Advanced mini dock pulled?

[dontaskme316]

if you look on the lenovo accessories page for Thinkpads, the advanced dock and advanced mini dock are gone from the page. Do you guys think it's because of all the problems people have been having with the USB ports dying? Hopefully they're coming out with revised models soon.

[MobileGuru]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-65164

Regards.

MG.

[dontaskme316]

thanks, this clears up all my questions.

[GuinnessDrafty]

i spoke to a lenovo sales rep a few days ago, and he assured me that the problem with the docks had just been fixed, and that they'd be able to ship me one that works. He didn't mention anything about them being pulled from the website. Have you called Lenovo? I'm wondering whether to believe him.

Today, he forwarded me a copy of the "white paper" detailing the fix. I'll try to include the text in this post:

- GuinnessDrafty

*************************************************


Americas Sales Comms/US/Lenovo/IDE@IBMUS
Sent by: Daniel A Albert@IBMUS

08/01/2006 01:18 PM

To
Americas Marketing Team, Americas Sales Enablement, Kuptz Org, LA LTS, LA Service and Support, Lenovo Direct: Sales Managers, Lenovo Direct: Sales Reps, Lenovo Direct: Sales Support, Lenovo Training Solutions, Looney Org, Management and Sales - Canada, Management and Sales - LA, Pricing Team, Strike Team, Telesales: Canada, Telesales: Raleigh, US Service and Support, All distributions - requested since 7/10/06
cc
Sandra Wellet/US/Lenovo/IDE@IBMUS
Subject
T60 Dock Update 8/01/06





The new BIOS Level 1.09 has been release to our support web site. Please make sure that your customers are made aware as soon as possible. BIOS Level 1.09 resolves issues 1 and 2 below.

Issue 1: In a limited number of accounts, we identified that some customers were having problems with their systems not recognizing Self Powered USB devices (external drives). This problem would occur when the T60 ThinkPad was undocked and redocked in a short time period.

Issue 2: The second software issue that we identified was more prevalent and found with many users. The symptom of the second issue was that USB devices were not recognized when the ThinkPad was redocked. The root cause of this problem is undocking the ThinkPad without following the undock process.

* The BIOS level 1.09 is currently available at the following URL:


http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63024



* The Hints and Tips document was released to our support web site on 7/31. I have attached the URL below for your convenience.


http://www.lenovo.com/support/site.wss/ ... MIGR-65164


If you have questions or need assistance, contact Service and Support or your FTSS.

Regards/Cordialement/Cordiali saluti/Mit freundlichen Grüßen/Saludos/

Sales Enablement
Learning and Communication

Lenovo Americas

[jamies]

Any word on the shutdown problem occurring with the Advanced Mini Dock? My computer occasionally turns completely off when hot docking.

[lpenner]

Interesting.

I ordered a 2623D6U last week (the 27th). It's showing a ship date of next Monday, the 7th. The ship date for the 2 Advanced Mini-docks is the the 15th.

Hopefully, I'll receive the "New and Improved" versions.

[Kamika007z]

Any word on the shutdown problem occurring with the Advanced Mini Dock? My computer occasionally turns completely off when hot docking.

What is the difference between "hot-docking" and other terminologies?

Is hot docking when you remove the machine while it's on?

I'll try to reproduce this and see if my system turns off. Just as soon as someone tells me what exactly hot-docking is

[GuinnessDrafty]

kamika,
I'm surprised nobody has written back to you about hot-docking.

I haven't yet received my mini-dock, and haven't seen any documentation, so I don't know whether IBM/Lenovo use this term in a special way. In my experience with other dock manufacturers, the term simply refers to the capability of inserting or removing the computer into the dock while the computer is running.

Having said that, I also know that there is some "undock process" that we are expected to follow before removing the laptop from the dock. I don't know what this is because I haven't seen it yet, but there are references to it in that internal memo about why customer operator-error is mainly to blame for malfunctoning mini-docks.

[Kamika007z]

Thank you GuinnessDrafty for the response Much appreciated.

My computer started shutting off due to hot-docking. Also, I started receiving odd DOS-based commands on screen stating that the system is failing to boot when docked onto the docking station.

Since then, I had placed an order for a replacement docking station.

They sent me two docking stations, with no part return labels.

Do I need to send them back? I'm somewhat confused.

[dontaskme316]

the advanced mini dock is back up on the website!

[Kamika007z]

Since I didn't get a return label, do you guys think I should call them up and ask if they want the older one back?

BTW, the replacement dock is MUCH better than the other one. So far, so good.

Thank you!

[planetf1]

The hints/tips document suggests that unless one has a printer attached, and as long as docking/undocking is always legal (get permission, wait for light), and a bios update is installed, the fix makes no difference?

Are people finding it fixes other wierd problems?

[dontaskme316]

i just ordered my adv mini dock yesterday and the expected ship date is sept. 11 . thats two weeks just to ship me an item that in no way needs to be customized

would anyone care to post photos of the advanced mini dock? there is only one angle on every site i've seen