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C400 display problems envolving Dockstations
Hi
I`m having problems with a C400 and its display.
The problem seems to be if the machine is plugged into the docking station all is fine with the display. When you remove the machine from the docking station to use undocked, it will load XP after the log on the display will go blank and you have to hit the FN F8 keys to swap back to laptop display mode.
I can also get the same problem after working undocked when the laptop is put back onto the docking station. These seems to an intermittent problem when in the docking station.
I have updated the BIOS to the lastest level.
Reinstalled the Graphic drivers several times
This Laptop is running XP SP2
This was not a problem on Windows 2000.
Any advice would be great
davidbellew
3 Posts
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April 18th, 2005 20:00
Thanks,
Dave
datadog
4 Posts
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May 5th, 2005 20:00
When docked or undocked I will see the Windows 2000 kernel load screen (the black screen with the white ASCII progress bar at the bottom) and the Windows 2000 splash screen (the colorful one with blue block progress bar).
When Undocked, right after the splash screen, the display will go blank, then re-appear with the "Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to login" window. Once I log in with *any* user, I will see the desktop start to load, then seconds later the screen will blank and I will have to press FN+F8 to get the display to come back.
When Docked, using an external monitor, right after the splash screen, the display will go blank and then stay blank. I can see the drive activity light flashing, showing that Windows is still loading. Once the drive activity light stops flashing, if I know the user that the login window defaults to, I can still press CTRL+ALT+DEL then login. A couple of seconds later, the (external) display turns on and I am presented with the user's desktop.
I'm running the latest BIOS, and I've also tried both the Windows Update version of the Intel Video drivers and the official Dell video drivers. Both drivers exhibit the same problem. Also, I've talked to tech support twice so far regarding this issue and both times they've replaced a different part. First, they replaced the whole system board (to replace the video board, since it's part of the system board), and the second time around it was discovered that the HDD was faulty, so that was replaced. Neither solution worked and I am still facing the same problem.
I would be very curious to hear if Dell techs, or anyone on this board might know what is happening. I've racked my brains trying to figure this one out, but to no avail. I guess I'm hoping someone here might have some answers. I'm calling tech support yet again and I'm going to see if either they can send someone out here to play around with it themselves, or I'd be willing to send it in, at this point, to have someone play with it and figure out the problem.
datadog
4 Posts
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May 5th, 2005 21:00