Ultrabase X3 instructions, how to use with X31 LCD off?

[alexander_s]

Perhaps this is a silly newbie question, however, I have an X31 Thinkpad and just bought a used "ULTRABASE X3 mediaslice" for it (no instructions, of course). I have the Ultrabase plugged into an AC supply, external monitor, external KB and mouse and wonder if there is a way to turn OFF only the thinkpad LCD while in the dock? I thought that the ultrabase hardware would allow me to use only the external monitor while having the laptop lid closed (and laptop LCD powered off) but if I close the lid, the machine goes into powersave mode and turns off ALL monitors including the external device. Can I configure this with the Fn-F7 key in some way or is there a hardware method to enable same? Thanks!

BTW, is it my imagination or have used X31 prices increased a bit over the past year?[/b]

[dmar]

Alexander_s,

Others in the community might have a better way of doing this, but here goes a version (this is all under the assumption you're running WinXP):

To disable lid close - Standby
1. Start
2. Control Panel
3. Power Options
4. Advanced tab
5. Power Buttons - When I close the lid of my portable computer - Select "Do Nothing"
6. OK

To control your external display only
1. Press Fn-F7 - this is a 3 way toggle [laptop only/both monitors/external only]. Keep pressing until you get just the external monitor.

2. Alternatively, if you have the IBM Media Presenter software (not sure if that's what it's called), a menu will popup (Fn-F7), and give you options to select and create different profiles when connected to your slice, etc. I personally removed that software, and stick with the toggle method.

3. Additionally, if you do a right click on the desktop area, choose properties, and go to the Settings tab -- you'll find a few more useful attributes to tweak if you enable both displays.

Hope that helps! Enjoy your x3 slice -- and I think x31s have reached a point where they are holding base value.