advanced mini-dock -- hit and miss

[esmail]

Hi

I am using the advanced mini-dock with my new T61 (14.1" with the integrated graphics card, XP SP2) and it's all hit-and-miss.

Undocking the laptop seems to provide no problems, but getting it to dock really is hit and miss. More often than not it doesn't seem to work.

The display setting won't switch, and I can't get to the display manager or if I can it shows only the default setting as the choice. Most of the time the display on my T61 is blank too.

I have it set up so that it's supposed to switch to the external DVI monitor at 1280x1024. When it works it work beautifully, but the fact that it doesn't makes me use the docking station less often
that I would

Are there some do's and don'ts or a FAQ regaring the use of the docking station? The only instructions that came with it was one sheet of drawings. I looked on the lenovo site for more instructions but didn't find any.

What is the purpose of the power switch on the dock? I can't tell when it's on or off (or if it even does something). Ie when the T61 isn't docked, I don't see anything if I push the power button on the dock.

I really like the idea of the docking station, I just wish it would work better for me.

Does the system have to be up and running if it's docked? Do I have to be logged in? Can I have a wireless USB mouse attached to the T61 when I dock it?

Is there a problem with the display manager software that make the automatic mode switching problematic?

EB


PS: New one, the cabled USB mouse isn't working when attached to the docking station, but works when directly attached to the T61. This has worked in the past. The external keyboard is working fine though ... odd

[zern]

I use an advanced mini dock with my T60p and it works seamlessly.

I have an external monitor attached with the desktop extended to it.

When I push the undock button, the desktop is de-extended (contracted?) back to the thinkpad display only. And I can detach the thinkpad.

I have docked my thinkpad when it is running, in hibernation, and in standby. In the first instance, as soon as it docks, the desktop is extended automatically to what I had before. In the other two modes, when I wake the thinkpad up the desktop extends automatically. All my USB devices are recognised immediately.

The only USB device that does not work with the dock is my Wacom graphics tablet. I believe this could be because it draws power from the USB port and the dock's USB ports are not powered (?) the table only works when it is plugged into the thinkpad directly.

Other USB accessories are: 2 external USB HD, a USB ultranav keyboard, and old PS/2 keyboard, a USB mouse.

I also have speakers plugged into the dock. When I dock the sound is directed properly.

The power button on the dock is used only to turn a docked thinkpad on (or off presumably). Without the thinkpad it doesnt do anything.

Are you wanting to switch completely to the external display when docked? Try and set the external monitor to an extended desktop mode instead. Maybe this will help?

Does your graphics subsystem come with a special control panel? I have the ATI subsystem and use ATI's Catalyst Control Centre to set desktops/monitors/rotation/extention. It may make a difference if you use your graphics drivers control panel rather than the Windows built in one?

You have probably done this - but latest drivers (or BIOS maybe) will help if you have not updated forever.

A dock is a very useful thing. Good luck with your debugging.

[esmail]

hi, thanks for taking the time to post. The laptop is less than 2 months old and I have applied all the various updates/patches.

Since my original post the docking station (and the docking/undocking) have worked fine - perhaps a bit slow at times, but still worked. I am not quite sure what the earlier problems were, but I sure hope they won't resurface.

The inconsistency is troublesome in trying to diagnose problems.

[zern]

I hear you - the inconsistency is the killer isn't it?!

Good that it is working. Yay.

[eyestrain]

The only USB device that does not work with the dock is my Wacom graphics tablet. I believe this could be because it draws power from the USB port and the dock's USB ports are not powered (?) the table only works when it is plugged into the thinkpad directly.

If you don't want it plugged into the laptop, you also could try using a powered USB hub, plugged into the dock.

Or, if you have the right cables, maybe using a cable which plugs into two USB ports for extra power, like one included with some 2.5" drive enclosures. Might need an adapter to use such a cable though, and I can't guarantee this would be safe--I don't know that much about USB power.

[Proteus]

Flawless here, but of course, with a modern operating system. Everything just works with Vista x64 Sp1.

[tbeaulieu]

I have a docking station at home and at work. Both are (in theory) the exact same hardware: the Advanced Mini Dock. I have an external display on each end, and always use the same resolution, which is supported by both displays and the internal display.

Typical scenario:

- Undock at home: computer switches to 640x480, resizing every open application down. Color depth is reduced to 16(?). It will stay like this until I physically remove it from the dock, at which point it will switch back to 1680. Of course, the damage is done. I have to resize every window.

- Turn on machine at work. Plug into the docking station. It switches to the external display. Great, right? Nope. It then switches BACK to the internal display. I have to use Vista's Windows Mobility Center to switch back to the external display. This takes plenty of time because the machine's still thrashing while it rehydrates from suspended mode.

end of day...

- Undock using Easy Eject and watch in horror as it switches to 640x480 mode again.

- Dock it at home. Amazingly, it almost always switches to the external display correctly.

That's my life. Day in and day out. I am very unhappy with this laptop and how it docks.

I called IBM and got shuffled around unfairly, being dumped to pay support, even though the laptop was only 2 months old. Ayway, he told me to uninstall Presentation Manager, saying the video drivers were probably clashing for control. I did this. I've installed every firmware and software update known to man. No luck.