Thank you for using the
Dell Community Forum. Try the following.
1.Undock the system and blow away the docking profile.
2.Install the latest version of the Dell System Software
here. 3.Redock the system and rebuild the docking profile.
4.Install the latest version of the Video driver again.
OK. I did exactly as you describe, and now I get a fatal stop error in Windows when my computer is docked. It refers to a problem with "KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED". Now I have no docking station at all! It works o.k. undocked, but not docked! Help!
I did think of that, after I discovered it was in fact the DVD/CD-RW that was causing the problem. At first, I thought it was the port replicator, but then I realized the external drive was connected to it, and when I plugged it into the undocked laptop, it had the same problem. So I uninstalled Roxio CD and WinDVD, that did seem to solve the problem with the KMODE error at start-up, but then the computer would not recognize or even detect the DVD/CD-RW drive when it is was plugged in. So I got on the phone with tech support, and they had me uniinstall the utilities updates which were identified as Windows Quick Fix in the Add/Remove Software utility. Then, the computer recognized and installed the drive as you would expect.
So at least now I am back to where I started, and I am inclinded to live with the resolution change on the monitor after start-up, after all this! One thing I was told by Tech Suport was that because the max. resolution on the laptop monitor is 1024x768, it is probably detecting that, and forcing the external montior down to that resolution as a result. I can see that the change occurs just after the graphics software icon in the system tray is loaded. So I believe its the graphics software that is causing this. I have also noticed that when undocked, the laptop screen also goes temporarily black when the graphics software loads, but because its already in 1024x768 at start-up, there is no change.
Anyway, I still think it should detect that the laptop screen is off, and keep the 1280x1024 settings for the monitor. But I can't see anywhere where I can control that.
Then how am I able to display 1280x1024? As I type this message, that is what I am looking at. When the computer is docked, and the default monitor is closed and off, I have no trouble switching it to this resolution. And as I stated before, it keeps that setting, all the through shut down and reboot. As windows is starting up and loadinig the desktop icons, it remains at 1280x1024, then at the last second as the graphics driver is loading into the system tray, it kicks over to 1024x768. At which point, I simply switch it back to 1280x1024.
What you say makes sense to me for the undocked laptop. But clearly, the graphics driver can display 1280x1024, and it does!
My last computer was an old Latitude LS. It's max. screen resolution was 800x600, but when docked, I could bump it up to 1024x768 because the monitor I had would display that. The difference with that setup though, is it would keep those settings! It knew whether it was docked or not, and automatically adjusted the resolution accordingly. I never had to manually change anything! I could have it at 1024x768 docked. Shut down, undock, reboot, and it would be at 800x600. Then shutdown again, dock it again, start-up and it was back to 1024x768 with out changing anything.
That's what I thought this newer and better setup would do, and I still believe it should.
Anyway, thanks for continuing to respond to this! Your feedback is appreciated.
Anyway, I still think it should detect that the laptop screen is off, and keep the 1280x1024 settings for the monitor. Unfortunately it's not going to do that.
The maximum resolution your video card can display is 1024X768.
There is no video hardware in the port replicator, it is simply a pass-through connector for your system.
This means that your portable video card handles all video whether it is docked or not.
So, no matter what setting you change, your video card can only display a max of 1024X768 and that is
what any external monitor is going to show.
WARNING: make sure you set a system restore point before installing the updated system utilities. I did this, and it has been completely disasterous. The machine would not boot in the D port, and now that I have it out of the docking station, the display settings refuse to change. I've been waiting for over an hour with tech support to see if this can be fixed.
Just to follow-up, I downloaded the latest graphics driver which just became available, and it fixed the problem! Thank you, Intel I guess!
I did not do all the steps you recommend, because the last time I did that, I had disaster and got the dreaded blue screen. Did not want to run the risk of repeating that. Either way, the new driver works much better, and I no longer have to reset my display settings.
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
September 24th, 2003 13:00
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Try the following.
1.Undock the system and blow away the docking profile.
2.Install the latest version of the Dell System Software here.
3.Redock the system and rebuild the docking profile.
4.Install the latest version of the Video driver again.
treiher
10 Posts
0
September 24th, 2003 14:00
OK. I did exactly as you describe, and now I get a fatal stop error in Windows when my computer is docked. It refers to a problem with "KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED". Now I have no docking station at all! It works o.k. undocked, but not docked! Help!
I am running Windows 2000 Professional.
Message Edited by treiher on 09-24-2003 10:45 AM
Message Edited by treiher on 09-24-2003 11:10 AM
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
September 25th, 2003 18:00
If you have Roxio Easy CD or Direct CD installed, uninstall them and see if that
solves the problem.
treiher
10 Posts
0
September 25th, 2003 19:00
I did think of that, after I discovered it was in fact the DVD/CD-RW that was causing the problem. At first, I thought it was the port replicator, but then I realized the external drive was connected to it, and when I plugged it into the undocked laptop, it had the same problem. So I uninstalled Roxio CD and WinDVD, that did seem to solve the problem with the KMODE error at start-up, but then the computer would not recognize or even detect the DVD/CD-RW drive when it is was plugged in. So I got on the phone with tech support, and they had me uniinstall the utilities updates which were identified as Windows Quick Fix in the Add/Remove Software utility. Then, the computer recognized and installed the drive as you would expect.
So at least now I am back to where I started, and I am inclinded to live with the resolution change on the monitor after start-up, after all this! One thing I was told by Tech Suport was that because the max. resolution on the laptop monitor is 1024x768, it is probably detecting that, and forcing the external montior down to that resolution as a result. I can see that the change occurs just after the graphics software icon in the system tray is loaded. So I believe its the graphics software that is causing this. I have also noticed that when undocked, the laptop screen also goes temporarily black when the graphics software loads, but because its already in 1024x768 at start-up, there is no change.
Anyway, I still think it should detect that the laptop screen is off, and keep the 1280x1024 settings for the monitor. But I can't see anywhere where I can control that.
Message Edited by treiher on 09-25-2003 03:14 PM
treiher
10 Posts
0
September 26th, 2003 16:00
Then how am I able to display 1280x1024? As I type this message, that is what I am looking at. When the computer is docked, and the default monitor is closed and off, I have no trouble switching it to this resolution. And as I stated before, it keeps that setting, all the through shut down and reboot. As windows is starting up and loadinig the desktop icons, it remains at 1280x1024, then at the last second as the graphics driver is loading into the system tray, it kicks over to 1024x768. At which point, I simply switch it back to 1280x1024.
What you say makes sense to me for the undocked laptop. But clearly, the graphics driver can display 1280x1024, and it does!
My last computer was an old Latitude LS. It's max. screen resolution was 800x600, but when docked, I could bump it up to 1024x768 because the monitor I had would display that. The difference with that setup though, is it would keep those settings! It knew whether it was docked or not, and automatically adjusted the resolution accordingly. I never had to manually change anything! I could have it at 1024x768 docked. Shut down, undock, reboot, and it would be at 800x600. Then shutdown again, dock it again, start-up and it was back to 1024x768 with out changing anything.
That's what I thought this newer and better setup would do, and I still believe it should.
Anyway, thanks for continuing to respond to this! Your feedback is appreciated.
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
September 26th, 2003 16:00
Anyway, I still think it should detect that the laptop screen is off, and keep the 1280x1024 settings for the monitor.
Unfortunately it's not going to do that.
The maximum resolution your video card can display is 1024X768.
There is no video hardware in the port replicator, it is simply a pass-through connector for your system.
This means that your portable video card handles all video whether it is docked or not.
So, no matter what setting you change, your video card can only display a max of 1024X768 and that is
what any external monitor is going to show.
blackghostzzz
2 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2003 22:00
WARNING: make sure you set a system restore point before installing the updated system utilities. I did this, and it has been completely disasterous. The machine would not boot in the D port, and now that I have it out of the docking station, the display settings refuse to change. I've been waiting for over an hour with tech support to see if this can be fixed.
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
October 7th, 2003 12:00
Thanks for the updated information.
You may want to try the following.
1.Reset the bios defaults while docked.
How do I restore setup defaults on my Dell™ Latitude™ system?
2.Perform a complete uninstall of the video drivers while docked.
Download the Universal Ati/Nvidia driver cleaner.
3.Reload the latest video drivers while docked from here.
4.Reload the proper FP monitor drivers while docked.
Dell 1800FP, v.3.0, A02.
5.Reload the Dell Quickset Utility from here.
treiher
10 Posts
0
January 8th, 2004 15:00
Just to follow-up, I downloaded the latest graphics driver which just became available, and it fixed the problem! Thank you, Intel I guess!
I did not do all the steps you recommend, because the last time I did that, I had disaster and got the dreaded blue screen. Did not want to run the risk of repeating that. Either way, the new driver works much better, and I no longer have to reset my display settings.
Message Edited by treiher on 01-08-2004 11:27 AM
Karell
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
January 8th, 2004 18:00
I'm glad you got the problem resolved.