with intel card. So i tried to reinstall my windows ( i have 7 -64 bit), but after installing the driver for 2 hours, i gave it up. I restored the system to the point before reinstalling. I dont think it has something to do with the graphic card itself, because when i restart the computer, everything works fine for a few minutes. But then FPS drops and it stays down until next restart. And its not only with games, also programs demanding better graphic card have a problem. So now i am not able to play any game, and cant properly use programs like Autocad. This problem happed for no reason really, all of a sudden, one minute everything works fine, and the other everything is screwed up. I have no idea what to do, so i will appreciate every advice. Im really desperate, please someone help me. I have all drivers up to date. And im not very good in computer terminology so please respect that and write like i was a noob and knew nothing about computers.
My specs: Intel Core i5-2430M 2,40 GHz
Ram: 8 GB
Windows: windows 7 home premium 64 bit
Graphics cards: Intel HD Graphics 3000
AMD HD Radeon 6630m

 

[Filip Becaver]

I downloaded BlueScreenView and i have something that might help you understand my problem. file//CProgram%20Files%20(x86)/NirSoft/BlueScreenView/report.html
file//CProgram%20Files%20(x86)/NirSoft/BlueScreenView/report.html

 

[1LiquidPC]

I'd say a factory reset/fresh install of windows at this point. Installing multiple driver version and system restores may have corrupted data somwhere., possibly in registry.

 

[Filip Becaver]

I've done factory reset a few times, but i don't remember if my data from E drive will be deleted. Games, movies and tv series that i have downloaded recently. Will i have to download them again?

 

[1LiquidPC]

Do you have multiple drives in your notebook? If so, and the data is on a secondary drive, it will most likely stay intact. Typically the image backups that are created/restored are only going to affect the primary drive, unless you change the default settings. However, if your unsure, you may want to invest in an external HDD and backup everything just to be on the safe side before a factory reset.

 

[Filip Becaver]

I have 3 drives actually. C - for windows, program files, desktop .... E - for games, movies and other stuff, and Q - where the factory recovery is.

 

[Filip Becaver]

For some reason i'm not able to do that system image recovery. When i try it, it looks like it was working, it takes about half an hour, then the system turns on, and then i get an error message that the recovery wasn't successful because it couldn't find some files and that it may be solved by dissabling the anti-virus. I have dissabled the anti-virus, but it didn't help. I tried to do recovery in a safe mode, but that system image is not among the restore points i can use.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Sounds like you may have corruption on the drive containing the backup. Do you have a physical copy of Windows you could borrow to install, and use your existing installation key. If you run a program such as Speccy, it will tell you your key, if it's not already printed on the bottom of the laptop.

 

[Filip Becaver]

Since the image recovery doesn't work because of some missing files, i tried defragmentation. I had 9% fragmented on E drive and about 30gb of free space. After defrag. i have only 7 gb free space left. I downloaded a WinDirStat and it says, that my E drive uses 218 gb. The drive itself has 336 gb of space. So i wonder, where are the remaining 100 gb? I checked how much every files take, before and after defrag., and the numbers haven't changed. But from 30 gb of free space i have now only 7gb. Any idea how is that possible?

EDIT: Nevermind. Somehow, i now have 65 gb of free space. I feel like this laptop has its own mind and it makes fun of me. It's messing with me.

 

[Neur0nauT]

Updates make the System SLOWER and even lag because it changes the software versions so that's why i never update my system software even im using windows 8.1

This is a false statement.

Updates do not make your system slower. They are put in place to resolve known bugs and issues that arise with new hardware/software as it is released. If a system is running slower after an update, then there is most likely an issue elsewhere on the system, that the update has brought to light.

Granted, In some rare cases, updates can be detrimental to a system due to other unforeseen additional bugs that it may create, but mostly they are supplied to solve known issues and in some cases IMPROVE the overall speed of your system.

Also running 32bit OS nowadays will definitely make a system with more than 4GB RAM run slower than expected.

 

[Suferbus]

At this point does it really matter if you have to install everything again? Your NB is not working right anyway, so I would wipe it clean! Do a fresh install of Windows, go to NB manufactures website and install latest NB drivers, go to AMD website and install latest GPU driver, then re-download all of your software-games. You have nothing to lose at this point, seriously. It will take less time to go this route then all the stuff you are trying to do now, and you should get better results unless it is a hardware issue, which I doubt.

 

[Hekarizblade]

Since the image recovery doesn't work because of some missing files, i tried defragmentation. I had 9% fragmented on E drive and about 30gb of free space. After defrag. i have only 7 gb free space left. I downloaded a WinDirStat and it says, that my E drive uses 218 gb. The drive itself has 336 gb of space. So i wonder, where are the remaining 100 gb? I checked how much every files take, before and after defrag., and the numbers haven't changed. But from 30 gb of free space i have now only 7gb. Any idea how is that possible?

EDIT: Nevermind. Somehow, i now have 65 gb of free space. I feel like this laptop has its own mind and it makes fun of me. It's messing with me.

This is the worst common problem in this whole thread that can't be fix ohh my goshhh i guest just new computer or just buy new SSD for it

 

[Suferbus]

Since the image recovery doesn't work because of some missing files, i tried defragmentation. I had 9% fragmented on E drive and about 30gb of free space. After defrag. i have only 7 gb free space left. I downloaded a WinDirStat and it says, that my E drive uses 218 gb. The drive itself has 336 gb of space. So i wonder, where are the remaining 100 gb? I checked how much every files take, before and after defrag., and the numbers haven't changed. But from 30 gb of free space i have now only 7gb. Any idea how is that possible?

EDIT: Nevermind. Somehow, i now have 65 gb of free space. I feel like this laptop has its own mind and it makes fun of me. It's messing with me.

This is the worst common problem in this whole thread that can't be fix ohh my goshhh i guest just new computer or just buy new SSD for it

You need to disable page file and volume shadow copy on your ssd if you have not already done so.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Were you able to find an install disc for reinstalling Windows? I'm still thinking this is your best route to go at this point.

 

[Filip Becaver]

I haven't tried to find install disc yet, and i think that it's the only thing i can do, too. But there is one thing that kinda bothers me. That laptop is a lenovo, and it has a plenty of lenovo software in it. When i reinstall the windows, i don't think i will have those programs and i guess that many of them are needed for proper working. I tried to look them up on lenovo website but i didn't find anything. So should i write them all down, and after reinstall just download them or what else can i do?

 

[1LiquidPC]

Your right about some of the lenovo specific software, though I'm not sure what your using. You will be able to download the drivers to make you system work/function correctly for the specific features of the laptop. What software provided by lenovo are you using?

 

[Filip Becaver]

Well, in Control panel -> Uninstall programs -> i have these:
Lenovo Auto Scroll Utility
Lenovo Power Management Driver
Lenovo Registration
Lenovo Screen Reading Optimier
Lenovo Solution Center
Lenovo System Interface Driver
Lenovo System Update
Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox
Lenovo User Guide
Lenovo Warranty Information
Lenovo Welcome
Windows Driver Package
ThinkVantage Communications Utility
ThinkVantage AutoLock
Active Protection System
RapidBoot
ThinkVantage Access Connections
Power Manager
Create Recovery Media
Message Center Plus
ThinkPad UltraNav Driver
ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software
+ On scree display

 

[1LiquidPC]

There may be some lenovo software you can get from their site, but most of it is bloatware. However on you list, I see "Create Recover Media". Have you tried this? It is used to burn DVDs of your original image in case of HDD failure. If you can make these, your essentially making your own Windows discs.

 

[Filip Becaver]

When i try ''Create recover media'', i get a runtime error. that says: This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Well, I guess that idea's out the Window. Most the the Lenovo software isn't required for you notebook to run correctly, it's just Lenovo's software version to make things look better than the stock Windows versions, though features may require Lenovo software. Which ones however, I couldn't say for sure. Either way, I'm still thinking you'll need a Windows disc and format your PC. Just a though, but have you tried the Recovery Media creator in Safe Mode?

 

[Filip Becaver]

No i haven't tried it in safe mode, but i think that nothing will help but fresh install of windows. When i will have the CD, i will install fresh windows. But thank you all for your time and advices you provided. I will post here once i have it reinstalled, if it helped or not. I believe, and hope, that it will, otherwise i will have to say goodbye to games.