Dell D630 re-dock results in need to hard re-boot

[swheel]

I am running Vista on a Dell D630. My docking station works fine if I boot
up with the notebook docked. And my system works fine if I un-dock it.
However, if I re-dock the system while the system is turned on (either in
standby or awake), some of the time the re-dock will be unsuccessful. By
"unsuccessful," I mean that nothing comes up on my monitor (CRT), and there
is no way to "wake up" my screen so I can resume working on my system. Even
if I undock my system at this point, I can't get the LCD screen to turn back
on. So I end up needing to hold down the power button and do a cold re-boot.
It drives me crazy. Yesterday it happened FOUR times (every time I came
back to my desk and re-docked my system). Does anyone have any
recommendations? Is it a problem with my dock? Is it a Vista issue? Is it
a Dell issue?

[Mark L. Ferguson]

If it does not happen while not docked, your dock is broken.

However, it only happens WHEN I dock. The
system works fine when it is already docked. And it works fine when it is
not docked. Does that change your analysis at all?

Not really. It's unlikely that the dock needs any special drivers, since all
it is, is a glorified extension cord for the plugs. Unless the hardware were
damaged in some way (probably the docking plug itself) I don't think you
would be getting that failure only AT dock.

[the wharf rat]

Many docking stations need drivers, either to handle the connection
to the dock itself or to handle the additional hardware included in the dock.
For instance, Compaq Armada notebooks require a driver... The D600 series
doesn't seem to have one, though. I think your problem is a known issue
where the laptop gets confused about where to send output. The workaround
is to toggle through the video redirection (lcd, external, both) with the
F8 key.

You can read the whole thing here:

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&toggle=false

If you use any addition hardware through the dock, I would try replacing the
drivers on those devices first.

Somehow, I don't think I would cry if you didn't solve your problem.

[jjcwind]

I had similar issues with my D630 running 2 docking station configurations:
Work:
Primary Monitor: Dell 2007 WPF in Landscape with Digital Input
Secondary monitor: Dell 1950PF in Profile with Analog Input
Laptop monitor: off

Home:
Primary Monitor: Laptop
Secondary monitor: Dell 1950PF in Landscape with Analog input

Any time I tried to dock or undock, the machine would either crash (blue screen too many IRQ requests) or the display would lock up.

So, I loaded the Dell drivers for the various monitors (except the laptop display - couldn't figure that one out). Also, I'm not sure this is necessary.

The real key is when docked, toggle the display so just your laptop monitor is on THEN go through the undock process. Now the machine knows what display to use after you undock.

When I re-doc, it takes a few minutes but usually figures out where it is. Alternately, you can toggle through to the display you want after re-docking.

[DownstairsB]

I actually had to register and post on this old thread because these guys are such dicks, I couldnt let it go. GET A LIFE!

I have real docking station issues with my D630... when undocking the screen will get messed up and freeze. I suspect a piece of hardware on the motherboard is actually failing. Now before one of you morons says 'update the driver', just sit back, take a minute, and stab yourself in the ****ing eye because that's the first thing EVERYONE DOES and posting that just makes you look retarded.

[David H. Lipman]

Gee, I'm here and no registration is required and NO need to use a leech of Usenet !

I *always* tell my users to shutdown their notebook prior to docking or undocking to their
Latitude D series notebook to their docking station..

Which do you have, the mini or full size docking station ?