Dell LATITUDE PRX User guide

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Dell™ Latitude™ C/Port II APR
System Information Guide
Guide d'information sur le système
Guia de Informações do Sistema
Guía de información del sistema
Model PRX

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Dell™ Latitude™ C/Port II APR
System Information Guide

Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you
how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury,
or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2001–2002 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; 3Com
is a trademark of 3Com Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and
names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names
other than its own.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents
and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright
protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited
viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is
prohibited.
January 2002 P/N 3G480 Rev. A03

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 3
Dell™ Latitude™ C/Port II APR
System Information Guide
This document contains getting started, safety, regulatory, and warranty
information about your Dell Latitude C/Port II Advanced Port Replicator
(APR) as well as information about other Dell documents that are available
and how to obtain them.
Safety Instructions
The following information defines the meaning of additional symbols used
only in the Safety Instructions section.
Caution: General (Safety Instructions, continued)
Risk of explosion Aircraft
Risk of fire Use of this feature may be prohibited
on aircraft
Risk of electric shock
• When setting up the docking station for work, place it
on a level surface.
• Do not attempt to service the docking station yourself
unless you are an authorized service technician. Always
follow installation instructions closely.

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Caution: Power (Safety Instructions, continued)
• If you use an extension power cable with your AC
adapter, ensure that the total ampere rating of the
products plugged in to the extension power cable does
not exceed the ampere rating of the extension cable.
• Do not push objects into air vents or openings of your
computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by
shorting out interior components.
• Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk
top or on the floor, when you use it to run the computer
or to charge the battery. Do not cover the AC adapter
with papers or other items that will reduce cooling; also,
do not use the AC adapter inside a carrying case.
• Do not use your computer in a wet environment, for
example, near a bath tub, sink, or swimming pool or in a
wet basement.
• To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do
not connect or disconnect any cables or perform
maintenance or reconfiguration of this product during
an electrical storm. Do not use your computer during
an electrical storm unless all cables have been
disconnected and the computer is operating on battery
power.
• Before you clean your docking station, remove power.
Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with
water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may
contain flammable substances.
• Use only the Dell-provided AC adapter approved for
use with this docking station. Use of another AC
adapter may cause a fire or explosion.

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 5
• Before you connect the docking station to an electrical
outlet, check the AC adapter voltage rating to ensure
that the required voltage and frequency match the
available power source.
• To remove power from the computer, turn it off,
remove the battery pack, and disconnect the AC
adapter from the electrical outlet.
• To help prevent electric shock, plug the AC adapter and
peripheral power cables into properly grounded power
sources. These power cables may be equipped with
three-prong plugs to provide an earth grounding
connection. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the
grounding prong from the power cable plug. If you use a
power extension cable, use the appropriate type, two-
prong or three-prong, to mate with the AC adapter
power cable.
• Be sure that nothing rests on your AC adapter’s power
cable and that the cable is not located where it can be
tripped over or stepped on.
• If you are using a multiple-outlet power strip, use
caution when plugging the AC adapter’s power cable
into the power strip. Some power strips may allow you
to insert the plug incorrectly. Incorrect insertion of the
power plug could result in permanent damage to your
computer, as well as risk of electric shock and/or fire.
Ensure that the ground prong of the power plug is
inserted into the mating ground contact of the power
strip.

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Other Documents Available
• Documentation updates, which are sometimes included with your docking
device to describe changes to your docking device or software. Always read
these updates before consulting any other documentation because the
updates often contain the latest information.
• Documentation included with any options you purchase separately from
your docking device. This documentation includes information that you
need to configure and install these options in your docking device.
Getting Help
Dell provides a number of tools to help you if your docking device does not
perform as expected. For information on these help tools, see the “Getting
Help” section in the computer’s User’s Guide.
Docking Device Overview
NOTE: Alert your network administrator before you connect the docking device to
a network.
You must attach an AC adapter to the docking device before you dock the
computer to the docking device and turn on the computer. The AC adapter
powers the docking device and the computer at the same time. Any battery
installed in the computer charges while you use the docking device.
NOTICE: Always use the Dell PA-6 AC adapter that came with the docking device.
If you use any other commercially available AC adapter—or the AC adapter from
older models of Dell computers—you may damage the docking device or the
computer.

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 7
I/O Panel of the Docking Device
The “External I/O Connectors” table shows the icons for each of the
connectors on the back of the APR and indicates the type of external
device(s) that you can attach to each connector.
External I/O Connectors
Connector
Icon
Connector Description
One or two USB devices, such as a USB mouse, connect to
the dual USB connector.
An external PS/2-style keyboard or external numeric keypad
connects to the PS/2 keyboard connector.
An external PS/2-compatible mouse connects to the PS/2
mouse connector.
A serial device, such as a serial mouse or external modem,
connects to the serial port connector.
A network interface cable connects to the NIC connector.
PS/2-keyboard
connector
serial
connector
USB
connectors (2)
parallel
connector
PS/2-mouse
connector
video
connector
network
connector
AC adapter
connector

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Audio Connectors and Infrared Sensor
A parallel device, such as a printer, connects to the parallel
port connector.
An external monitor connects to the video connector.
The AC adapter that came with the APR connects to the AC
adapter connector.
External I/O Connectors
infrared sensor audio line-out connector

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 9
Docking Control Base Controls and Indicators
power
indicator
undock request
button
power button
drive access
indicator
docking
indicator
eject/
locking
lever
locked
position
unlocked
position
padlock
slot
eject
position
security lock
slot
security lock
slot (not on all
devices)

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Monitor Stand
NOTICE: The stand supports monitors that weigh up to 45.3 kilograms (kg)
(100 pounds [lb]). Heavier monitors may damage the stand, computer, and
docking device.
Docking Device With the Monitor Stand
NOTE: Be sure that the back legs on the monitor stand engage the slots on
either side of the docking control base.
monitor
stand
docking device
computer docking control base

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 11
Before Docking the Computer
If your computer is running the Microsoft®Windows®9x, Windows NT®,
or Windows Millennium Edition (Me) operating system, you must first
check your computer for existing docking drivers. If your computer does not
have the docking drivers, install them before you dock the computer for the
first time. To install the docking drivers, perform the steps in “Installing the
Docking Drivers.”
NOTE: If your computer is running the Windows XP or Windows 2000
operating system, the drivers are installed automatically and you do not need
to perform the steps in “Installing the Docking Drivers.” Go to “Docking Your
Computer.”
Check Your Computer for Existing Docking Drivers
1Double-click My Computer.
2Double-click Control Panel.
3Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
4Locate the correct docking drivers from the list of programs.
For Windows 9x and Windows Me, check for the driver with Quick
Install in the name. For example: Dell Dock Quick Install for
Windows.
For Windows NT, check for NT Softex Docking Services.
If your computer does not have the docking drivers, go to the next section,
“Installing the Docking Drivers.” If your computer has the docking drivers,
go to “Docking Your Computer.”
Installing the Docking Drivers
You can install your docking drivers in one of the following ways:
• Install the drivers from the ResourceCD or Drivers and Utilities CD
that came with your computer or docking device.
• Download the drivers from the Dell | Support website.

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Installing the Docking Drivers From the ResourceCD or Drivers and
Utilities CD
1Insert the ResourceCD or Drivers and Utilities CD into the CD drive.
In most cases, the CD should start running automatically. If it does
not, start Windows Explorer, click your CD drive directory to display
the CD contents, and then double-click the autorcd application file. If
a welcome screen appears, click Next. The first time that you run the
CD, it might prompt you to install some setup files. Click OK and
follow the instructions on the screen to continue.
2From the Language pull-down menu on the toolbar, select your
preferred language for the driver (if available).
A welcome screen appears.
3Click Next.
4Under Search Criteria, select the appropriate categories from the
System Model and Operating System pull-down menus.
If your system is running Windows 9x or Windows Me, select System
Utilities from the Device Type pull-down menu, and then select
Drivers from the Topic pull-down menu.
If your system is running Windows NT, select System Utilities from the
Device Type pull-down menu, and then select Utilities from the Topic
pull-down menu.
A link or links appear(s) for the specific drivers or utilities used by your
computer.
5If your system is running Windows 9x or Windows Me, click the link for
the Dell Dock QuickInstall utility.
The Dell Dock QuickInstall file is a utility that installs the required
docking drivers on your computer.
If your computer is running Windows NT, click the link for Softex
Docking Services.

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 13
6Click the Install button to start the automatic installation. At the
welcome screen, follow the screen prompts to complete the
installation.
NOTE: Some ResourceCDs may require users to navigate through folders to
obtain the correct driver. For complete instructions on reinstalling drivers, see
your User’s Guide.
Installing the Docking Drivers From the Dell | Support Website
1Go to the Dell | Support website at support.dell.com. If you are
visiting the website for the first time, click your region under Choose a
region and click Go.
2Follow the instructions on the screen.
3Enter your docking device information, and then click Go!.
4Click Downloads.
The Downloads For Your Dell window appears, including a short form
for you to fill out.
5Select your operating system and operating system language.
6Select System and Configuration Utilities as your download category.
7Click Go!.
8If your computer is running Windows 9x or Windows Me, locate and
click the link for the Dell Dock QuickInstall utility.
If your computer is running Windows NT, locate and click the link for
Softex Docking Services.
9Follow the instructions on the screen to download and install the
required drivers.
After you download the files and before you install the drivers, make
sure to view the readme.txt file that is included in the downloaded files
for important information about the installation.

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Docking Your Computer
If you attach a monitor to the docking device and turn the monitor on, the
screen image appears on the monitor. To switch the image to the computer
display, or to both the monitor and the computer display, press
<Fn><F8>.
When you dock the computer to the docking device and turn the computer
on, the green power light on the docking control base lights up (see
“Docking Control Base Controls and Indicators”).
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save any open files before you dock the
computer.
1Save all files, close and exit all application programs, exit the operating
system, and turn off the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the docking connector, open the docking panel
door before you attempt to dock the computer to the docking device.
2If the computer has a docking panel door, open the docking panel door
on the back of the computer.
Docking Panel Door on the Computer
computer
docking panel
door (not on all
computers)

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 15
3If you are using the docking device with a monitor stand, close the
computer display.
4Ensure that the eject/locking lever is in the unlocked position.
5Dock the computer to the docking device as follows:
Docking the Computer
aHorizontally center the computer on the APR platform, with the
back of the computer facing the docking device docking
connector, as shown in “Docking the Computer.”
bSlide the computer toward the connector until you feel the
grooves on the bottom of the computer engage with the alignment
rails.
NOTICE: If you attempt to push the computer all the way into the APR
without engaging the alignment rails, you may irreparably damage the docking
connector on the computer.
NOTICE: Do not pick up the computer or the docking device separately when
they are connected because you may damage the connectors on the computer
and the docking device.
docking connector
alignment rails (2)

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NOTICE: If you are using a monitor with the monitor stand,remove the
monitor from the stand before moving the docking control base into place.
cGently push the computer forward until the docking connector is
fully engaged.
Docking for the First Time With Windows XP and Windows 2000
1Dock and turn on your computer.
2Press <F2> during the system boot routine to view the system setup
program.
3Set Docking IRQ to Optimized.
4Set Universal Connect to Enabled.
5Exit the system setup program.
Your system will continue the boot process.
In Windows 2000, the Add New Hardware Wizard appears.
NOTE: If your computer is running Windows XP, the operating system
automatically installs the drivers. If your computer is running Windows 2000,
the Add New Hardware Wizard automatically installs your drivers.
Docking for the First Time With Windows Me
1Dock and turn on your computer.
2Press <F2> during the system boot routine to view the system setup
program.
3Set Docking IRQ to Optimized.
4Set Universal Connect to Enabled.
5Exit the system setup program.
Your system will continue the boot process.
The Add New Hardware Wizard appears.
6Select Search for the Best Driver for Your Device (Recommended)
and click Next.
7Click Next.
8Follow the prompts on the Add New Hardware Wizard.

Dell Latitude C/Port II APR System Information Guide 17
9Whenever prompted, select Search for the Best Driver for Your
Device (Recommended) and click Next.
10 Continue to follow the prompts to complete the installation.
The Windows desktop appears and the installation is complete.
Docking for the First Time With Windows NT 4.0
1Dock and turn on your computer.
2Either press <F2> during the system boot routine, or press
<Fn><F1> after your computer boots to view the system setup
program.
3Set Docking IRQ to Optimized.
4Set Universal Connect to Enabled.
5Exit the system setup program.
6Press <Ctrl><Alt><Del>to log on.
The Docking Station Setup window appears and indicates that the
computer must be undocked to continue.
7Click OK and wait for the computer to turn off.
8Undock the computer (see “Undocking the Computer”).
The computer restarts automatically. If it does not, turn on the
computer.
9Click Start and select Shut Down.
10 Wait for the computer to turn off completely and redock the computer
to the docking device.
The computer restarts automatically. If it does not, turn on the
computer.
11 Press <Ctrl><Alt><Del> to log on.
The computer automatically detects new devices.
12 When prompted, select Install System Provided Driver for the
Selected Device (Recommended) and click OK.
13 Click Continue at the Windows NT Setup window.

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14 Select Install System Provided Driver for the Selected Device
(Recommended) and click OK.
15 Select the name of your network interface controller (NIC) from the
drop down menu.
16 Select whether the network adapter should obtain an IP address from a
server, or whether an IP address is specified.
If you do not know what to select, see your system administrator.
17 Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
The Windows desktop appears and the installation is complete.
The computer cannot enter suspend-to-disk mode while docked.
Docking for the First Time With Windows 98
1Dock and turn on your computer.
2Either press <F2> during the system boot routine, or press
<Fn><F1> after your computer boots to view the system setup
program.
3Set Docking IRQ to Optimized.
4Set Universal Connect to Enabled.
5Exit the system setup program.
The computer detects new hardware.
6Click OK at the Configuration Setup window.
The Add New Hardware Wizard appears.
7Click Next.
8Select Search for the Best Driver for Your Device (Recommended)
and click Next.
9Remove the check-mark next to each option and click Next.
A window appears, indicating that Windows is ready to install the best
driver for your device.
10 Follow the prompts on the Add New Hardware Wizard.
11 Whenever prompted, select Search for the Best Driver for Your
Device (Recommended) and click Next.