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Windows: How to identify your Dell Docking station using PowerShell

Summary: Learn how to use the Windows PowerShell application to identify which type of Dell Docking station is attached to your Dell computer.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Need to know what type of Dell Docking station is attached to your computer?

Note: The information in this article is supplied as is from Dell.
The information in this article has been checked and verified as correct. However, it is not something that would be covered under our standard computer warranties.
If you are experiencing any issues or are trying to troubleshoot a technical fault, with your computer or dock? We recommend you download the latest driver versions from the Dell Support Site for your computer and dock, to ensure you are up to date.

This article provides a way to identify what type of Dell Docking Station is attached to your computer using the PowerShell application.

One of the reasons you would want to locate this information is so that it can be used along with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) scripting. This lets you customize installing and updating the dock drivers and firmware.

Note: Dell does provide a software utility as an alternative to this method. The Dell Command Update (DCU) software can be downloaded from the Dell Support Site. It automatically checks for and updates the drivers and firmware for your computer and dock.
  • Version 2.41 and earlier: Updates on a biweekly schedule.
  • Version 3.0 and newer: Updates on a weekly schedule.

What is PowerShell?

PowerShell: replaced the Command Prompt application in newer versions of Windows 10. PowerShell is a more powerful tool than Command Prompt. Microsoft designed it as a tool helps you automate and quickly solve many tedious administration tasks. You can create and use scripts to simplify and automate repetitive tasks.

Note: Two of the quickest ways to open PowerShell are shown below:
  • Click the Start Menu and Type PowerShell and select the version that you want from the search list.
  • Right click on the Start Menu and select the version that you want from the Power Users menu that appears

Cause

Not Applicable.

Resolution

Steps to identify your Dell Dock

Note: Creating PowerShell scripts and Cmdlets are outside of the scope of what the Dell Technical Support Agents can do for you. The information below is supplied on the basis that you understand how PowerShell works. This is not something that is supported under Dell's warranty.

  1. Install the Dell System Inventory Agent (DSIA).

    1. Download the latest DellSDPCatalogPC.cab file from our Downloads site:

    2. Using an Extractor application such as WinZip, open the .cab file, but do not extract all the contents of the file.

    3. Extract DellSDPCatalogPC.xml from the .cab file to your desktop.

    4. Open DellSPDCatalogPC.xml with a text editor application

    5. Either search or scroll down the file for the DSIA entry.

    6. Identify the DSIA URL from the file (for example DSIAPC 1.6.5.3.msi).

    7. Use that link to download the latest version of DSIA to your computer.

    8. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

    Note: Ensure that you open PowerShell with administrator privileges, to carry out the following steps. (Your user account requires administrator rights for this guide to work.)

  2. Open PowerShell and type the following Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) command, followed by pressing the enter key to obtain the computer inventory:

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> gwmi -n root\dell\sysinv dell_softwareidentity | select versionstring, elementname |sort elementname

  3. You are looking to identify something similar to the example shown below from the inventory list:

    0001.0000.0006.0000 Dell Docking Station - WD15 Firmware

DSIA Inventory

(Figure.1 PowerShell Window with inventory output example)

Note: The example from above is shown as it may appear in the DSIA inventory. However, the output varies depending on the dock model and the software version installed.

Additional Information

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Affected Products

G Series, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Tablets
Article Properties
Article Number: 000126566
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 23 May 2024
Version:  7
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