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i8600, dead docking station??

post #1 of 10
4/19/06 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 
Last friday I had used my inspiron 8600, like I always do. Dell docking station, 2 monitors, USB ports etc.

I shut it all down, then get a call that makes me need to boot the machine back up. I reconnect it to the dock, hit the power button.

I get the Dell OS loading screen. it gets about 1/3 the way then creeps very slowly. Then it comes to a black screen telling me

"your power adapter type can't be determined, connect a different one or undock."

I tried two different power adapters, no love. If I undock and use either connector, plug one monitor in and attach all the same USB connections, boots up fine.

Is the docking station toast?
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post #2 of 10
4/19/06 at 4:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilker
Last friday I had used my inspiron 8600, like I always do. Dell docking station, 2 monitors, USB ports etc.

I shut it all down, then get a call that makes me need to boot the machine back up. I reconnect it to the dock, hit the power button.

I get the Dell OS loading screen. it gets about 1/3 the way then creeps very slowly. Then it comes to a black screen telling me

"your power adapter type can't be determined, connect a different one or undock."

I tried two different power adapters, no love. If I undock and use either connector, plug one monitor in and attach all the same USB connections, boots up fine.

Is the docking station toast?
It might be possible. However I never heard of a dock "going bad". Then again, there is a first for everything.

Unplug everything from the dock and use the adapter that came with it. Once everything is unplugged (except the adapter), dock the laptop and see what happens. Start cold, don't resume from hibernation or anything. If the same thing happens, shut down completely and use the adapter that came with laptop on the dock.

See what happens with that.
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post #3 of 10
4/20/06 at 12:14am
Some time ago I sold my brother my i8200 with dock. A few years later the dock stopped working and he switched to using a USB hub.
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post #4 of 10
4/20/06 at 1:43am
Thread Starter 
very odd.

I have two adapters, niether work. Attempted to use the dock without anything else attached, no USB devices, no monitors. Still get
"Syste is docked but AC adapter type cannot be determined"
Using the other adapter I got something along the lines of "this adapter isn't delivering enough power."

Very weird. Same adapters I've been using plugged into the same outlets.
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post #5 of 10
4/20/06 at 2:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilker
very odd.

I have two adapters, niether work. Attempted to use the dock without anything else attached, no USB devices, no monitors. Still get
"Syste is docked but AC adapter type cannot be determined"
Using the other adapter I got something along the lines of "this adapter isn't delivering enough power."

Very weird. Same adapters I've been using plugged into the same outlets.

Ahh. The "this adapter isn't delivering enough power" kinda tells me the dock adapter is maybe bad. Seeing as the dock can detect that its not getting enough juice. Any way to try a new adapter?
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post #6 of 10
4/20/06 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
Well I was about to say how odd and unlikely that two adapters would go unusable at the same time, but I just tried my wifes, and it worked just fine.

Guess I need to go pick up another adapter. grrrr
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post #7 of 10
4/20/06 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilker
Well I was about to say how odd and unlikely that two adapters would go unusable at the same time, but I just tried my wifes, and it worked just fine.

Guess I need to go pick up another adapter. grrrr

The adapter for your laptop will never work on the dock. Like the dock said "it doesn't have enough juice". The docks have different adapters to power the dock and the laptop at once. Your laptop adapter is fine
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post #8 of 10
4/20/06 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
The one that has been on the laptop musta died, it's the same adapter I've been using without issue. It also gave that warning.
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post #9 of 10
4/22/06 at 12:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrinkMore
The adapter for your laptop will never work on the dock. Like the dock said "it doesn't have enough juice". The docks have different adapters to power the dock and the laptop at once. Your laptop adapter is fine
Not on the Inspiron Advanced Port Replicator. The power supply that powers the Laptop should power the Laptop and the APR just fine. The DDock has its own power supply integrated (just connect an AC cord) since it supports additional peripherals, Unlike the APR. My Latitude CDock II runs just fine with the Power supply that originally shipped with my Inspiron 8200.
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post #10 of 10
4/22/06 at 11:18am
Thread Starter 
yeah after posting I remembered that the adapter that is working right now is from my Wifes inspiron.

I ended up ordering a new one from dell. We'll see if that makes it happy.

So weird that two adapters do not work when at least one used to. I noticed one adapter is older and only puts out 3.x amps instead of 4.x, but weird none the less since it worked and literally 30 minutes later it didn't.
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