The Dell™ D/Dock Expansion Station is a full docking station that supports Dell D-Family portable computers and modules.
When docked to the expansion station, the computer only runs on electrical power. Any battery installed in the computer is charged while you are using the expansion station.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Doing so can damage the expansion station or cause a fire.
power button — Press to turn a docked computer on or off. The power button light indicates the power status of the expansion station or a docked computer as follows:
Off — The expansion station is either not connected to an electrical outlet or, if a computer is docked, the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode.
Amber — The expansion station is connected to an electrical outlet; no computer is docked.
Green — Indicates the status of a docked computer:
Steady green — The computer is turned on.
Slow-pulsing green ("breathing") — The computer is in standby mode.
undock request button — Whenever the undock-request button light is green, you can press it to prepare the computer for physical undocking. The light blinks during the preparation process and turns off when preparation is complete.
eject button — When the eject button light turns green, the computer is ready to be physically undocked. Ensure that the slide lock (see slide lock) is in the unlocked position, and then press the eject button to eject the computer.
NOTICE: After the computer is docked, do not eject the computer unless the eject button light is green.
Ejecting while the light is off may cause loss of data and damage to the computer or expansion station.
digital-video interface connector — Connects an external display.
video connector — Connects an external VGA monitor.
serial connector — Connects a serial device, such as a serial mouse.
PS/2 connectors (2) — Connects PS/2-compatible devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or external numeric keypad.
Shut down the computer before attaching or removing a PS/2-compatible device. If the device does not work, install the device drivers from the floppy disk or CD that came with the device, and restart the computer.
You can use the integrated keyboard and an external keyboard at the same time. When you attach a PS/2 keyboard or PS/2 numeric keypad, the integrated keypad is disabled.
S/PDIF connector — Connects a digital audio (S/PDIF) cable.
parallel connector — Connects a parallel device, such as a parallel printer.
USB 2.0 connectors (3) — Connects up to three USB 2.0-compliant devices to the back of the expansion station. A fourth USB connector can be found on the left side of the expansion station.
NOTICE: You can damage the computer and/or the expansion station by attempting to dock the
computer with the slide lock in the locked position.
slide lock — Move the lock toward the front of the expansion station (locked position) to secure the computer in the expansion station. The lock also secures the PCI card cover and locks a device into the module bay. Move the lock toward the back of the expansion station (unlocked position) before using the eject button.
security cable slot — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the expansion station. The slide lock must be in the locked position to attach a security cable.
module bay — Lets you install a Dell D-series\x7f compatible module, such as a floppy, optical or combination drive. You can also use the module bay to charge the computer's second battery. (See Charging a Second Battery in the Module Bay.)
USB connector — Lets you connect a Dell D/Bay external module bay. The lower portion of the connector also accepts a standard USB 1.0 or 2.0 cable.
NOTE: Alert your network administrator before you connect the Expansion Station to a network.
Before you initially connect your computer to the Expansion Station, the operating system must complete its setup process. To verify that the operating system has completed the setup process:
Ensure that the computer is not connected to the Expansion Station (docked).
Turn on the computer.
Verify that your computer operating system completes the setup process and that the
Microsoft® Windows® desktop appears.
Lower the computer and ensure that the DELL™ badge on the computer aligns with the
badge on the expansion station. Move it slightly from side to side until the computer is seated
on the docking connector.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer display, press down only over the hinges.
Press down firmly over the hinges until the docking connector clicks into place.
Verify that the computer is properly docked:
If the expansion station is connected to an electrical outlet and the computer is turned on, the power button light on the top of the expansion station turns from amber to green. See the following table for more information on docking-control light behavior under different computer and expansion station conditions. If the light behavior on your expansion station does not match the table, you might not have docked correctly. Follow the steps to undock the computer (see Undocking Your Computer) and dock it again.
States
Power Button Light
Undock-Request Button Light
Eject Button Light
Computer undocked and expansion station not connected to an electrical outlet
NOTE: When docked, the computer will not turn on unless the expansion station is connected to an
electrical outlet.
If the computer was not already turned on, you can turn it on using the power button on
either the computer or the expansion station.
If the computer does not turn on or awaken successfully, ensure that the expansion station is
connected to an electrical outlet. If it is connected, undock (see Undocking Your Computer)
and reseat the computer.
NOTICE: While the computer is docked, do not pick up the computer and expansion station. Doing so
can damage the connectors on the computer and the expansion station.
NOTE: If the cable connector of the external device has thumbscrews, tighten them to ensure a proper
connection.
Connect the device's cable to the appropriate connector on the expansion station.
Connect the external devices to electrical outlets.
If you attach an external monitor to the expansion station, you may need to press <Fn><F8> one or more times to switch the screen image to the desired location. If the computer cover is closed, you can press <Fn><F8> on an attached external keyboard to switch the image.
NOTICE: If a PCI card is installed in the expansion station, shut down the computer before undocking to
avoid losing data.
NOTICE: If the computer is not receiving power from a battery, the computer turns off when you undock
it, and you will lose all unsaved data.
You can undock the computer from the D/Dock expansion station while the computer is in a power management mode or turned off. You should not undock while the computer is running in normal mode.
NOTICE: Never undock the computer without first preparing the computer to undock. If you undock
before preparing the computer, you will lose data. If you accidentally undock the computer without first
preparing to undock and your computer stops responding, press the power button until the computer
turns off and restart the computer. Any unsaved data will be lost.
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
You can undock the computer from the expansion station while the computer is either in a
power management mode or turned off.
Before you physically remove the computer from the expansion station, prepare the computer for undocking:
If you are using the Windows 2000 operating system, click the Start button and click Eject PC. If you are using Windows XP, click the Start button and click Undock Computer.
or
Press the undock request button on the expansion station. The undock request light turns from steady green to blinking green and then turns off.
When the eject button light turns green, the computer is ready to be undocked.
Ensure that the slide lock is in the unlocked position (toward the back of the expansion
station).
Press the eject button to release the computer from the docking connector and lift the
computer away from the docking station.
To install a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion card in the expansion station, perform the following steps.
NOTE: The expansion station supports one 3.3- or 5.0-volt, half-size or smaller PCI expansion card.
NOTICE: Do not touch or handle anything inside the expansion station except as instructed in the
following steps. If you touch other objects, you may damage the expansion station and may void your
warranty.
Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and then shut down the computer.
Undock the computer.
NOTE: Ensure that the slide lock is in the unlocked position.
Detach all cables—including the AC power cable—from the expansion station.
If the computer is attached to the optional monitor stand, remove the expansion station from
the monitor stand. For more information, see the documentation that came with the monitor
stand.
Remove the PCI expansion-card cover on the back of the expansion station:
NOTE: See the engraved illustrations on the PCI expansion-card cover for information about removing
the cover.
Press on the vertical strips near the left end of the PCI expansion-card cover, and slide the cover to the right. The cover should pop out at the right side for easy removal.
Remove the screw that secures the metal filler panel or existing PCI card bracket, and set the
screw aside temporarily.
Remove the filler panel if one is present.
Remove the PCI card I/O connector cover on the right side of the expansion station:
To avoid damaging the connector pins, ensure the keying on the card edge connector is
aligned with the PCI interface connector, and then insert the card edge connector into
the PCI interface connector.
Gently rock the card from side to side into the connector until the card is fully seated.
Install the screw you removed in step 6 to secure the PCI card bracket.
To replace the PCI expansion-card cover on the back of the expansion station, insert the left
end of the securing tab under the metal rim, let the cover lie flat, and push firmly to the left
to close the cover.
Reconnect the cables—including the AC power cable—that you detached in step 3.
Dock your computer.
Turn on the computer.
Install the drivers for the PCI card. (If you are using a PCI card that was not purchased from
Dell, use the drivers and instructions provided by the manufacturers of the card.)
You can install any module from your computer, such as a floppy drive or CD drive, in the module bay of the D/Dock expansion station. You can also charge a secondary D-Family battery from your computer.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the expansion station or the module, do not install any device in the
expansion-station module bay that you do not normally use in your computer.
You can charge your computer's second battery in the D/Dock module bay. A battery light below the module bay displays the status of the charging battery.
NOTE: If you charge a second battery while the computer is docked, the expansion station charges the
battery in the computer before charging the second battery in the D/Dock module bay.
Connect the expansion station to an electrical outlet.
If the battery latch release is extended, push it in so that it is flush with the battery.
When the battery is fully charged, ensure that the slide lock is in the unlocked position, push
the latch release, and remove the battery from the bay.
The expansion station offers the following security features:
A slide lock that allows you to secure your expansion station as well as a PCI expansion card and a module installed in the expansion station. Slide the lock toward the front of the expansion station to lock, toward the back to unlock.
A security cable slot that allows use of a security cable when the slide lock is in the locked position.
Attach a commercially available antitheft device to the security lock slot on the expansion station.
Antitheft devices usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and associated key. For instructions on installing the antitheft device, see the documentation that came with the device.
The Dell Diagnostics that came with your computer includes tests that help you to troubleshoot the controllers in your expansion station.
The subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports test group check the expansion station interface with external devices (such as a serial mouse or a printer). The subtests in this test group are not intended as a diagnostics test for the external device itself.
The subtests in theUSB test group check the expansion station interface with external serial USB devices (such as a mouse). The subtests in this test group are not intended as a diagnostic test for the external device itself.
For complete instructions on using the Dell Diagnostics, see the documentation that came with your computer.
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