Nec VERSA DOCKING STATION 4000 user Manual
PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related
materials, is the valuable property of NEC Corporation (NEC) and/or its licensors.
NEC and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other
proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing,
reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are
expressly granted to others.
The NEC product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with
the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual
performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system
configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by
customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product
configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not
warranted by NEC.
To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this
document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this
document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NEC is prohibited.
MultiSync and Versa are U.S. registered trademarks of NEC Technologies, Inc.
Docking Station 4000 is a U.S. trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc.
All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.
First Printing — August 1995
Copyright 1995 Copyright 1995
NEC Technologies, Inc. NEC Corporation
1414 Massachusetts Avenue 7-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku
Boxborough, MA 01719 Tokyo 108-01, Japan
All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved
Using this Guide
The NEC Versa® Series Docking Station™ 4000 User’s
Guide gives you the information you need to maximize the
use of your docking station. Read this guide to become familiar with the Docking Station 4000 and its features. For
specific information, see the following chapters.
n Chapter 1 introduces you to Docking Station 4000
capabilities and features. This chapter also describes the
correct operating and storage environment for the
docking station and how to care for the unit.
n Chapter 2 provides instructions for docking and un-
docking an NEC Versa on the docking station.
n Chapter 3 explains setting up the software to use your
docking station and NEC Versa together.
n Chapter 4 details how to add options to the docking
station. These options include expansion boards and
various types of drives.
n Chapter 5 directs you through connecting peripheral
devices, like an external keyboard, mouse, monitor,
printer, and audio options.
n Appendix A provides docking station specifications.
n Appendix B provides connector pinouts.
n Appendix C gives a quick reference to common prob-
lems and solutions. Appendix C also provides NEC
technical support numbers.
This document, along with your NEC Versa user’s guide
and Windows documentation, provides all the information
you need to effectively use the Docking Station 4000.
Using this Guide vii
TEXT SETUP
To make this guide as easy to use as possible, text is set up
in the following ways.
n Warnings, cautions, and notes are set up in following
format.
WARNING
Warnings alert you to situations that can cause personal injury or harm.
CAUTION
Cautions indicate situations that can damage system hardware or software.
n Names of keys are printed as they appear on the key-
n Text that you must type or keys that you must press are
viii Using this Guide
Notes give particularly important information
about the topic being discussed.
board, for example, Ctrl, Alt, or Enter.
presented in bold type. For example, type dir and press
Enter.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
See the following documents for information related to the
NEC Versa Series Docking Station 4000 and NEC Versa
operation:
n Your NEC Versa user’s guide.
n The Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS Operating Sys-
tem documentation that came with your NEC Versa.
n Manuals and setup instructions for any devices that you
are installing in or connecting to the docking station.
Using this Guide ix
Contents
Using this Guide...................................................................... vii
Text Setup................................................................ viii
Related Documents................................................... ix
1 Introducing the Docking Station 4000
What’s in the Box..................................................... 1-1
NEC Docking Station 4000 Features......................... 1-2
Front and Left Side Features................................ 1-4
LEDs ............................................................. 1-6
Back Features...................................................... 1-8
Internal Features.................................................. 1-11
The Right Environment ............................................. 1-12
Operating Environment........................................ 1-12
Storage Environment ........................................... 1-12
Docking Station 4000 Care....................................... 1-13
Precautions.......................................................... 1-13
Routine Care....................................................... 1-14
Battery Charging...................................................... 1-14
2 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa
Hardware Setup........................................................ 2-1
Connecting the Power Cable ................................ 2-2
Preparing the NEC Versa for Docking ................. 2-4
Docking the NEC Versa............................................ 2-6
Undocking the NEC Versa........................................ 2-11
Normal Undocking .............................................. 2-11
Emergency Undocking......................................... 2-13
3 Setting Up and Using the Software
Plug and Play System Setup...................................... 3-1
Non-Plug and Play System Setup.............................. 3-2
Setting Up Docking Station 4000 Software .......... 3-2
MS-DOS Version................................................ 3-3
Contents iii
Quick Start............................................................... 3-22
4 Adding Options
Cover Removal......................................................... 4-2
Cover Replacement................................................... 4-4
Expansion Boards..................................................... 4-6
Data Storage Devices ............................................... 4-14
Running the Setup Utility..................................... 3-4
Docking Station 4000 Setup Software .................. 3-7
Choosing a Configuration............................... 3-7
Using the Audio Switcher Utility..................... 3-8
Using DOS-Based Programs ........................... 3-11
Changing the Volume.................................. 3-11
Changing IRQ and DMA Settings............... 3-12
Option Configuration ........................................... 3-14
Drivers................................................................ 3-14
Multiple Configuration Systems ...................... 3-15
Single Configuration Systems ......................... 3-15
Creating a Start-Up Diskette....................... 3-16
Creating a Second Configuration File.......... 3-16
Switching between Configurations............... 3-17
The SCSI Configuration Driver ...................... 3-18
Using the Driver......................................... 3-18
Modifying the CONFIG.SYS File............... 3-19
Precautions.......................................................... 4-7
Slot Locations ..................................................... 4-7
Installation .......................................................... 4-7
Removal.............................................................. 4-12
Preparing the Drive.............................................. 4-14
Installing Drives in the Front Bay......................... 4-15
Removing the Drive Cage............................... 4-15
Attaching the Drive to the Drive Cage............. 4-17
Attaching the Cables....................................... 4-19
Finishing Up................................................... 4-32
Hard Disk Drives................................................. 4-34
Preparing the Hard Disk Drive ........................ 4-35
Specifying Master and Slave Drives ................ 4-36
iv Contents
Installing the Drive......................................... 4-36
Attaching IDE Drive Cables ........................... 4-40
Attaching SCSI Drive Cables.......................... 4-44
5 Connecting Peripheral Devices
External Monitor...................................................... 5-2
External Keyboard.................................................... 5-5
External Mouse........................................................ 5-5
External Audio Options ............................................ 5-6
Microphone......................................................... 5-7
Headphones or Speakers...................................... 5-8
Headphones.................................................... 5-8
Speakers......................................................... 5-8
Line In/Line Out.................................................. 5-9
Line In ........................................................... 5-9
Line Out ......................................................... 5-9
Parallel Devices ................................................... 5-9
Serial Devices...................................................... 5-11
External SCSI Devices ........................................ 5-12
A Specifications
B Pin Assignments
Keyboard and Mouse Ports....................................... B-1
COM Port................................................................ B-2
Printer Port............................................................... B-3
Monitor Port............................................................. B-4
AT Interface Connectors ........................................... B-5
Expansion Port......................................................... B-9
C Solving Problems
Problem Checklist..................................................... C-1
Troubleshooting........................................................ C-2
If You Need Help ..................................................... C-3
Index
Contents v
Error! No table of contents entries found.
vi Contents
Introducing the NEC
1
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Docking Station 4000
The NEC Versa® Series Docking Station™ 4000 lets you
transform your NEC Versa notebook into a multimedia
desktop dynamo. A built-in sound system and three option
bays let you create a powerful workstation or a robust
multimedia presentation system.
Once you fill in the hardware, the NEC Docking Station
4000 gives you unparalleled software compatibility. Using
the latest technology, the docking station supports the
newest Plug and Play boards as well as older non-Plug and
Play legacy boards.
The sleek ergonomic docking station design makes it pleasant to look at and easy to use. Its innovative docking
mechanism insures secure and easy docking and undocking.
This chapter describes the features and capabilities of the
docking station.
Carefully unpack the shipping carton and check its contents.
Accessories are in the box tucked into the side of the shipping carton.
Make sure you have the hardware components shown in the
following figure and that they are in good condition. If
anything is damaged or missing, contact your dealer
immediately.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-1
* Not shown is a bag containing optional drive signal cables, a power
cable, and an audio cable.
NEC DOCKING STATION 4000 FEATURES
The docking station has the following features, which are
described in greater detail in the sections that follow.
n Support for full Windows 95 configuration and Plug and
Play options.
What’s in the box?
n Support and on-board connectors for both SCSI and
IDE interfaces.
n An electronic docking mechanism that makes docking
and undocking easier than ever.
n A CRT base that lets you put an external monitor on
top of the docking station to save premium desktop real
estate.
1-2 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
CAUTION
Always use the CRT base if you are going to put an
external CRT monitor on the docking station. Never
place an external monitor or any other heavy object
directly on the docking station or NEC Versa without
the CRT base. Doing so can damage the unit.
The CRT base weight limit is 56.2 lb (25.5 kg)
equivalent to an NEC MultiSync 5FG monitor. Do
not exceed the weight limit. Doing so can damage
the unit.
n A 3-position lock to ensure that your NEC Versa is not
undocked without authorization.
n Stereo speakers for outstanding quality sound.
n Full SoundBlaster compatibility.
n Ports on the back of the unit for connecting external
peripherals like a PS/2-style keyboard, PS/2-style
mouse, printer, monitor, and much more.
n LEDs on the front of the docking station to track dock-
ing station and NEC Versa status.
n Three drive bays and three full-size expansion board
slots for expanding docking station capabilities.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-3
Front and Left Side Features
The following features are found on the front and left side
of the Docking Station 4000. Features are described after
the figure.
Front and side features
n Electronic Docking Mechanism – This innovative dock-
ing mechanism makes docking and undocking easier
than ever.
After setting up the hardware, all you do is position the
NEC Versa on the docking station and give it a gentle
push towards the connector. The mechanism reaches
out, grasps the NEC Versa, and completes the docking
process.
n Expansion Connector — This connector attaches the
NEC Versa and the docking station interface board.
n Air Vents – These allow air circulation to keep the
docking station and its components from over heating.
1-4 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
n LEDs – Five LEDs on the front of the docking station let
you monitor docking status, hard disk drive access,
diskette drive access, NEC Versa battery, and Keylock
status. (LED functions and lighting sequences are
described in the next section under “LEDs.”)
n Power Button – The power button on the front panel of
the docking station turns on and off power to the docked
NEC Versa. For Plug and Play systems using
Windows 95, this button acts as a Resume switch if the
NEC Versa is in Suspend mode.
n Eject Button – Pressing the eject button undocks the
NEC Versa. All you have to do is remove the laptop.
n Stereo Speakers – These speakers provide excellent
sound quality. Use your applications software to control
the volume and balance.
n External Bay Access – These front panels are removable
to allow access to drives installed in the bays.
n Manual Undocking Lever – This lever lets you manually
undock the NEC Versa in case of unforeseen circumstances like a power outage. The docking lock must be
Unlocked for manual undocking to work.
CAUTION
NEC Versa power must be off before manual un-
docking to avoid system damage.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-5
n The Docking Lock provides three lock settings that let
you control NEC Versa removal.
Unlocked – lets you remove the NEC Versa manually, through software, or with the Eject button. Use the
unlocked position for emergency undocking. Otherwise,
use the Normal lock setting for normal use and the
Locked setting to secure your system to the docking station.
Normal – allows you to dock or undock the NEC
Versa through software (for Windows 95 Plug and Play
systems) or the Eject button. Set the key lock to this position for normal use. This setting secures the docking
lever and prevents accidental damage to the locking
mechanism. It also minimizes any chance of data loss.
Locked – secures your NEC Versa to the docking
station. This setting keeps the NEC Versa from being
removed from the docking station. You must use the key
to unlock the unit before removing the NEC Versa.
If no computer is docked and the key is in the Locked
position, no one else can dock their computer on the
docking station.
LEDs
NEC Docking Station 4000 LEDs are located on the
front of the docking station. LED functions and lighting
sequences are described after the figure.
1-6 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
Status LEDs
n Docking Status – lights green and red
Steady Green – When the Main Power Switch is
turned on, no NEC Versa is docked, and the lock is
unlocked, this LED lights steady green indicating
that it is ready for docking.
Blinking Green – If docking or undocking is unsuc-
cessful due to an error or jam, the LED blinks.
Steady Red – Once the NEC Versa docking process
completes successfully, the LED lights a steady red.
n Hard Disk Drive Access – lights green when a hard disk
drive in either the NEC Versa or the docking station is
being accessed.
n Diskette Drive Access – lights green when a diskette in
the NEC Versa is accessed.
n NEC Versa Battery – lights green
Steady green – when the notebook battery is
charging.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-7
n Keylock Status
Back Features
Features on the back of the docking station are shown in the
following figure. Descriptions follow the figure.
Blinks green – if an abnormal charge condition
occurs.
Off – indicates that the battery is fully charged.
Lights Green — indicates that the lock is locked.
Blinks Green – if the keylock is in the locked posi-
tion and you issue a software eject command or
press the Eject button.
Features on the back of the docking station
1-8 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
n Cover Latch – when latched, secures the cover on the
docking station. When unlatched, allows cover removal.
n Keyboard Connector – allows the connection of an
external PS/2-style keyboard.
n Mouse Connector – allows the connection of an external
PS/2-style mouse.
n Video Port – lets you attach an external monitor to the
docking station.
n Serial Port (COM port) – lets you connect a serial de-
vice, such as a printer or modem, to the docking station.
n Expansion Slot Covers – protect the expansion board
slots when no boards are installed. If you add expansion
boards to the docking station, these covers are removed.
n Power Port – lets you connect the power cord to the
docking station and AC power.
n Voltage Selection Switch – lets you select the correct
voltage to use in your area.
n Docking Station Power Switch – lets you turn on power
to the docking station.
n Fan Assembly – Provides proper cooling for the power
supply that regulates power in the docking station.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-9
Audio ports
n Audio Ports:
Microphone (MIC) – lets you plug in an external
microphone.
Headphones – lets you plug in headphones or exter-
nal speakers.
Line In – lets you use another audio system, like a
CD player, as an input source. Use a cable to connect to the Line Out port on the other audio system
to record or play.
Line Out – lets the docking station act as an input
source for another audio system. Connect this port
to a Line In port on another audio system to play or
record.
1-10 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
n SCSI Port – lets you connect an external SCSI-2 device,
like an external CD-ROM, scanner, or hard disk drive,
to the docking station.
n Parallel Port – lets you connect a parallel device, like an
external printer, to the docking station.
Internal Features
Internal NEC Docking Station 4000 features are shown
next. The following figure shows the docking station with
its cover removed. Descriptions of internal features follow
the figure.
Internal features
n Board Expansion Slots – three full-size ISA expansion
slots.
n External Access Bay – allows the installation of up to
two 5 1/4-inch half-height drives.
n Hard Disk Drive Bay – lets you install one 3 1/2-inch
internal hard disk drive.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-11
n I/O Connectors – One each of the following:
Diskette Drive Connector
IDE Disk Connector
SCSI Disk Connector.
n LED Bracket – supports docking station status LEDs.
n Speakers – provide exceptional sound for the integrated
docking station sound system.
THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Before setting up the docking station, find a good location
for using it. Here are some guidelines.
n Select a flat, sturdy surface, like a desktop or table, so
you have access to both the front and back of the unit.
n Choose an area away from extremely warm or cold sur-
roundings, direct sunlight, excessive dust, vibration,
shock or moisture.
Operating Environment
Use the docking station in a location that meets the following environmental conditions:
n Temperature: 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)
n Humidity: 20% to 80% (noncondensing)
Storage Environment
Store the docking station in a location that meets the following conditions:
n Temperature: –4°F to 122°F (–20°C to 50°C)
n Humidity: 15% to 85% (noncondensing)
1-12 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
DOCKING STATION 4000 CARE
With protective measures and proper care, you can keep
your docking station in top operating condition. Follow the
measures given next to maintain your docking station.
Precautions
Follow these precautions when using and storing the NEC
Docking Station 4000.
n Do not use or store the docking station in direct sunlight
or near radiant heat sources for an excessive length of
time. Heat from these sources can raise the internal temperature of the unit and damage its parts.
n Do not use or store the docking station in dusty
environments.
n Do not use or store the docking station near chemicals.
n Do not cover the air vents or put anything near enough
to them to block air circulation.
n Avoid excessive vibration or shock. Dropping the
docking station or knocking it over can cause serious
damage.
n Keep the docking station away from machinery that
generates strong electric or magnetic fields.
n Do not place heavy objects on the docking station. Make
sure the CRT base is in position before placing an external monitor on it. The base is designed to support an
external monitor. Do not place other heavy objects on
the CRT base.
Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000 1-13
Routine Care
Maintain the condition of your docking station by periodically following the general procedures listed next.
WARNING
For safety, power off and unplug the docking station
and NEC Versa before cleaning.
n Clean the outside of the docking station with a soft clean
cloth.
n Remove stubborn stains with a cloth slightly dampened
with a mild detergent. Never use a strong solution or
spray cleaner on any part of the unit.
n Check the docking station regularly for loose material,
such a paper, books, magazines, that might block the air
vents and prevent proper air circulation.
n Keep food and liquids away from the docking station
and NEC Versa.
BATTERY CHARGING
The docking station charges the battery installed in your
NEC Versa as long as the computer is docked, the docking
station is plugged into AC power, and main docking station
power switch is on.
Battery charging occurs whether or not you are using your
system.
1-14 Introducing the NEC Docking Station 4000
Docking/Undocking
2
HARDWARE SETUP
the NEC Versa
Getting your NEC Docking Station 4000 up and running is
easy. This chapter provides the procedures you need to get
started. They include:
n Connecting the power cable to AC power and the
docking station and powering on the docking station.
n Preparing the NEC Versa and connecting it to the dock-
ing station.
n Powering on the NEC Versa.
The first time you use the NEC Docking Station 4000, you must set system parameters on the
NEC Versa hard disk. You must set docking station
parameters on every hard disk drive that you plan to
use with the docking station. These procedures are
described in Chapter 3.
This chapter also describes how to undock the NEC Versa
from the docking station when you want to use the notebook
by itself.
Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-1
Connecting the Power Cable
Follow the instructions given next in the order presented to
get your NEC Versa and docking station up and running.
Connect the AC power cable to the docking
station and AC power before docking the computer.
The power cable that came with the docking station pro-
vides power to the docking station and the NEC Versa.
Connect the docking station power cable as follows.
1. Position the docking station on a flat surface close to an
AC outlet.
2. Attach one end of the cable to the AC power port on the
docking station.
3. Attach the other end to a properly grounded wall outlet.
Connecting the power cable
2-2 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa
4. Locate the main power switch on the back of the docking
station. Press the vertical bar ( | ) to turn on docking
station power.
Docking station power must be turned on for
the electronic docking mechanism to work. Pressing
the main power button on the back of the unit provides the necessary power.
Powering on the docking station
CAUTION
Disconnecting the power cable, turning off power, or
experiencing a power outage while running the
docking station and NEC Versa can result in a system crash. If this occurs, see the instructions in
“Emergency Undocking” later in this chapter.
Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-3
Once you connect the power cable to the docking station,
keep it plugged in and the power turned on. That way, the
docking station is always ready for the docking procedure.
Preparing the NEC Versa for Docking
Follow the procedure given next to prepare the NEC Versa
for docking.
1. Set NEC Versa power for your system as follows.
n If you have a Plug and Play NEC Versa, put your
system into Suspend mode or turn off power before
docking.
For example, the NEC Versa 4000 with Windows 95
running is a Plug and Play system.
n If you have a non-Plug and Play system, turn off
system power before docking.
Non-Plug and Play systems include the UltraLite
Versa, NEC Versa E, NEC Versa M, NEC Versa P,
or NEC Versa V.
Make sure your system is in Suspend mode
or powered off as appropriate before docking. If the
NEC Versa is in Active mode or power is on during
docking, the docking station ejects the computer.
2. If you are running the NEC Versa on AC power, dis-
connect the AC adapter cable from the NEC Versa.
Before disconnecting power, save any open
files or close open applications to avoid data loss.
2-4 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa
3. Verify that the power cord is plugged into the docking
station and that docking station power is turned on. (See
“Connecting the Power Cable” for details.)
The Docking LED should be a steady green, which indicates that it is ready for docking.
Docking LED
4. On the back of the NEC Versa, open the expansion port
cover and slide it underneath the expansion port.
Check that all other NEC Versa port covers are closed.
Opening the NEC Versa expansion port cover
Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-5
DOCKING THE NEC VERSA
You can dock the NEC Versa in one of two modes:
n Cold Docking – with NEC Versa system power off. This
method works for all NEC Versa models that support
docking.
n Warm Docking – with NEC Versa power on and the
system in Suspend mode. This procedure can be used
with NEC Versa 4000 systems with the Windows 95
operating system.
Stowing the expansion port cover
Use the following steps to dock your NEC Versa.
1. Locate the expansion connector on the docking station.
Locating the expansion connector
2-6 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa
2. Set the NEC Versa on the docking station and align the
expansion port and connector.
Docking the NEC Versa
3. Gently push against the front of the NEC Versa to put it
in position to dock.
Keep the notebook computer aligned evenly with the
connector. Push either against the center of the computer
or push with equal pressure against the left front and
right front of the NEC Versa.
Keep the NEC Versa straight. If the computer
is pushed at an angle, it does not dock properly.
To prevent connector damage, the docking mechanism will not start to dock if the expansion connectors are not aligned properly. If this occurs, adjust
the NEC Versa position by lifting the front of the
computer or shifting it left or right.
Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-7
An optical sensor in the docking mechanism senses the
NEC Versa and initiates the mechanical docking sequence. The mechanism grasps the sides of the NEC
Versa and pulls it in to dock it. Docking is completed
when a docking sensor is tripped.
When docking is successful, the Docking LED lights a
steady red.
If the Docking LED blinks, power off the
docking station and remove the NEC Versa manually. (See “Emergency Undocking.”) Power on the
docking station and try again.
A blinking Docking LED indicates that something
went wrong with the docking sequence due to an error or hardware failure. If the LED continues to blink
after you re-attempt docking, call your authorized
NEC service representative.
4. To lock your NEC Versa onto the docking station, insert
the key into the lock and turn it. The Docking Lock provides three lock settings that let you control NEC Versa
removal.
Unlocked – lets you remove the NEC Versa manually, through software, or with the Eject button. Use the
unlocked position for emergency undocking. Otherwise,
use the Normal lock setting for normal use and the
Locked setting to secure your system to the docking station.
2-8 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa
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