Originally Posted by Eric Giles

IBM's T4x series is superb-I have owned a T40 until recently-but they do have a few weak points. What you are describing could be one of the major issues that these have. The ATI video graphics chip is a Ball Grid Array setup that uses little 'balls' of solder underneath to attach it to the system board. Over time, and especially if you have picked up the laptop with one hand at the left front corner of the unit, those ball solder joints become weak and break from the system board. Usually the symptoms are a bit more severe than what you are describing, but yours might be at an early stage.

You can go to the new forums at www.thinkpads.com and do a search on the T4x video issue and see how people use a heat gun to try to reflow the solder on this chip. Others have removed the keyboard and put 'Post It' notes over the chip so that when you reinstall the keyboard, the added pressure keeps the chip from losing contact. I would try the Post-It note way first to see if that helps your problem.

In the end, it might be time to go to ebay and pick up a new system board. Then again, the T60 series is a worthy replacement-I recently purchased a T60p in the widescreen version and it is very nice!