I have a Latitude D520 and the PD01x D/DOCK too. Under Windows XP everything works perfectly but under Vista the same cards just aren't recognised. The docking station of the BIOS reports that the PCI Slot is occupied but inside Vista - nothing!
I have tried with multiple PCI cards but no luck. I have installed the Notebook System Software that is supposed to improve the functionality of the docking station but that's made no difference either.
My laptop is still under warranty so I have contacted Dell support hopefully they can come back to me soon with something.
I found that a PCI card that provides it's own BIOS (esata cards and the like) don't work in the D/Dock. I'm assuming this is because the BIOS can't necessarily be loaded during boot, since the laptop may not be in the dock when it's booted.
It's a hauppauge PVR 150. It works fine in Windows XP but not in Vista (when used through the docking station). I'm guessing it's some issue with compatibility between Vista and the docking station rather than the docking station and the PCI card.
I have tried replacing the TV Tuner card with an old Soundblaster audio card and that again will work fine in Windows XP but won't pick up in Vista at all. The only thing I can think is some setting in Vista will not search for external PCI buses. Not sure how to get round that though. More Googling I guess!
I've had exactly the same issue with my D530 (XP Pro, BIOS vA06). The D/Dock itself is a few years old. I've tried updating the firmware on the D/Dock to A04, but that's made no difference. I was hoping to install a better sound card in the PCI slot, but the error message would imply that it won't work. Looking at the adverts on DELL's website, there is nothing to suggest that the D/Dock isn't compatible with the latest Latitudes.
Just to add little bit more to this thread I found that it worked fine with XP SP2 so I formatted my Vista install and started again. Everything was going fine until I installed XP SP3 then the same problems start occurring. I think this is a Dell Notebook system utilities issue and they need to update the driver. Also found some other strange thins since going to SP3. ON my D620 there is a slide switch on the left hand side for wireless. It is either off, on or you flick it all the way forward to bring up the list of wireless networks in range. This functionality has stopped working since SP3 install.
If anyone has any ideas on this then I would be happy to try them out. Also, does anyone know of a way to prompt Dell into sorting out their drivers so that the docking station functionality isn't lost?
Daiablo
5 Posts
0
April 20th, 2008 06:00
Hi Stick,
Did you managed to get anywhere with this?
I have a Latitude D520 and the PD01x D/DOCK too. Under Windows XP everything works perfectly but under Vista the same cards just aren't recognised. The docking station of the BIOS reports that the PCI Slot is occupied but inside Vista - nothing!
I have tried with multiple PCI cards but no luck. I have installed the Notebook System Software that is supposed to improve the functionality of the docking station but that's made no difference either.
My laptop is still under warranty so I have contacted Dell support hopefully they can come back to me soon with something.
Cheers,
Daiablo
The_Stick
3 Posts
0
April 20th, 2008 13:00
I couldn't even get the PCI slot working in XP, so you got a step further than I did!
Ed
David611
56 Posts
0
April 20th, 2008 16:00
What kind of PCI card are you trying to use?
I found that a PCI card that provides it's own BIOS (esata cards and the like) don't work in the D/Dock. I'm assuming this is because the BIOS can't necessarily be loaded during boot, since the laptop may not be in the dock when it's booted.
david
Daiablo
5 Posts
0
April 20th, 2008 18:00
It's a hauppauge PVR 150. It works fine in Windows XP but not in Vista (when used through the docking station). I'm guessing it's some issue with compatibility between Vista and the docking station rather than the docking station and the PCI card.
Thanks for your reply though.
Daiablo
5 Posts
0
April 22nd, 2008 06:00
I have tried replacing the TV Tuner card with an old Soundblaster audio card and that again will work fine in Windows XP but won't pick up in Vista at all. The only thing I can think is some setting in Vista will not search for external PCI buses. Not sure how to get round that though. More Googling I guess!
D Rew
6 Posts
0
June 21st, 2008 16:00
I've had exactly the same issue with my D530 (XP Pro, BIOS vA06). The D/Dock itself is a few years old. I've tried updating the firmware on the D/Dock to A04, but that's made no difference. I was hoping to install a better sound card in the PCI slot, but the error message would imply that it won't work. Looking at the adverts on DELL's website, there is nothing to suggest that the D/Dock isn't compatible with the latest Latitudes.
Has anyone else found a solution to this problem?
Daiablo
5 Posts
0
June 21st, 2008 17:00
Just to add little bit more to this thread I found that it worked fine with XP SP2 so I formatted my Vista install and started again. Everything was going fine until I installed XP SP3 then the same problems start occurring. I think this is a Dell Notebook system utilities issue and they need to update the driver. Also found some other strange thins since going to SP3. ON my D620 there is a slide switch on the left hand side for wireless. It is either off, on or you flick it all the way forward to bring up the list of wireless networks in range. This functionality has stopped working since SP3 install.
If anyone has any ideas on this then I would be happy to try them out. Also, does anyone know of a way to prompt Dell into sorting out their drivers so that the docking station functionality isn't lost?