docked/undocked configs

Question

I have just switched my OS from win ME to win XP. Before I am able to use my external monitor with the docking station I need to dock my notebook w/o the monitor connected and fix the resolution. Once that is done I need to plug in my monitor and restart the system with the note book screen up. Once I can see that the monitor is receiving a signal (the power light flashes orange and green, but the screen is still black) I can usually put my notebook screen down. Only THEN the monitor will finally work.    The problem is that when I had win ME I was able to use my notebook docked and undocked with no problem. Now that I have installed XP once the monitor is working I can not undock the notebook. If I do undock and use my notebook after I redock, my notebook does not recognize the monitor and it will no longer work. The start up screen will show and then the monitor will go black. I need to go through the whole process  listed above again before I could use the notebook docked. Needless to say this is a pain (and the monitor I use is a CRT and sits up top of the docking station on a stand. The monitor weighs a ton and is hard to move.) How could I set my notebook to recognize a docked and undocked configuration?

Mary G · Answer

How did you 'switch' to XP? If you didn't do a clean install & reformat to get rid of ME, this is not the last problem you'll face.

bgoggles · Answer

Trust me..... I wanted nooooo trace of ME left anywhere on my computer. With all the problems I had with win ME I wanted to reformat twice just to make sure it was gone! So yes, I did a clean install.

rickmktg · Answer

@bgoggles wrote:

I have just switched my OS from win ME to win XP. Before I am able to use my external monitor with the docking station I need to dock my notebook w/o the monitor connected and fix the resolution. Once that is done I need to plug in my monitor and restart the system with the note book screen up. Once I can see that the monitor is receiving a signal (the power light flashes orange and green, but the screen is still black) I can usually put my notebook screen down. Only THEN the monitor will finally work.

The problem is that when I had win ME I was able to use my notebook docked and undocked with no problem. Now that I have installed XP once the monitor is working I can not undock the notebook. If I do undock and use my notebook after I redock, my notebook does not recognize the monitor and it will no longer work. The start up screen will show and then the monitor will go black. I need to go through the whole process listed above again before I could use the notebook docked. Needless to say this is a pain (and the monitor I use is a CRT and sits up top of the docking station on a stand. The monitor weighs a ton and is hard to move.) How could I set my notebook to recognize a docked and undocked configuration?

With the computer undocked, go into Device Manager and delete the Docked profile. Turn the computer OFF. Dock it, hookup the monitor, and turn it on. It will create a Docked profile and should power the monitor.

bgoggles · Answer

When I first installed win xp I started my computer up undocked. I only docked it after I knew the notebook was set up correctly. Wouldnt this make the computer create a docked configuration with the monitor seperate from the privious undocked configuration? It seems, in essence, I did what you suggested now when I was first setting up the system. If not and I should try doing this, when docking my notebook (after the docked config has been deleated) should no other peripherals be connected to the docking station (I remember having to do this for win ME) or is that only telling the computer that I will dock it and still be using the notebook monitor? Thanks so much for your help!

rickmktg · Answer

@bgoggles wrote:

When I first installed win xp I started my computer up undocked. I only docked it after I knew the notebook was set up correctly. Wouldnt this make the computer create a docked configuration with the monitor seperate from the privious undocked configuration? It seems, in essence, I did what you suggested now when I was first setting up the system. If not and I should try doing this, when docking my notebook (after the docked config has been deleated) should no other peripherals be connected to the docking station (I remember having to do this for win ME) or is that only telling the computer that I will dock it and still be using the notebook monitor? Thanks so much for your help!

I suspect you docked it while ON? It should be turned off.

Ideally, nothing would be connected as you noted, then you connect and "install" each peripheral separately.

Windows General

docked/undocked configs

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