Dock or undock a mobile PC
A docking station makes it easy to connect multiple devices such as a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to your mobile PC. Rather than connecting all your devices one by one to your mobile PC, you connect them all to the docking station and leave them plugged in there. Then every time you attach your mobile PC to the docking station, it connects to everything at once. When you remove the mobile PC from its station, you disconnect from everything at once.
This is helpful because even though most mobile PCs have their own built-in pointing device, keyboard, and display, many people prefer to use a regular mouse, full-size keyboard, and large external display. A docking station also enables you to plug in many other types of devices, such as printers and webcams.
To use a docking station, you simply connect its power cord, plug everything into the docking station that you want to connect to your mobile PC, and then attach your mobile PC to the docking station. You should not have to install any software or change any settings in Windows Vista for this to work.
Read the instructions that came with your docking station to make sure you understand how to correctly attach your mobile PC and use all the connections. Most computer manufacturers sell docking stations that are compatible with only a few different models of their mobile PCs. Some manufacturers use the terms base station or expansion base rather than docking station.
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Most docking stations include an Ethernet port so your mobile PC can automatically connect to a network whenever you attach it to the docking station. If your mobile PC is already connected to a wireless network when you attach it to a docking station, it should keep that connection going and also connect to the network by using the Ethernet cable that you plugged into your docking station.
Your power management settings should work the same when your mobile PC is attached to a docking station as they would if the mobile PC was plugged directly into AC power. As soon as you attach your mobile PC to a docking station, it should switch from battery power to AC power and begin charging your battery.
Port replicators are very similar to docking stations and perform the same function, but they are usually smaller and contain fewer ports. For example, a full-featured docking station might offer all these connections:
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USB ports
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DVI and VGA display ports
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Ethernet port
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Composite video jack
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S-Video jack
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Audio-out (headphone) jack
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Audio-in (microphone) jack
In addition, some docking stations include built-in speakers and a hard-disk bay. Some docking stations can also raise your mobile PC off the desk so its screen is closer to eye level.
A port replicator is usually a smaller device that sits behind your mobile PC, is not big enough to hold your mobile PC, and offers fewer connections. The procedure for using a port replicator is the same as for a docking station. Plug in all the devices you want to connect to your mobile PC, connect the AC power cord, and then attach your mobile PC to the port replicator.
