Dell E-Port User manual

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Dell™ E-Port User’s Guide
Model PRO3X

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.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.
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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
Model PRO3X
June 2008 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
1 About Your Dell™ E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 Using the Dell™ E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Setting Up Your E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Before You Dock for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Docking Your Laptop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Securing the E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
E-Port Laptop Power and Docking Status. . . . . . . . 14
Using the E-Port with Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . 15
Undocking Your Laptop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4Contents

About Your Dell™ E-Port 5
About Your Dell™ E-Port
The Dell™ E-Port supports the Dell E-Family laptop computers, but it is not
compatible with any previous series laptop computers.
The E-Port enables you to connect your laptop computer to the following
external devices:
Connector Description
RJ-45 NETWORK CONNECTOR —Connects a network
interface cable.
DOCKING CONNECTOR —Connects a laptop to the
E-Port.
AUDIO CONNECTORS —Connects audio headphones or
speakers and a microphone.
USB 2.0 CONNECTORS —Connect up to five USB 2.0
compliant devices, such as a USB mouse. Three USB
connectors are on the left side, and two USB connectors
are on the back of the E-Port.
AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR —Connects the AC adapter.
DISPLAYPORT CONNECTOR —Connects external
monitors equipped with a DisplayPort interface (also
HDMI and DVI monitors via dongle; available at
Dell.com).
DIGITAL VIDEO INTERFACE (DVI) CONNECTOR —
Connects an external monitor equipped with a digital
video interface.
VGA VIDEO CONNECTOR —Connects an external
monitor.

6About Your Dell™ E-Port
USB OR ESATA CONNECTOR —Connects and
supports USB or Dell-powered E-Family or standard self-
powered eSATA devices.
E-MONITOR STAND CONNECTOR —Connects to the
monitor stand; available at Dell.com.

About Your Dell™ E-Port 7
1 network connector 2 audio connectors (2)
3 USB connectors (3) 4 AC adapter connector
5 DisplayPort connector 6 DVI connector
7 VGA connector 8 USB connectors (2)
9 USB or eSATA connector 10 E-Monitor stand connector
2
3
5
1
4
6
7
8
9
10

8About Your Dell™ E-Port
1 battery bar adjuster 2 alignment mark
3 power button 4 eject button
5 docking light 6 security cable slot
7 lock/unlock switch 8 docking connector
1
3
4
6
7
8
2
5

Using the Dell™ E-Port 9
Using the Dell™ E-Port
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the
safety instructions that shipped with your computer.
Setting Up Your E-Port
NOTE: If the cable connector of the external device has thumbscrews, tighten the
screws to ensure a proper connection.
1 Connect the device’s cable to the appropriate connector on the E-Port.
2 Connect any external devices to electrical outlets.
If you attach an external monitor to the E-Port, you may need to press <Fn>
<F8> one or more times to switch the screen image to the desired location.
If the laptop cover is closed, you can press <Scroll Lck> <F8> on an
attached external keyboard to switch the image.
Before You Dock for the First Time
Before you initially connect your laptop to the E-Port, the operating system
must complete its setup process. To verify that the operating system has
completed the setup process:
1
Ensure that the laptop is not connected to the E-Port (docked).
2 Turn on the laptop.
3 Verify that your laptop operating system has completed the setup process.
4 Verify that your battery is installed before docking your laptop.

10 Using the Dell™ E-Port
Docking Your Laptop
The E-Port can run on its AC power adapter, the laptop’s AC power or the
laptop’s battery. You can use the AC adapter to power the E-Port and the
laptop, which charges the battery.‘
NOTICE: Always use the Dell AC adapter that came with the E-Port. If you use any
other commercially available AC adapter, you may damage the E-Port or the laptop.
1 Complete the steps in "Before You Dock for the First Time" on page 9.
2 Place the E-Port so that there is enough flat space in front of it to
completely support the laptop when docked to the E-Port.
1 AC adapter cable 2 AC adapter connector
1
2