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USB / Ethernet Problem with Dell Docking Station

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6 replies

by nearfatalfall

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The laptop (Latitude D420) works fine stand-alone, however when plugged into a PR01X Dell Docking station, the USB connectivity does not work (will not recognize my mouse and/or keyboard) and the ethernet port does not work either. The video port obviously works because I'm able to pull up a display on an external monitor. This just happened recently, over the weekend, and was working fine until I came into the office this morning.

6 replies

by michael kassner

I am familiar with this problem and on every occasion it has been a problem with the large connector that mates the replicator to the notebook. It also ended up being cheaper to just replace the replicator when compared to getting it fixed.

Dell runs through a series of tests and finally decides it is the replicator connection point.

by nearfatalfall

With the same issue. BIOS reads the computer as undocked and the only indication that the laptop is even docked (after boot up) is that is no longer running on battery power. Updated the BIOS (shot in the dark) and looked for possible configuration changes that could have cause this. I probably is that connector strip on the actual laptop itself, which could only be replaced by replacing the whole main board. >_>

Bummer.

by ben

I have heard that there are thousands of complaints to Dell on this docking station. Issue after issue, not many are happy with this item. Issues with vid port, USB port, network port can be found all over the internet. Dell: Recall and replace this item!

by nearfatalfall

I replaced the motherboard on the D410 I was worthing with and the issue was resolved, but because this issue is so prominent within the company I work for - I wonder if the dock has something to do with malfunctioning the male connector off the mainboard - if that's the case, this company is losing a lot of money replacing main boards for the client flexibility to have this dock's functionality. I guess it doesn't matter to me either way, so long as it's not my money that's purchasing the replacements...

I completely agree, a recall would probably be the best way to go if this is an ongoing issue.

by maxaxle

I had the exact same problem and I unplugged the power, plugged in all of the peripherals, plugged the power back in, started it up, and it worked fine. Took forever to figure it out, but it fixed the problem.

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