Docking station (& avoiding errors)

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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;EN-US;833775:

You cannot eject your portable computer from its docking station

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Windows 2000, when you click Start, and then click Eject PC to eject your portable computer from its docking station, you may receive the following error message:

You cannot eject your computer because one of the devices in the docking station, 'Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery', cannot be stopped right now. Try closing all applications and ejecting the computer again later.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if all the following conditions are true, in the order that they are presented:

You insert your computer into the docking station.

Within approximately 20 seconds or less, you eject your computer from the docking station.

Each undock, dock, and redock operation is associated with specific events that must be processed before each operation can complete successfully. The symptoms that are described in the "Symptoms" section of this article are related to the time that it takes to process these events and these notifications. If a request to eject the computer occurs before a redock operation is completed, the eject operation cannot complete successfully. By design, Windows 2000 works this way.

The processing time for each operation depends on several factors, including the number of programs that are installed on the computer and the number of devices that are attached to the docking station.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, click OK in the error message dialog box, and then eject your computer from the docking station later.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about undocking portable computers, see Windows 2000 Help. To do so, click Start, and then click Help. Click the Search tab, type undock a portable computer in the Type in the word(s) to search for box, and then click List Topics to view the topics that are returned.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;EN-US;257544:

Hot Docking Support in Windows 2000

SUMMARY
This article describes the requirements and support for hot docking in Windows 2000. 

MORE INFORMATION
Hot docking or undocking means docking your portable computer with or undocking your portable computer from a docking station while the computer is fully powered. The only way to know whether your system fully supports hot docking, from a hardware perspective, is to check the computer manufacturer's documentation or contact the manufacturer's Technical Support staff. For hot docking to work in Windows 2000, the following requirements must be met: 
The hardware must support the ability to hot dock and undock electrically.
The computer must have an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS. (Microsoft Windows 95/Microsoft Windows 98 supports hot docking on computers with an Advanced Power Management [APM] BIOS; Windows 2000 does not.)
The ACPI BIOS must be fully ACPI compliant and must meet the Windows 2000 standards for hot docking. (Many computers that were available at the release of Windows 2000 may require BIOS updates to work properly with Windows 2000.)
Windows 2000 must be notified before an undock event occurs (and when hardware is removed from the system). 

Windows 95/Windows 98 performs a full enumeration upon each resume from suspend to support APM and ACPI. Therefore, Windows 95/Windows 98 does not require notification when hardware is removed. Windows 2000, which supports only ACPI BIOS implementations of hot docking, follows the strict ACPI rules that state that the operating system must always be notified of hardware removal. Because notification is required by Windows 2000, there is no need for an enumeration upon resuming. This results in faster resume times.
Supported vs. Unsupported
In this article, "supported" means that hot docking and undocking should work and that Microsoft Product Support Services will provide reasonable-effort assistance in making hot docking and undocking work. "Unsupported" means that hot docking and undocking may work, but most likely will not, and is not recommended with Windows 2000. Windows 2000 will also display a message if you do something that is unsupported, such as performing a "surprise" undock (assuming that the system is still running correctly). 
Supported Docking and Undocking Methods
Hot docking and undocking: The computer is fully on. This is supported if the hardware supports it and if you always notify the system before removing the portable computer. Ways of notifying the system include using an external "Undock" switch or by clicking Eject PC on the Start menu. This is the same as Windows 95/Windows 98, except that Windows 2000 requires a fully compliant ACPI BIOS. Note that you cannot remove the portable computer from the dock manually without notifying the system in any Microsoft operating system. 

Note that some systems do not physically block you from trying to do this.
Cold docking and undocking: The computer is fully off. This method is supported.
Unsupported Docking and Undocking Methods
Warm docking and undocking: Undocking while the system is suspended or hibernating, and then resuming once undocked. This is unsupported. Avoid warm docking and undocking at all costs. In effect, this is the same as adding devices while the system is hibernating or on standby; in both cases this causes at minimum a surprise remove event (if the system is able to resume at all).
Surprise undocking: A typical "surprise undock" scenario involves a manually ejectable system on which you suspend or hibernate the computer while it is docked, and then remove the computer manually and resume it. This is unsupported. Ejecting a computer that supports an undock switch while it is hibernating results in a surprise undock because the BIOS does not notify the operating system. In this case, Windows 2000 does not know that the hardware is gone (has been removed) and may attempt to access that hardware.
Notes
Hot docking is disabled when legacy (non-Plug and Play) drivers are present. Any legacy driver causes the undock (and standby) option to be unavailable. This occurs because legacy drivers do not support power management and do not allow the system to stand by or hibernate.
Hot-docking is not recommended when ISA Plug and Play adapters are present in the docking station. There is no way for Windows 2000 to differentiate between ISA Plug and Play devices in the laptop computer and those in the docking station. Windows 2000 may not be able to tell which devices to remove upon undocking.NOTE: Changing the display resolution whilst docked and connected to an external monitor followed by undocking will cause the previous display resolution to be selected for the on-board display panel.

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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;EN-US;826378

Tablet PC display properties change unexpectedly when you dock or undock your computer

SYMPTOMS

When you take your Tablet PC out of the docking station, and then put it back in again, the display properties may change unexpectedly. For example, while an external monitor is connected to the docking station, and you are using Clone mode so that both the external monitor and the Tablet PC LCD display the same picture, you take the Tablet PC out of the docking station and put it back in. Although the display was configured to use Clone mode before you undocked the Tablet PC, the desktop display is now stretched over both screens. Therefore, you are using DualView mode and can move items between the Tablet PC LCD screen and the external monitor.

CAUSE

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC edition does not cause this issue. This issue may occur if the utilities or the drivers of your graphics card apply a default configuration that overrides any manually configured settings when the docking condition changes.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, obtain an update from the manufacturer of your computer or graphics card. If the issue persists, contact the manufacturer of your graphics card or computer for more help.

WORKAROUND

If the nVidia nView Desktop Manager is installed on your computer, depending on the driver and the utility version, you may be able to customize your docked profile. To do so, follow these steps:

Make sure that your computer is docked.

Right-click the desktop, and then click nView Properties.

In the Activate Profile section, click My Docked Profile from the Default Docked Profile drop-down list.

Click Create/Edit My Docked Profile.

When the Save Profile dialog opens, modify the display configuration and, and then click Save in the Save Profile dialog bos.

Click OK to close the nView Desktop Manager.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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Maintaining Display Settings for the External Monitor After Rebooting When the Computer is Docked

Applicable Models:

+TOSHIBA Portege M100

+TOSHIBA Satellite Pro M15-S406, M15-S405, M10-S405, M10-S406

+TOSHIBA Tecra M1

Issue

Cannot retain the display settings for the external monitor after rebooting when the computer is docked

Resolution

This issue can be resolved by removing the check mark next to "Display Change Service", or by changing the "Display Output" settings in the settings for Toshiba Mobile Extensions using the following procedure:

1. Click on the Windows Start Menu> Control Panel > Toshiba Mobile Extensions> Display Change Device.

2. Remove the check mark in the box labeled Display Change Device", or select the correct "Display output".

3. Click on "OK" to close.