Modify Dell Inspiron Laptop 2 work w C/Dock Docking Station

Modifying your Inspiron to work in a Latitude C/Port or C/Dock.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on persona
experience and data collected from the Delltalk customer forum. An
damage, loss of profits or any thing that makes you unhappy is no
the fault of the author. You are doing this on your own accord. Th
author has taken every precaution to validate the accuracy of th
data here, however, the author takes no responsibility for th
accuracy of the data. By continuing, you are agreeing to thi
disclaimer

Supported systems

370

380

400

410

415

800

810

820

Through voodoo, trickery and physical blocks, Dell has managed to kee
Inspiron users away from the powerful features of their Latitud
C/Ports and C/Docks. I guess they figured that we would never wan
things like using an Infrared port while docked, or having SCS
devices attached without the use of e PCMCIA card. Or even adding
PCI device. Well no longer will this hold us back.

The secret is converting your Inspiron into thinking it is a Latitude
Which is pretty easy and removing the metal hook from the por
replicator

Lets start with removing the metal hook that blocks your access.
(Note: If you have an 8xx0 series system you can remove the plate o
the back that blocks the slot from receiving the hook) Remove th
screws (if applicable) from the bottom of the Latitude C/port o
C/dock. You should then be able to remove the "lid". Now that yo
are inside notice where the metal hook attaches. There is a screw i
the middle that holds it in place. Remove that screw and the meta
hook will lift right out. If you have a C/Dock II like me, I had t
remove the "motherboard" first to get at the hook. Take the meta
spring too, because you don't want it rattling around inside loose.
Put the screw and washer back in place and reassemble your por
replicator or Docking Station


Now it looks as you are all set, but if you try to dock your system i
it at this point, you will recieve an error that says you have used a
invalid port replicator or docking station and your computer will shu
down. You now need to convert the BIOS from an Inspiron BIOS to
Latitude BIOS. First of all, you need to determine what Latitud
BIOS will work on your Inspiron system. Well you are in luck, we wil
tell you


3700 - Latitude CPxH BIO

3800 - Latitude CPxJ BIO

4000 - Latitude C600 BIO

4100 - Latitude C610 BIO

4150 - Latitude C640 BIO

8000 - Latitude C800 BIO

8100 - Latitude C810 BIO

8200 - Latitude C840 BIO


There, that was easy now wasn't it? Now head on over to the Del
support site and download the latest Inspiron BIOS and the lates
Latitude BIOS for your system. Download the floppy disk version t
help eliminate any issues


First boot from the Inspiron BIOS disk and allow it to flash you
system. This will make sure your video BIOS is up to date, which ma
not be included in the Latitude BIOS flash


Now that you have flashed, insert the Latitude BIOS disk and boot fro
it. It will come up and give you an error that it is not the righ
BIOS for your system. That's ok. From the A: prompt type DI

One of the files on the disk will be an .EXE file with the model o
the Laptop in it such as C800_A20.EXE which we will use in thi
example

Now type

C800_A20 /jabi

This time the flash program will say something like

About to flash Latitude C800 BIOS on Inspiron 8000. Are you sure? Sa
"yes"

If you did not get this message then you need to try another switch
On my Inspiron 4000, I had to type this

C600_A20 /forceit /forcetyp

After the flash is completed, reboot your system (don't go int
windows yet!!). It should now say "Latitude" as it is booting. I
you have a Celeron processor in your system the model might not b
the same as listed above. Instead of CPx it will be CPT. Instead of
C6x0 it will be a C5x0 system

Slide your system into the dock and power up. Hit F2 to enter th
BIOS. Here you can confirm that it correctly detected the por
replicator or docking station

Power down and boot up undocked. As it goes into windows, it wil
begin a hardware detection. This is because the devices have moved
around to make room for the future port replicator you are going to
use. All of the drivers should still be on the system, so anything
it asks for should be in C:\windows c:\winnt c:\windows\system and
c:\winnt\system32 depending on your model. After a few reboots and
whatnot your system should be back to normal with no (!) devices in
the device manager.

If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows ME,
check the Dell website for drivers for the port replicator and have
them handy. You should run the installation program before docking.

Now boot up docked, your system will detect the new hardware in the
dock and load the drivers.

Congratulations, you now have a fully working "Latitude"! From this
point forward, you should use the Latitude BIOS for all future
upgrades to your system.

In article <Em2Ye.46818$ >,
lid says...

> Modifying your Inspiron to work in a Latitude C/Port or C/Dock.

<snippety of excellent read>

<round of applause>

BRAVO! Nicely done!! I wouldn't have thought it possible (I
assumed Dell used different docking connectors between the two model
lines).

This is, FWIW, the software (or firmware, if you wish) equivalent
of what electronics techies often do to make some instrument or device
they've purchased do more than the manufacturer intended, or make it do
something that it was never designed to do.

In short, this is a good example of tinkering at its finest.

A visit to http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/ will provide further
details on this philosophy.

Now, with all that said: I wager 32,602.438 Quatloos that Dell
will find a way to bollix this mod for others in times to come, just to
be nasty. Any takers?

Keep the peace(es).


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

Dr. Anton T. Squeegee wrote:
> In article <Em2Ye.46818$ >,
> lid says...
>
>
>>Modifying your Inspiron to work in a Latitude C/Port or C/Dock.
>
>
> <snippety of excellent read>
>
> <round of applause>
>
> BRAVO! Nicely done!! I wouldn't have thought it possible (I
> assumed Dell used different docking connectors between the two model
> lines).
>
> This is, FWIW, the software (or firmware, if you wish) equivalent
> of what electronics techies often do to make some instrument or device
> they've purchased do more than the manufacturer intended, or make it do
> something that it was never designed to do.
>
> In short, this is a good example of tinkering at its finest.
>
> A visit to http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/ will provide further
> details on this philosophy.
>
> Now, with all that said: I wager 32,602.438 Quatloos that Dell
> will find a way to bollix this mod for others in times to come, just to
> be nasty. Any takers?
>
> Keep the peace(es).
>
>

Nice work.
But I'll wager that the mod has not been evaluated in all possible
configurations and circumstances. I'll not be risking a perfectly good
laptop until I'm DESPERATE for the additional docking features.

Putting the wrong BIOS on a system is a candidate for the lament,
"sounded like a good idea at the time...."

But I agree, good job, keep them mods coming.
mike

--
Wanted, Serial cable for Dell Axim X5 PDA.
Return address is VALID but some sites block emails
with links. Delete this sig when replying.
FS 500MHz Tek DSOscilloscope TDS540 Make Offer
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
MAKE THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO THE LINK
ht<removethis>tp://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

JLA wrote:

>Modifying your Inspiron to work in a Latitude C/Port or C/Dock.
>
>Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on personal
>experience and data collected from the Delltalk customer forum. Any
>damage, loss of profits or any thing that makes you unhappy is not
>the fault of the author. You are doing this on your own accord. The
>author has taken every precaution to validate the accuracy of the
>data here, however, the author takes no responsibility for the
>accuracy of the data. By continuing, you are agreeing to this
>disclaimer.
>
>Supported systems:
>
>3700
>
>3800
>
>4000
>
>4100
>
>4150
>
>8000
>
>8100
>
>8200
>
>Through voodoo, trickery and physical blocks, Dell has managed to keep
>Inspiron users away from the powerful features of their Latitude
>C/Ports and C/Docks. I guess they figured that we would never want
>things like using an Infrared port while docked, or having SCSI
>devices attached without the use of e PCMCIA card. Or even adding a
>PCI device. Well no longer will this hold us back..
>
>The secret is converting your Inspiron into thinking it is a Latitude.
>Which is pretty easy and removing the metal hook from the port
>replicator.
>
>Lets start with removing the metal hook that blocks your access.
>(Note: If you have an 8xx0 series system you can remove the plate on
>the back that blocks the slot from receiving the hook) Remove the
>screws (if applicable) from the bottom of the Latitude C/port or
>C/dock. You should then be able to remove the "lid". Now that you
>are inside notice where the metal hook attaches. There is a screw in
>the middle that holds it in place. Remove that screw and the metal
>hook will lift right out. If you have a C/Dock II like me, I had to
>remove the "motherboard" first to get at the hook. Take the metal
>spring too, because you don't want it rattling around inside loose.
>Put the screw and washer back in place and reassemble your port
>replicator or Docking Station.
>
>
>Now it looks as you are all set, but if you try to dock your system in
>it at this point, you will recieve an error that says you have used an
>invalid port replicator or docking station and your computer will shut
>down. You now need to convert the BIOS from an Inspiron BIOS to a
>Latitude BIOS. First of all, you need to determine what Latitude
>BIOS will work on your Inspiron system. Well you are in luck, we will
>tell you.
>
>
>3700 - Latitude CPxH BIOS
>
>3800 - Latitude CPxJ BIOS
>
>4000 - Latitude C600 BIOS
>
>4100 - Latitude C610 BIOS
>
>4150 - Latitude C640 BIOS
>
>8000 - Latitude C800 BIOS
>
>8100 - Latitude C810 BIOS
>
>8200 - Latitude C840 BIOS
>
>
>There, that was easy now wasn't it? Now head on over to the Dell
>support site and download the latest Inspiron BIOS and the latest
>Latitude BIOS for your system. Download the floppy disk version to
>help eliminate any issues.
>
>
>First boot from the Inspiron BIOS disk and allow it to flash your
>system. This will make sure your video BIOS is up to date, which may
>not be included in the Latitude BIOS flash.
>
>
>Now that you have flashed, insert the Latitude BIOS disk and boot from
>it. It will come up and give you an error that it is not the right
>BIOS for your system. That's ok. From the A: prompt type DIR
>
>
>One of the files on the disk will be an .EXE file with the model of
>the Laptop in it such as C800_A20.EXE which we will use in this
>example.
>
>Now type:
>
>C800_A20 /jabil
>
>This time the flash program will say something like:
>
>About to flash Latitude C800 BIOS on Inspiron 8000. Are you sure? Say
>"yes".
>
>If you did not get this message then you need to try another switch.
>On my Inspiron 4000, I had to type this:
>
>C600_A20 /forceit /forcetype
>
>After the flash is completed, reboot your system (don't go into
>windows yet!!). It should now say "Latitude" as it is booting. If
>you have a Celeron processor in your system the model might not be
>the same as listed above. Instead of CPx it will be CPT. Instead of a
>C6x0 it will be a C5x0 system.
>
>Slide your system into the dock and power up. Hit F2 to enter the
>BIOS. Here you can confirm that it correctly detected the port
>replicator or docking station.
>
>Power down and boot up undocked. As it goes into windows, it will
>begin a hardware detection. This is because the devices have moved
>around to make room for the future port replicator you are going to
>use. All of the drivers should still be on the system, so anything
>it asks for should be in C:\windows c:\winnt c:\windows\system and
>c:\winnt\system32 depending on your model. After a few reboots and
>whatnot your system should be back to normal with no (!) devices in
>the device manager.
>
>If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows ME,
>check the Dell website for drivers for the port replicator and have
>them handy. You should run the installation program before docking.
>
>Now boot up docked, your system will detect the new hardware in the
>dock and load the drivers.
>
>Congratulations, you now have a fully working "Latitude"! From this
>point forward, you should use the Latitude BIOS for all future
>upgrades to your system.
>
>
>
Excellent. Thanks.

I have a question. I have an Inspiron 8200. The Inspiron BIOS does not
allow booting from a USB disk. Does the Latitude C840 BIOS have support
for USB disk?

(The Inspiron 8200 does not have USB2, but I can add that through a
cardbus adapter. Have an extra disk in a USB enclosure I'd like to run
Linux from.)

And of course any Warranty with Dell is now VOID
"Jerry Park" <> wrote in message
newsU5Ye.1030$...
> JLA wrote:
>
>>Modifying your Inspiron to work in a Latitude C/Port or C/Dock.
>>Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on personal
>>experience and data collected from the Delltalk customer forum. Any
>>damage, loss of profits or any thing that makes you unhappy is not
>>the fault of the author. You are doing this on your own accord. The
>>author has taken every precaution to validate the accuracy of the
>>data here, however, the author takes no responsibility for the
>>accuracy of the data. By continuing, you are agreeing to this
>>disclaimer.
>>
>>Supported systems:
>>
>>3700
>>
>>3800
>>
>>4000
>>
>>4100
>>
>>4150
>>
>>8000
>>
>>8100
>>
>>8200
>>
>>Through voodoo, trickery and physical blocks, Dell has managed to keep
>>Inspiron users away from the powerful features of their Latitude
>>C/Ports and C/Docks. I guess they figured that we would never want
>>things like using an Infrared port while docked, or having SCSI
>>devices attached without the use of e PCMCIA card. Or even adding a
>>PCI device. Well no longer will this hold us back..
>>
>>The secret is converting your Inspiron into thinking it is a Latitude.
>>Which is pretty easy and removing the metal hook from the port
>>replicator.
>>
>>Lets start with removing the metal hook that blocks your access. (Note: If
>>you have an 8xx0 series system you can remove the plate on
>>the back that blocks the slot from receiving the hook) Remove the
>>screws (if applicable) from the bottom of the Latitude C/port or
>>C/dock. You should then be able to remove the "lid". Now that you
>>are inside notice where the metal hook attaches. There is a screw in
>>the middle that holds it in place. Remove that screw and the metal
>>hook will lift right out. If you have a C/Dock II like me, I had to
>>remove the "motherboard" first to get at the hook. Take the metal
>>spring too, because you don't want it rattling around inside loose. Put
>>the screw and washer back in place and reassemble your port
>>replicator or Docking Station.
>>
>> Now it looks as you are all set, but if you try to dock your system in
>>it at this point, you will recieve an error that says you have used an
>>invalid port replicator or docking station and your computer will shut
>>down. You now need to convert the BIOS from an Inspiron BIOS to a
>>Latitude BIOS. First of all, you need to determine what Latitude
>>BIOS will work on your Inspiron system. Well you are in luck, we will
>>tell you.
>>
>> 3700 - Latitude CPxH BIOS
>>
>>3800 - Latitude CPxJ BIOS
>>
>>4000 - Latitude C600 BIOS
>>
>>4100 - Latitude C610 BIOS
>>
>>4150 - Latitude C640 BIOS
>>
>>8000 - Latitude C800 BIOS
>>
>>8100 - Latitude C810 BIOS
>>
>>8200 - Latitude C840 BIOS
>>
>> There, that was easy now wasn't it? Now head on over to the Dell
>>support site and download the latest Inspiron BIOS and the latest
>>Latitude BIOS for your system. Download the floppy disk version to
>>help eliminate any issues.
>>
>> First boot from the Inspiron BIOS disk and allow it to flash your
>>system. This will make sure your video BIOS is up to date, which may
>>not be included in the Latitude BIOS flash.
>>
>>Now that you have flashed, insert the Latitude BIOS disk and boot from
>>it. It will come up and give you an error that it is not the right
>>BIOS for your system. That's ok. From the A: prompt type DIR
>>
>>
>>One of the files on the disk will be an .EXE file with the model of
>>the Laptop in it such as C800_A20.EXE which we will use in this
>>example.
>>
>>Now type:
>>
>>C800_A20 /jabil
>>
>>This time the flash program will say something like:
>>
>>About to flash Latitude C800 BIOS on Inspiron 8000. Are you sure? Say
>>"yes".
>>
>>If you did not get this message then you need to try another switch.
>>On my Inspiron 4000, I had to type this:
>>
>>C600_A20 /forceit /forcetype
>>
>>After the flash is completed, reboot your system (don't go into
>>windows yet!!). It should now say "Latitude" as it is booting. If
>>you have a Celeron processor in your system the model might not be
>>the same as listed above. Instead of CPx it will be CPT. Instead of a
>>C6x0 it will be a C5x0 system.
>>
>>Slide your system into the dock and power up. Hit F2 to enter the
>>BIOS. Here you can confirm that it correctly detected the port
>>replicator or docking station.
>>
>>Power down and boot up undocked. As it goes into windows, it will
>>begin a hardware detection. This is because the devices have moved
>>around to make room for the future port replicator you are going to
>>use. All of the drivers should still be on the system, so anything
>>it asks for should be in C:\windows c:\winnt c:\windows\system and
>>c:\winnt\system32 depending on your model. After a few reboots and
>>whatnot your system should be back to normal with no (!) devices in
>>the device manager.
>>
>>If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows ME,
>>check the Dell website for drivers for the port replicator and have
>>them handy. You should run the installation program before docking.
>>
>>Now boot up docked, your system will detect the new hardware in the
>>dock and load the drivers.
>>Congratulations, you now have a fully working "Latitude"! From this
>>point forward, you should use the Latitude BIOS for all future
>>upgrades to your system.
>>
>>
> Excellent. Thanks.
>
> I have a question. I have an Inspiron 8200. The Inspiron BIOS does not
> allow booting from a USB disk. Does the Latitude C840 BIOS have support
> for USB disk?
>
> (The Inspiron 8200 does not have USB2, but I can add that through a
> cardbus adapter. Have an extra disk in a USB enclosure I'd like to run
> Linux from.)

"Fixer" <> wrote in message
news:eN7Ye.253$_...
> And of course any Warranty with Dell is now VOID


"Warranty!? We don't neeeed no steeeenking warranty!"

Unless we break something, and then we'll be like really ****ed and blame
someone else


Stew

Jerry Park <> wrote:
>I have a question. I have an Inspiron 8200. The Inspiron BIOS does not
>allow booting from a USB disk. Does the Latitude C840 BIOS have support
>for USB disk?
>
>(The Inspiron 8200 does not have USB2, but I can add that through a
>cardbus adapter. Have an extra disk in a USB enclosure I'd like to run
>Linux from.)

A USB port hiding behind a CardBus adapter is _way_ different from a
USB port on the motherboard when you are talking about booting from
USB.

William P. N. Smith wrote:

>Jerry Park <> wrote:
>
>
>>I have a question. I have an Inspiron 8200. The Inspiron BIOS does not
>>allow booting from a USB disk. Does the Latitude C840 BIOS have support
>>for USB disk?
>>
>>(The Inspiron 8200 does not have USB2, but I can add that through a
>>cardbus adapter. Have an extra disk in a USB enclosure I'd like to run
>>Linux from.)
>>
>>
>
>A USB port hiding behind a CardBus adapter is _way_ different from a
>USB port on the motherboard when you are talking about booting from
>USB.
>
>
Probably. Still would like to know if the C840 allows USB booting.