T60 with Advanced Mini Dock 2504 - can't slot it in?!

[crs]

Hi All,

I'm all new here, and fairly new to my little ThinkPad T60 (type 1951), - so please excuse the dumbness of the question... I'm embarrassed to ask it, but I can't think of anything else to try!

I just received this Advanced Mini Dock Type 2504, but when I try to slot in my T60, it won't go in.

I connected the Mini Dock to the power outlet (using the AC power adaptor from my T60), and it looks to have power, judging by the LED that comes on when I turn the key into locked position. So with the Mini Dock unlocked, I try to slot my T60 (all powered down, lid closed) into it. The things that stick out on the dock seem all to be in the right places to stick into the T60, but it's not going in (I haven't tried forcing it, assuming I shouldn't have to?)

I can't see anything wrong at all with either the dock or the underside of my laptop. What am I doing wrong?! What should I look out for?

Thanks for your help...

[dr_st]

Welcome to the forum.

You should align the laptop with the dock (easiest by the back left corner), then push down, so that it catches.

[crs]

Thanks, yeah that's what I did... and like I said, when I peek between them I can see the various things on the dock aligning perfectly with the appropriate holes/interface on the laptop. But it just won't go in! I can't tell what's stopping it, I think it might be that interface thingy (I don't know what it's called, the long rectangular bit through which I presume the signals pass), but again, I can't see a reason for it - they're the same size, the laptop interface thing has this cover part with the exact shape and the give to allow the dock's (non-flexible) interface to go into it, I don't know! It should just slot in, right, I shouldn't have to apply any real force to get it to latch should I? Is there some switch somewhere or something I have to do first time to get it to go in? Or if either the laptop's underbelly or the dock's faulty, what would I be looking for?

(Sorry, I just tried taking a picture but it's night here and you can't see a thing with my crappy camera.)

Thanks for your help...

[RealBlackStuff]

Maybe you locked the dock instead of UNlocked?

[crs]

Nope... that's the sort of thing I'd do (technically adept that way ), so I triple checked that. And the power.

[Radioguy]

The main interface connector on the dock has two hooks to either side of it. You may wish to try to pull those down (towards you) after pressing down the main release button, and then try to seat the TP in the dock.

[dr_st]

Does the button to eject the laptop work on the dock or is it stuck?

[crs]

The main interface connector on the dock has two hooks to either side of it. You may wish to try to pull those down (towards you) after pressing down the main release button, and then try to seat the TP in the dock.

Oh wow, this worked!! Thanks!


Erm.... and how do I get it off?! Press 1 (and I get message that computer is ready to be undocked), then press 2 - but now they're like glued together... Aaargh!

Does the button to eject the laptop work on the dock or is it stuck?

I'm not sure if the button is stuck: it doesn't go down all the way (like it looks it has some 1.5cm give, but it only goes down about a quarter of that, and it tilts to the right when I press it), but when I press it, the LEDs do come on...

Now that my laptop's stuck on the dock and I pressed button 1, the right-pointing arrow is always lit, and when I press it, the "forbidden" LED comes on. But before my laptop was stuck on it, I could see one of those tiny square button spring up when I pressed 2, and those two hooks Radioguy pointed out to me could only be moved when I was holding 2 down.


Thank you guys for all your help, you're brilliant. If you can help me free my poor T60 from its shackles, I can return the dock for a replacement!

[crs]

Hah, OK! Got it working! Jiggled around with the lock and the main release and now the main release button actually goes all the way down and all sorts of things spring up on the dock, and my laptop is free to dock and undock with ease!

(although not before I managed a "hardware failure" blue screen of death somehow, but I guess I must have been too eager to try getting in on and off in too quick succession...!)

Anyway, thank you all so much for your help and your patience!

[Radioguy]

I've experienced something similar with "loved" (aka used) versions of this same dock. Use and wear can affect the alignment and sensitivity of the lock-down mechanism. Also, wear to the corresponding latch holes, or wear/removal of the TP feet can also cause misalignment. The method I gave has worked in such circumstances, but I've not experienced the added symptom you had (!).

I would hazard to guess that one of the two devices (TP and dock) is older than the other and been more "loved". If the dock was a recent acquisition from a seller touting it as new, you may wish to re-examine that.

[crs]

Thanks Radioguy, it's something I'll be looking out for (and next time I'll know better than to start panicking!). I bought both the laptop and the dock used. Anyway for now all's well, and I'm a very happy ThinkPadder (and I'll know where to come when things go pearshaped again!)

Many thanks.

[gajdosa]

Hi All,

I have a T400 for many years (4+). I also bought an advanced mini dock.

And guess what... it has been out of use for a few months and suddenly, I cannot slot my TP in. It has been such a shame. I didn't even know at first how to google that situation And I lived with it for a few weeks.

Then I came to the conclusion that I cannot be alone ... and tadaaaa there we are.

Same symptom, and the solution. The hooks... one of the hooks got stuck. I needed to apply some extra force to let it free again, but now it works.

Thank you, crs, for posting the question and thank you, Radioguy, for the hint.