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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 10:05:28

Title: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 10:05:28
Anyone had any experience of them? For some reason when the laptop is docked it will start to boot ok, but after 20 seconds or so just power off.  >:(

Boot it without being docked, and it boots fine, straight into windows  :-/
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: TheBoy on 28 September 2008, 10:18:38
What kind of dock, and what spec laptop?

Is the PSU powerful enough - P4 latitudes in C-Dock2 need 90W PSU, though normally BIOS warns you...
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 28 September 2008, 10:23:53
The biggest issue I found with Dell docking stations is the really chap shite connector they use.....
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: TheBoy on 28 September 2008, 10:26:02
Quote
The biggest issue I found with Dell docking stations is the really chap shite connector they use.....
Oh, you want to see the HP/Compaq nc6xxx series one then - that flexes the system board during dock/undock....   :-X
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 10:30:34
think its a D600 (600mhz)

One thing just thought of, is i put some remote software on (log me in)

So no monitor / keyboard / mouse is actually connected to the dock, only a printer.

I guess its looking for a monitor? or keyboard?  :-/
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: jimbobmccoy on 28 September 2008, 10:56:00
Ive only ever had to use generic docking stations, namely a targus jobby, due to work being too tight to fork out for decent gear, still it gets the job done.

Have to load drivers on for it tho, is this the same for your one, (may well not  be if its a dell dock for a dell machine)? If so will it boot in safe mode?
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: jimbobmccoy on 28 September 2008, 10:58:22
sorry just reread your post, if you only have a printer connected, why the use of a docking station?
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 11:10:32
Quote
sorry just reread your post, if you only have a printer connected, why the use of a docking station?

Keep it out of the way (dock is on a shelf under the desk)

Saves having it open on my desk with the printer plugged in.

Planned to use it as a print server, just turn it on when we need it. Use software to connect if i have to.
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: MarkG on 28 September 2008, 11:17:08
I'm using one now. You need a 19.5 V 4.62amp power supply. The standard 3.34amp one supplied with your laptop doesn't have enough juice.

I bought mine from some dealer in Hong Kong on eBay
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: TheBoy on 28 September 2008, 11:17:25
if you want to prove hardware fault, I have a c-dock2 you can borrow for a few days.

I'd whack on a monitor, to see whats happening - I'm wondering if you have wrong psu
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Growler on 28 September 2008, 11:20:25
Quote
Quote
The biggest issue I found with Dell docking stations is the really chap shite connector they use.....
Oh, you want to see the HP/Compaq nc6xxx series one then - that flexes the system board during dock/undock....   :-X
Tell me about it. :-/
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Ken T on 28 September 2008, 13:09:09
Quote
I'm using one now. You need a 19.5 V 4.62amp power supply. The standard 3.34amp one supplied with your laptop doesn't have enough juice.

I bought mine from some dealer in Hong Kong on eBay

You might want to watch HK PSU's. I bought several recently, a "genuine HP" and several Acers. They rattle, eg the electronics are not properly mounted, and are a bit too light not the proper weight of a real PSU. Also the labels are not fixed properly. They work, but tend to get hot. There are several UK suppliers of quality stuff.

Ken
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 28 September 2008, 16:14:05
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Quote
sorry just reread your post, if you only have a printer connected, why the use of a docking station?

Keep it out of the way (dock is on a shelf under the desk)

Saves having it open on my desk with the printer plugged in.


Planned to use it as a print server, just turn it on when we need it. Use software to connect if i have to.

So, are you saying you have it in the dock with the lid closed?
If so, make sure in "power options" you have got it set to 'do nothing' when lid is closed.....maybe the prob  :-/ if not the psu prob.
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 17:35:50
Quote
if you want to prove hardware fault, I have a c-dock2 you can borrow for a few days.

I'd whack on a monitor, to see whats happening - I'm wondering if you have wrong psu

Thing is it used to work, but it was hooked up to a KVM.
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 28 September 2008, 19:47:49
Quote
Quote
if you want to prove hardware fault, I have a c-dock2 you can borrow for a few days.

I'd whack on a monitor, to see whats happening - I'm wondering if you have wrong psu

Thing is it used to work, but it was hooked up to a KVM.

So, it was able to detect exernal keyboard plugged in. You sure, coz it carnt detect external keyboard, that its not going into standby/shutdown due to doz settings as I mentioned earlier?  :-/
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 20:20:41
think your right, means i got to dig another keyboard and mouse out!
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 28 September 2008, 20:29:41
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think your right, means i got to dig another keyboard and mouse out!

Just change the settings tunnie.......to 'do nothing' by default i think its set to 'standby' and give that a go  :y
Title: Re: Dell Docking Station
Post by: tunnie on 28 September 2008, 20:33:03
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Quote
think your right, means i got to dig another keyboard and mouse out!

Just change the settings tunnie.......to 'do nothing' by default i think its set to 'standby' and give that a go  :y

Tried that, i think the dock is overriding it  :-/