Dock questions

[jruschme]

I just won a ebay auction for a ThinkPad T, A, and X Series Dock (older 2631 version, not the Dock II). While I wait for it to arrive, I have a few questions:

1) It appears that it does not include the tray (extension plate). I notice that the HMM lists two versions of the dock- one with and one without the plate, so can I assume that it is not necessary?

2) Do the two cardbus slots in the dock operate in addition to the ones in the notebook when docked (i.e., can I have 4 cardbus devices connected simultaneously)?

3) Any advice for how to best use the single PCI slot? My first thought is a USB 2.0 card, though I wonder if I'd be better off using a cardbus slot for that and save the PCI slot for, say, a video card.

Thanks...

[ambientscape]

I first won the docking station about a year ago on ebay at about $20 plus postage. I was so excited with it. However, regarding about your question:

1) I have mine with the extension plate....but don't really know what it does. perhaps it just a support of your thinkpad to align it properly with the connectors.

2) You can have 4 cardbus in the same time.

3) Normally the single PCI will be best used for video card. There are few topic discussed about the graphic card in the dock. I haven't tried it out yet....cause still look for a compatible card.

[jruschme]

So, my Dock from ebay arrived yesterday, but I'm not sure it's working.

It appears to work fine as a port replicator and, when docked, the T20 runs off AC and charges the battery. That said, though, there are things which make me think it is at least partially DOA:

1) I can't get the device in the UltraBay 2000 slot to eject. Basically, something appears to be stopping the eject lever. Is there a solenoid lock on the bay?

[Edit: So I finally found out about the hidden lock switch in the PCI bay. FYI, it's not in the Dock I User Guide; you need to read the Dock II User Guide which also has info on the Dock I.]

2) The known-working LS-120 drive that I put in the UB2k slot (before I knew about the eject issue) is not detected and sits spinning with its access light on.

3) There is no indication, even in device manager, that XP detected the dock or its internal IDE controller. Similarly, XP does not offer any doc-related options on the shutdown menu.

4) I don't detect the fan running (which is supposedly one of the most annoying features of the dock).

So... I think I have a bad one. Does anyone recognize the symptoms? PS, maybe?

Thanks...

[jogego]

I just got the same Dock for my X21, the fan is actually loud and you cannot miss it. If its not working, am sure the dock is most likely dead.

I have an LG 24x Cd rom but it is not detected in Linux. In Win XP, it shows up in explorer but doesnt load anys. I have not been able to boot off the Cd rom.

I wonder if it is possible to boot the laptop off an ultrabay 2000 device in the 2631 dock?

[jogego]

To answer my own question. It is possible to boot off an Ultrabay device in the 2631 dock.

I changed the railings on the ultrabay Cd drive to the railings on the DVD drive from my old 570 and it fitted in the dock without any problems.

[losmeme]

There is also a driver specific to some ThinkPad models for the dock 2631-10U (NOT the 20U)

It is the IDE CMD driver, found on the drivers site here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4K4PWW

I was experiencing problems with my X31 not working on my dock (2631-10U).

The CMD Ultra DMA IDE driver enables or updates the IDE environment for the UltraBay 2000 of ThinkPad Dock (2631-10*) which can be used with the following ThinkPad computers:
- A20m, A20p
- A21m, A21p
- A22m, A22p
- A30, A30p
- A31, A31p (*1)
- R50, R50p, R51, R52 (*4) (*5)
- T20, T21, T22, T23
- T30 (*1) (*2)
- T40, T41, T42, T43 (*1) (*3) (*4)
- T40p, T41p, T42p, T43p (*4) (*5)
- X20, X21, X22, X23, X24
- X30, X31 (*1) (*3)
- X40 (*1) (*3)

Notes:
- (*1) Windows 95 is not supported.
- (*2) Only the following T30 models support the Windows Me:
2366/2367-x1x, x2x, x3x, x4x, x5x, A6x and A7x except for M1x, M2x, M3x, M4x and M5x.
- (*3) Windows Me is not supported.
- (*4) ThinkPad Dock is not supported.
- (*5) Only Windows 2000 is supported.