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

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.

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.

The Keylock LED lights green when the unit is locked.

Locking the NEC Versa

5. If using the NEC Versa without an external monitor,

open the LCD panel.

Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-9

6. To turn on NEC Versa power, locate the power button

on the front of the docking station, push it in momentar­ily and release it.

Powering on

After docking the NEC Versa for the first time, you do not
always need to use the power button to power on your sys­tem. If the docking station remains plugged in and the main
power switch on the back of the unit stays turned on, the
NEC Versa automatically powers on after docking. If you
turn off AC power through the main power switch or by
unplugging the docking station, you must use the power
button the first time you dock your NEC Versa.

2-10 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa

UNDOCKING THE NEC VERSA

NEC recommends that you power down your NEC Versa
before undocking.

n For standard undocking procedures, follow the instruc-

tions in “Normal Undocking.”

n If power to the docking station is interrupted unexpect-

edly, follow the instructions in “Emergency Undocking.”
You may need this procedure in case of a power failure
or motor jam.

Normal Undocking

Undock your NEC Versa as follows.

1. Check the status of your NEC Versa power:

n If you have an NEC Versa 4000 with Windows 95,

put your system into Suspend mode or turn off sys-

tem power before undocking.

n If you have an UltraLite Versa, NEC Versa E, NEC

Versa M, NEC Versa P, or NEC Versa V, turn com-

puter power off before undocking.
To power off the NEC Versa, press the power button on

the front panel of the docking station.

2. For easier undocking, close the LCD panel.(This is not

required, but is recommended.) If using software un­docking, do not close the panel.

Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-11

Eject button and lock location

3. Check the status of the lock. You cannot undock the

NEC Versa if the lock is in the Locked position.

4. Press the Eject button on the front panel of the docking

station.
To use Windows 95 software to undock the NEC Versa,

locate the Eject icon on the screen and click. The soft­ware puts your NEC Versa into Suspend mode and initi­ates the undocking sequence.

If the NEC Versa does not eject properly us­ing the front panel Eject button, go to the next sec­tion “Emergency Undocking.”

5. Once the connection is broken, pull the NEC Versa for-

ward and remove it from the docking station.

2-12 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa

Emergency Undocking

You may need to undock your NEC Versa when power to
the docking station is unavailable or is unexpectedly
interrupted.

When necessary, use the following emergency undocking
procedure to undock the NEC Versa:

1. If possible, turn off NEC Versa power or put the system

into Suspend mode (a half moon is displayed on the
LCD panel).

Removing the NEC Versa

If the NEC Versa cannot be powered off or
put into Suspend mode, turn off the main power
switch on the back of the docking station before
continuing.

2. Turn the docking station key to the Unlock position:

3. Close the NEC Versa LCD panel.

4. Raise the manual docking lever.

Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa 2-13

5. Pull the NEC Versa forward and lift it out of the dock-

ing station.

Emergency undocking

2-14 Docking/Undocking the NEC Versa

Setting Up and

3

PLUG AND PLAY SYSTEM SETUP

Using the Software

Your Docking Station 4000 comes with all the software you
need to get it up and running. Follow the directions in the
section that are appropriate for your NEC Versa system.
Proceed as follows:

n To learn more about Plug and Play systems and their

setup requirements, go to the next section “Plug and
Play System Setup.”

n To learn more about non-Plug and Play systems and

their setup requirements, go to the section “Non-Plug
and Play System Setup.”

n If you are extremely familiar with software setup pro-

grams and the NEC Versa family of computers, you
may find the “Quick Start” section at the end of this
chapter all you need to get started.

Plug and Play systems, like the NEC Versa 4000 with the
Windows 95 operating system and Plug and Play BIOS,
require no special software installation. To install the online
version of the docking station user’s guide on your NEC
Versa, simply follow the instructions in “Running the Setup
Utility.”

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-1

The NEC Versa 4000 with Windows 95 as its operating
system supports Plug and Play options in the docking sta­tion. You simply install the option, dock the NEC
Versa 4000, and reboot the system. The option is automati­cally configured. (Some options may require that you install
specific option drivers. Check the guide that came with the
option to determine if this is true of the option you plan to
install.)

Your NEC Versa, the option, and the operating system in
use must all support Plug and Play for automatic configu­ration. If you install a non-Plug and Play option, you must
configure it according to its conventions.

NON-PLUG AND PLAY SYSTEM SETUP

Some NEC Versa models do not support Plug and Play
options because of software or hardware restrictions. To
use options in a docking station with non-Plug and Play
systems or options, you must configure the option according
to the NEC Versa and option requirements. (See your NEC
Versa user’s guide and the option guide.)

Setting up the software to use your NEC Docking
Station 4000 is easy to do. The setup utility loads the
docking station sound drivers and installs the online user’s
guide on your NEC Versa.

Check the “Features” section of your NEC Versa user’s
guide to find out if your system supports Plug and Play.

Setting Up Docking Station 4000 Software

The first time you use the Docking Station 4000, you must
set up the software in the NEC Versa to recognize the
Docking Station 4000 and make full use of its features.

3-2 Setting Up and Using the Software

The hard disk drive that came with your NEC Versa should
have MS-DOS 6.0 or above already installed. The
subdirectories and information modified during Docking
Station 4000 software installation are also in place for the
setup utility to locate.

Setting up the software as described here creates a configu­ration called “Docking Station 4000” that your NEC Versa
can use when it is connected to the Docking Station 4000.
When the NEC Versa is not docked, you can specify the
original NEC Versa configuration, called “Mobile.”

Setting up dual configurations requires the following:

n Checking the level of MS-DOS installed on your NEC

Versa.

n Running the Docking Station 4000 Setup utility.

You must perform software setup on each
hard disk that you plan to use with the Docking
Station 4000.

MS-DOS Version

Check the MS-DOS version installed on your hard disk
drive as follows:

1. Exit Windows, if you are not at the DOS prompt.

2. From the DOS prompt, type ver and press Enter. Verify

that the MS-DOS version displayed is 6.0 or higher.

If your system is running an earlier version of MS-DOS,
you must upgrade to Version 6.0 or higher.

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-3

Running the Setup Utility

This section describes how to use the Docking Station 4000
Setup utility. While running the utility, you can use the fol­lowing options:

n To stop the installation, press Esc.
n To accept default settings, press Enter, click “OK,” or

click “Continue” at the prompts.

n To change settings, follow the on-screen instructions.

Run the Docking Station 4000 Setup utility as follows.

1. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2 and dock your NEC

Versa on the Docking Station 4000 and power on.

2. Boot into Windows, if Windows is not already opened.

(Type win and press Enter to open Windows.)

3. Close any Windows applications that may be running

(for example, CardView or the NEC Battery Gauge).

4. Insert the first Docking Station 4000 Setup diskette into

the drive.

5. From the Windows Program Manager, access the File

pull-down menu and select Run.

6. Type a:winstall and press Enter or click “OK.”

7. Respond to the utility prompts as follows:

n After reading the wINSTALL message that intro-

duces the Docking Station 4000 Setup Utility, click
“OK” or press Enter to continue with the setup.

n Specify the disk drive on which to install the

software. Press Enter or click “OK” to accept the
default drive c:.

3-4 Setting Up and Using the Software

n Specify the subdirectory in which to install the

software. Press Enter or click “OK” to accept the

default subdirectory “DS4000.”
Wait while the utility copies the required software

into the specified subdirectory.

n Read the screen that lets you know about changes

made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS

files. Click “OK.”

n Read the screen that reminds you to install EZ-SCSI

if you install a SCSI device in the docking station.

Click “OK.”

8. Proceed as follows at the prompt:

n The Setup utility checks your system ID to determine

if you need to load the ESS audio drivers. If your

system does not require that the drivers be loaded, the

system prompts you to restart Windows. At the

prompt, click the “Restart Windows” button.

This completes software setup for your system.
If you want to load the ESS drivers for any reason,

insert audio diskette 1 into the drive. From the Win-

dows File menu, select the Run command. Enter

a:setup.exe and press Enter to load the drivers.

n If your system needs the ESS audio drivers loaded, a

dialog box informs you that Setup will now install

the Audio Drivers. Continue as follows:

 At the prompt, remove the setup diskette, insert

Audio Applications diskette 1 into the drive, and
press Enter.

 The first audio screen tells you to close any ap-

plications that are running. If you followed the
instructions given here, you already closed open
applications. Just click “Continue” to proceed.

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-5

If you did not follow these instructions, click
“Exit.” Go back to the beginning of this section,
“Docking Station 4000 Setup Utility,” and start
over.

9. When prompted, select installation operations in the

following order.

n Driver installation

 Click the “Driver Installation” button.
 Select “Automatic Board Configuration” at the

prompt

 Click the “Install Software” button to install the

audio software at the next prompt.

n Software installation

 Press Enter or click “OK” to accept the default

directory PCAUDIO for loading the audio soft­ware.

 Press Enter again to create the directory.
 Choose “Complete Installation” for the type of

installation to follow.

 At the prompt, insert Audio Applications

diskette 2 into the drive and press Enter.

10. Click “Restart Windows” to reboot Windows. (You

may need to perform a cold boot.)

11. See “Docking Station 4000 Setup Software” for infor-

mation about using Docking Station 4000 software.

3-6 Setting Up and Using the Software

Docking Station 4000 Setup Software

This section describes how to use the software that the
Docking Station 4000 Setup utility loads in your NEC
Versa.

n At start up, the NEC Versa lets you choose a configura-

tion to use. See “Choosing a Configuration” for infor­mation.

n NEC Versa M users can use either the Docking Sta-

tion 4000 sound system or the NEC Versa sound sys­tem. See “Using the Audio Switcher Utility” for more
information.

n Some programs run from MS-DOS instead of Windows.

Use the information under “Using DOS-Based
Programs” to enable and control Docking Station 4000
sound from MS-DOS applications.

Choosing a Configuration

After setting up the Docking Station 4000 software, your
NEC Versa boot-up differs from its original procedure. The
new boot up sequence lets you choose which configuration
to use.

Use the new boot up procedure as follows:

1. Power on your NEC Versa as you would normally. A

menu similar to the following is displayed.

1. Docking Station 4000 Configuration

2. Mobile Configuration

3. Docked Configuration

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-7

2. Enter the appropriate number for the configuration you

want to use as follows:

n Docking Station 4000 Configuration — Use this con-

figuration when you dock your NEC Versa on the
Docking Station 4000.

n Mobile Configuration — Select this configuration to

use the NEC Versa by itself.

n Docked Configuration — Pick this configuration to

use your NEC Versa on a docking station other than
the Docking Station 4000. (This option may not
appear, depending on your system configuration.)

Using the Audio Switcher Utility

Follow these steps to use the NEC Versa M Audio Switcher
utility.

If the Docking Station 4000 sound system is
selected and the NEC Versa is not docked, run this
utility to switch to the NEC Versa M sound system.
Otherwise, you cannot use your system audio.

For the best results, dock the NEC Versa when se­lecting the Docking Station 4000 sound system.

1. From the Windows Program Manager, double click on

the Docking Station 4000 program group to open it.

3-8 Setting Up and Using the Software

2. Double click on the audio switcher icon. An NEC

Versa M Audio Switcher Welcome similar to the fol­lowing appears.

Audio Switcher welcome screen

3. From the screen, click the button for the audio system

that you want to use.

n The laptop button selects the NEC Versa audio.
n The Docking Station button selects the Docking Sta-

tion 4000 audio.

4. A dialog box similar to the following appears and identi-

fies the sound system selected.

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-9

Audio switcher dialog box

5. The three buttons shown give you the following options.

n Cancel — Click this button to return to the Welcome

screen without making or saving any changes. The
sound system that was active when you opened the
utility remains active.

n Save Selection — Click this button to change the

audio sound system to be used the next time Win­dows restarts. This button saves the new configura­tion but does not engage it until Windows restarts.

The new sound system selection is not active
until you restart Windows.

n Save Selection and Restart Windows — Click this

button to activate the chosen audio system immedi­ately. The system restarts Windows and activates the
sound system.

3-10 Setting Up and Using the Software

 If you select the Laptop Built-in Audio button

and you are docked, the laptop audio drivers
load, but the sound system does not work. Once
you undock the NEC Versa M, the sound system
functions.

 If you select the Docking Station 4000 sound

system and are not docked, two error messages
appear. They let you know the ESS hardware is
not present.

Using DOS-Based Programs

Two sound control utilities are stored on your hard disk
drive when you run the Docking Station 4000 Setup utility.
When using applications that run from MS-DOS, you may
need to change these sound settings.

The following two utilities let you adjust the speaker vol­ume and change the DMA and IRQ addresses.

n ESSVOL.EXE — allows you to increase or decrease

the volume of the sound coming from the Docking
Station 4000.

n ESSCFG.EXE — allows you to change DMA and IRQ

settings if your application requires that you do so.

Only change these settings if you try to run a DOS-based
application and you get no sound or poor sound from the
Docking Station 4000.

Changing the Volume

Change speaker volume settings as follows.

1. From the DOS prompt, type the following and press
Enter to change to the DS4000 directory.

cd DS4000

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-11

2. Display the current sound settings by typing the follow-

ing and pressing Enter.

essvol
The screen displays the current volume settings.

3. To change a volume setting, type the following:

n The command essvol followed by the space.
n The code for the setting to change followed by a

colon

 /v: changes the master volume
 /l: changes the line volume
 /w: changes the wave volume
 /m: changes the mic volume
 /c: changed the CD volume
 /s: changes the synthesizer volume.

n A number between 0 and 15 as the new setting.

The following example decreases the master volume to 3

and increases the wave volume to 14:

ESSVOL /V:3 /W:14

When you finish using your DOS-based application, you do

not need to reset the volume settings for Windows. At boot
up, Windows specifies its own settings.

Changing IRQ and DMA Settings

Before changing these settings, check the documentation
that came with your MS-DOS based application. If the ap­plication has its own setup, try adjusting the application
settings before changing the docking station settings.

3-12 Setting Up and Using the Software

CAUTION

Only change docking station sound IRQ and DMA
settings as a last resort. If you change the settings
to run a DOS application, you may need to change
the settings back to the defaults before running
Windows.

In some cases changing these settings can create
system conflicts. If you run into difficulties, change
your settings back to the defaults and call the appli­cation manufacturer.

Docking Station default settings are as follows:

n Board type: SoundBlaster Pro Compatible
n IRQ: 5
n DMA: 1

If your application indicates that it requires special settings,
proceed as follows.

1. From the DOS prompt, type the following and press
Enter to change to the DS4000 directory.

cd DS4000

2. Display the current IRQ and DMA settings by typing the

following and pressing Enter.

esscfg
The screen displays the current settings and the follow-

ing four options from which to choose.

1) Set new IRQ channel

2) Set new DMA channel

3) Display current settings

4) Quit

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-13

3. To change a setting, type the number that appears in

front of the option and press Enter.
Specify a new setting from the options displayed.

4. When done, select 4 to quit and use your DOS-based

application.

Option Configuration

Follow the instructions that come with your option to con­figure devices installed in the Docking Station 4000.

If your NEC Versa BIOS, its operating system, and the
option are all Plug and Play-compliant, you should be able
to install the option, reboot your system, and use the option.
Check the documentation that came with the optional
device, to determine whether or not the option requires
special drivers. If it does, load the drivers according to the
instructions that come with the option.

Configure non-Plug and Play options according to the
instructions that came with the options and those in the
NEC Versa user’s guide. If you install non-Plug and Play
devices in a Plug and Play system, you must still configure
the option according to its requirements.

For some options, like a second IDE drive or diskette drive
installed in the docking station, you must run the Setup
utility or the Automatic Configuration Utility (ACU) to set
the correct parameters. Some systems automatically detect
the new device and its parameters. Check that the settings
reflect the options installed in the docking station.

Drivers

If your NEC Versa is running Windows 95 or MS-DOS
Version 6.0 or above, your system supports multiple con­figurations. See the next section for driver information.

3-14 Setting Up and Using the Software

If your NEC Versa is running a DOS version that is earlier
than Version 6.0, your system supports only one configura­tion at a time. See the section “Single Configuration Sys­tems” for information about saving and using separate
configuration files.

Multiple Configuration Systems

Windows 95 supports multiple configurations for your
NEC Versa. Versions of MS-DOS above revision 6.0 also
support multiple configurations. After running the NEC
Docking Station 4000 Setup utility, simply reboot your
system when docked or undocked and select the configura­tion to use from the start-up menu.

Single Configuration Systems

Although earlier DOS versions cannot support multiple
configuration files, you can work round the situation. Doing
so requires that you create two separate sets of system files
with different names. Each set of system files contains
different configuration information for your system to use.
For example, one set of files contains the docking station
configuration. The other set of files contains configuration
information for using your NEC Versa without the docking
station (in a mobile state).

Before creating your separate system files,
we recommend that you create a start-up diskette
that contains your current configuration files.

A start-up diskette lets you boot your computer with
your current configuration in case of mistakes that
may corrupt the system files. Errors in systems files
can sometimes keep your system from booting up.

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-15

Creating a Start-Up Diskette

Create a start-up diskette as follows. (For details, see the
MS-DOS user’s guide that came with the NEC Versa.)

1. If your system is in Windows, exit Windows.

2. From the DOS prompt (C:>), type the following com-

mand to format a diskette in drive a: using the /s option.
Press Enter after typing the command. (If you are using
a different diskette drive, use the correct drive letter.)

format a: /s

3. At the prompt, insert a blank diskette and press Enter to

begin formatting.

4. Once the diskette is formatted, enter a volume name and

press Enter or press Enter to skip naming the volume.

5. Type N when prompted to format another diskette and

press Enter.

6. While the diskette is still in the drive, type the following

and press Enter to copy the CONFIG.SYS file to the
diskette.

copy c:\config.sys a:\*.*

7. Type the following and press Enter to copy the

AUTOEXEC.BAT file to diskette.

copy c:\autoexec.bat a:\*.*

8. Remove the diskette from the drive, label it, and store it

in a safe place.

Creating a Second Configuration File

Keep your current configuration files available for use, by
copying them with a different name to the current directory
as follows.

3-16 Setting Up and Using the Software

1. Type the following command at the DOS prompt (C:>)

and press Enter.

copy AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOMO.BAT

2. Type the following command at the DOS prompt and

press Enter.

copy CONFIG.SYS CONMO.SYS

3. Dock your NEC Versa on the docking station. Follow

the instructions in your NEC Versa user’s guide to cre­ate a docked configuration.

4. After you reboot your system to activate the docked con-

figuration, copy the new system files by typing the fol­lowing at the DOS prompt and pressing Enter.

copy AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTODS.BAT

5. Type the following command at the DOS prompt and

press Enter.

copy CONFIG.SYS CONDS.SYS

Switching between Configurations

Once you copy the system files as described in the pre­ceding section, you can switch between configurations as
follows. You only need to follow this procedure when you
want to change to the other configuration. The configuration
you choose will remain the default until you change it.

1. While your system is still on, exit Windows and go to

the DOS prompt.

2. Copy the configuration file you want to use and rename

it as the active file. (The active system files are:
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.) To do so, type
the following at the DOS prompt and press Enter. (The
following examples copy the docking station system files
to initiate the docking station configuration.)

copy AUTODS.BAT AUTOEXEC.BAT

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-17

Type the following at the DOS prompt and press Enter.

copy CONDS.SYS CONFIG.SYS

3. Dock your NEC Versa and reboot the system. The

docking station configuration will be used.

4. To switch to the mobile configuration, copy the mobile

system files, undock the NEC Versa, and reboot.

The SCSI Configuration Driver

Your Docking Station 4000 comes with an external as well
as an internal SCSI port. Plug and Play systems, like the
NEC Versa 4000, take control of this port and its settings.
However, if your system is a non-Plug and Play system,
you may need to specify some settings for the port. The
SCSI Configuration driver included with the Setup utility
provides a means for specifying port settings.

If you have a Plug and Play system, you do
not need to use the SCSI Configuration driver. You
system automatically assigns the addresses and
interrupts to use.

Using the Driver

The SCSI port on the back of the docking station has the
following power-on defaults:

n SCSI Port: Enabled
n I/O Address: 0140-15Eh
n IRQ: Enabled
n IRQ: 10
n DMA: Enabled
n DMA: 7.

3-18 Setting Up and Using the Software

Using the driver requires that you change your
CONFIG.SYS file. Before changing your file, we
recommend that you create a start-up diskette as described
earlier in this chapter in “Creating a Start-Up Diskette.”

The SCSI Configuration driver has the following charac­teristics and limitations:

n Each time you reconfigure the SCSI port, you must per-

form a cold boot. Once you set a configuration, you
must perform another cold boot to change your settings.
This includes enabling or disabling the port.

n Command line switches (or options) are processed in the

sequence in which they appear. If you use the reboot op­tion, make sure it is the last option to appear on the
command line.

Modifying the CONFIG.SYS File

Modify the CONFIG.SYS file as follows:

For details about editing the CONFIG.SYS
file and saving the changes, see your MS-DOS
documentation.

1. Add the following as the first line in your CONFIG.SYS

file. Because the command specifies port settings, this
command must precede other SCSI drivers in the file.

device=c:\ds4000\scsictrl.sys

2. Add the configuration options that you want to imple-

ment at boot up to this line. (Some sample command
lines appear after the following options list.)

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-19

Options include:

n /Sx — SCSI On/Off Control

x 0 = disables the SCSI port
1 = enables the SCSI port (default)

n /Ax — SCSI I/O Address Selection

x 0 = I/O address 140-15Eh (default)
1 = I/O address 340-35Eh

n /Ix — SCSI IRQ Enable/Disable

x 0 = enables IRQ (default)
1 = disables IRQ

n /Qx — SCSI IRQ Selection

x 0 = Use IRQ 10 (default)
1 = Use IRQ 11
4 = Use IRQ 14
5 = Use IRQ 15

n /Dx — SCSI DMA Enable/Disable

x 0 = enables DMA (default)
1 = disables DMA

n /Mx — SCSI DMA Selection

x 5 = Use DMA 5
6 = Use DMA 6
7 = Use DMA 7 (default)

3-20 Setting Up and Using the Software

n /Rx — Reboot system after configuration

x 0 = System port reboot
1 = Far jmp F000:FFF0h (hard reset address)

For example, the following command line disables the SCSI

port:

device=c:\ds4000\scsictrl.sys /S0

The following example disables the SCSI port and then re-

boots the system using the system port:

device=c:\ds4000\scsictrl.sys /S0 /R0

The next example enables the SCSI port and specifies an

alternate IRQ:

device=c:\ds4000\scsictrl.sys /S1 /Q4

Do not use a drive connected to this port as
the boot drive for your operating system. Due to the
system configuration routine, booting from this port
usually fails.

Setting Up and Using the Software 3-21

QUICK START

Follow the instructions given here if you are already
familiar with software setup programs and the NEC Versa
family of computers.

Run the Docking Station 4000 Setup utility as follows.

1. Dock your NEC Versa on the Docking Station 4000 and

2. Boot into Windows.

3. Close any Windows applications that may be running.

4. Insert the first Docking Station 4000 Setup diskette into

5. From the Windows Program Manager, access the File

6. Type a:winstall and press Enter or click “OK.”

7. Respond to the utility as prompted.

power on. (See Chapter 2 for docking instructions.)

the drive.

pull-down menu and select Run.

8. When Setup is complete, reboot your system when

prompted.

For some systems, the Setup utility only loads the online
docking station user’s guide.

If you want to load the ESS drivers for any reason, insert
audio diskette 1 into the drive. From the Windows File
menu, select the Run command. Enter a:setup.exe and
press Enter to load the drivers.

3-22 Setting Up and Using the Software

4

Adding Options

You can install the following options in the NEC Versa
Docking Station 4000.

n In the front device storage bay, up to two 5 1/4-inch,

half-height drives. This bay gives external access to the
drives.

n In the internal device storage bay, one 3 1/2-inch internal

hard disk drive.

n In the expansion board bay, three full-size or half-size

AT-style ISA expansion boards.

Installing these options require that you remove the docking
station cover. Once the options are installed, you must re­place the cover before using the docking station.

This chapter provides the information you need to remove
and replace the docking station cover, install expansion
boards, and add optional drives.

Before installing an option or expansion board in the
docking station, read the documentation that came with the
option or board. Set any switches required on the board or
option before beginning the installation procedure.

Adding Options 4-1

COVER REMOVAL

Follow these steps to remove the docking station cover.

Make sure docking station power is off, the NEC
Versa is not docked, peripheral devices are discon­nected, and cables are detached from the docking
station before beginning installation procedures.

1. Turn the Docking Lock to the Locked position for easier

cover removal and replacement. This setting also keeps
the manual docking lever in place while removing and
replacing the cover.

WARNING

4-2 Adding Options

CAUTION

Failure to set the Docking Lock to Locked before
removing or replacing the cover can cause damage
to the locking mechanism.

2. Remove the CRT Base from the docking station.

3. Locate and turn the cover latch on the back of the dock-

ing station. You may need to use a coin or flat-head
screwdriver to turn the latch.

The cover latch

4. Pull the cover forward to clear the expansion connector.

Clearing the expansion connector

CAUTION

When disassembling the docking station, be careful
not to drop anything into it. Doing so can damage
the unit.

Adding Options 4-3

5. Pull the sides of the cover outward slightly and lift the

cover up and off of the docking station.

Removing the cover

COVER REPLACEMENT

Once your options are installed, replace the docking station
cover as follows:

1. Turn the Docking Lock to the Locked position for easier

cover removal and replacement. This setting also keeps
the manual docking lever in place while removing and
replacing the cover.

4-4 Adding Options

CAUTION

Failure to set the Docking Lock to Locked before
removing or replacing the cover can cause damage
to the locking mechanism.

2. Align and lower the cover over the front of the docking

station. Make sure the cover clears the expansion
connector.

CAUTION

Be careful not to catch any wires or cables when re­placing the cover. Move cables aside if they look
like they may be pinched or squeezed when you re­place the cover.

Positioning the cover

Adding Options 4-5

3. Pull the sides of the cover outward slightly.

4. Push the cover towards the back of the docking station.

Make sure the expansion connector and docking sensor
protrude through the opening in the cover.

Replacing the cover

5. Slide the cover all the way onto the docking station.

6. Turn the cover latch on the back of the docking station

to secure the cover.

Securing the cover

4-6 Adding Options

EXPANSION BOARDS

You can install three full-size or half-size AT-style expan­sion boards in the NEC Docking Station 4000. Before be­ginning the installation, check the documentation that came
with the board. If you have any switches to set on the board,
do so before starting this procedure.

Precautions

Always remove expansion boards from the shipping
material very carefully. Static discharge can damage board
components. Take the following precautions when handling
boards:

n Avoid carpets in cool, dry areas.
n Before handling a board, discharge any static electricity

by touching a grounded metal object.

n Always hold a board by its edges. Avoid touching the

components on the board.

Slot Locations

Slot locations for expansion boards are shown in the fol­lowing figure. These slots accommodate any industry stan­dard 8- or 16-bit expansion board.

Adding Options 4-7

Installation

Expansion slot locations

Follow these steps to install an industry standard, 8- or 16­bit expansion board in the docking station.

1. Prepare for board installation as follows:

n Disconnect and remove the NEC Versa from the

docking station.

n Turn off and unplug the docking station.
n Disconnect any peripheral devices connected to the

docking station.

n Remove the docking station cover. See “Cover Re-

moval” earlier in this section for information on re­moving the cover.

n Position the docking station so you have access to the

side where the expansion slots are located.

4-8 Adding Options

CAUTION

Be careful not to drop anything into the docking sta­tion. Doing so can damage the unit.

2. Locate and remove the screw that attaches the slot cover

to the docking station.

Removing the slot cover screw

3. Remove the slot cover.

4. Locate the expansion slot connectors inside the docking

station.

Adding Options 4-9

5. Hold the board by its edges, component side up, and in-

sert it into the slot. If installing a full-size board, fit the
board into the guide at the front of the docking station.

Aligning the board edge and connector

6. Press the board firmly until it is securely seated in the

connector. You may have to rock the board side-to-side.

4-10 Adding Options

7. Insert the screw to attach the board to the support

bracket.

Securing the board

8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 to install a second or third ex-

pansion board.

9. Once you install the boards, continue as follows:

n To add drives, continue to the next section, “Data

Storage Devices.”

n If you have no more options to install, replace the

docking station cover as described in “Cover Re­placement” earlier in this chapter.

Adding Options 4-11

Removal

Follow these steps to remove an industry standard, 8- or 16­bit expansion board from the docking station.

1. Prepare for board removal as follows:

n Disconnect and remove the NEC Versa from the

docking station.

n Turn off and unplug the docking station.
n Disconnect any peripheral devices connected to the

docking station.

n Remove the docking station cover. See “Cover Re-

moval” earlier in this section for information on re­moving the cover.

n Position the docking station so you have access to the

side where the expansion slots are located.

4-12 Adding Options

CAUTION

Be careful not to drop anything into the docking sta­tion. Doing so can damage the unit.

2. Remove the screw that attaches the board to the support

bracket.

Removing the screw

3. Hold the board by its edges and pull the board. You may

need to rock the board side-to-side to dislodge it from its
connector.

Removing the board

Adding Options 4-13

4. Replace the docking station cover as described earlier in

this chapter under “Cover Replacement.”

DATA STORAGE DEVICES

The Docking Station 4000 has two bays for installing op­tional data storage devices.

n A front bay provides external access to storage devices

installed in it. This bay accepts two standard 5 1/4-inch
storage devices, including diskette, hard disk, tape, and
CD-ROM drives.

n An internal bay provides space for one 3 1/2-inch hard

disk drive.

NEC Versa series systems and the docking
station support only two diskette drives. Therefore, if
you have more than two diskette drives installed in
the NEC Versa and docking station, you can only
access two of them.

Some storage devices require that you provide a
signal cable. For example, to install a SCSI device,
you need to purchase an optional SCSI signal cable.

Follow the instructions in the next section to prepare your

drive for installation in the docking station.

Preparing the Drive

Read the documentation that came with the drive before be­ginning the installation procedure. Set any switches that
need to be set on the drive.

If your drive comes with locking rails, do not use them. If
the drive has locking rails attached, remove them.

4-14 Adding Options

Installing Drives in the Front Bay

Use the following procedure to install a half-height diskette,
tape, CD-ROM or hard disk drive in the front drive bay.
See “Preparing the Hard Disk Drive” later in this chapter
for hard disk drive preparation instructions.

Drive installation involves three basic procedures:

n Removing the drive cage.
n Attaching the drive(s) to the drive cage.
n Attaching power and signal cables to the drive.
n Finishing up (reinstalling the drive cage with the drive in

the docking station).

These procedures are described next.

Removing the Drive Cage

Prepare the docking station for drive installation by remov­ing the drive cage as follows.

WARNING

Make sure docking station power is off, the NEC
Versa is not docked, peripheral devices are discon­nected, and cables are detached from the docking
station before beginning installation procedures.

1. Remove the docking station cover as described in

“Cover Removal.”

2. Locate and remove the screws on the drive cage.

Adding Options 4-15

Removing drive cage screws

3. Slide the drive cage towards the back of the unit. Make

sure the holes on the bottom of the cage clear the tabs on
the bottom of the docking station chassis.

4. Lift the drive cage up and out of the system.

4-16 Adding Options

Attaching the Drive to the Drive Cage

Attach the drive to the drive cage as follows.

Removing the drive cage

Before attaching the drive to the cage, make
sure that any switches on the drive are set properly.
See the guide that came with the drive for switch
setting information.

1. Align the front of the drive with the front of one of the

bays in the drive cage.

Adding Options 4-17

2. Slide the drive into the drive cage. Be sure the drive is

seated on the guides within the cage.

Sliding the drive into the cage

3. Locate the screw holes on the side of the drive cage and

align them with the screw holes on the side of the drive.

4. Using the screws that came with the drive, secure the

drive to the drive cage.

4-18 Adding Options

Attaching the Cables

Attach drive cables as follows.

Securing the drive

When connecting cables, align the cable con­nector with the drive connector and position the red
edge of the cable as shown in the figures.

Taking care not to bend any pins, press the cable
connector firmly onto the pins.

1. Place the drive cage close to the docking station for easy

access to the connectors on the docking station interface
board.

2. Look in the package of cables that came with the dock-

ing station and locate drive power cable.

Adding Options 4-19

Drive power cable

3. Connect the power cable to the docking station interface

board.

Connecting the power cable

4-20 Adding Options

4. Attach the cables for your drive type as follows.

When installing SCSI drives, you must pur­chase an optional SCSI cable. If you are installing
Plug and Play SCSI devices, purchase a cable that
comes with a terminated connector. You can pur­chase this optional cable from your NEC dealer.

n For diskette drives:

 Look in the package of cables and find the disk-

ette drive signal cable.

Diskette Drive Cable

 Connect the diskette drive signal cable to the

docking station interface board as shown in the
following figure.

Adding Options 4-21

 Route the cable over the side of the interface

board and snake it behind the LED bracket as
shown.

Routing the diskette drive signal cable

 Position the red edge of the signal cable as shown

in the following figure and connect the cable to
the drive.

 Connect a large or small power cable connector

to the drive (connector size depends on the drive
you are installing). Power connectors are keyed
to fit only one way.

4-22 Adding Options

Connecting the diskette drive signal cable

n For IDE drives

 Look in the package of cables and find the IDE

signal cable.

IDE signal cable

Adding Options 4-23

 Connect the IDE signal cable to the docking sta-

tion interface board as shown in the following
figure.

 Route the cable over the side of the interface

board and snake it behind the LED bracket as
shown.

Routing the signal cable

 If you are installing an IDE device with audio

features (like a CD-ROM reader), connect the
audio cable as follows:

Locate the audio cable in the bag of cables that
came with the docking station.

4-24 Adding Options

Audio Cable

Attach the audio cable to the docking station in­terface board.

Route the cable over the side of the interface
board and snake it behind the LED bracket as
shown.

Adding Options 4-25

Connecting the audio cable

 Connect the IDE signal cable to drive. The con-

nectors are keyed to fit only one way.

 Connect a large or small power cable connector

to the drive (connector size depends on the drive
you are installing). Power connectors are keyed
to fit only one way.

 The audio cable comes with two connectors. Pick

the one that is appropriate for your drive type.

4-26 Adding Options

Connecting the IDE and power cables

n For SCSI drives

To install SCSI devices, you must purchase
an optional SCSI cable. If you are installing Plug
and Play SCSI devices, purchase a cable that
comes with a terminated connector. You can pur­chase this type of cable from your NEC dealer.

 Locate your optional SCSI cable. It should look

similar to the one shown in the following figure.

Adding Options 4-27

Optional SCSI signal cable

 Locate the SCSI cable connector on the docking

station interface board.

 Connect the SCSI signal cable to the interface

board. (Connectors are keyed to fit only one
way.)

4-28 Adding Options

Connecting the SCSI cable to the interface board

 If you are installing a SCSI device with audio

features (like a CD-ROM reader), connect the
audio cable as follows:

Locate the audio cable that came with the dock­ing station.

Adding Options 4-29

Audio cable

Attach the audio cable to the docking station in­terface board.

Route the cable over the side of the interface
board and snake it behind the LED bracket as
shown.

4-30 Adding Options

Connecting the audio cable

When installing SCSI devices, use the end
connector on the cable first. Attach the next SCSI
device to next connector on the cable. (Do not skip
connectors when attaching more than one SCSI de­vice.)

 Connect the cables to the back of the drive. (See

the documentation that came with the drive exact
connector locations. Locations vary depending on
model.)

 The audio cable comes with two connectors. Pick

the one that is appropriate for your drive type.

Adding Options 4-31

Finishing Up

Connecting SCSI cables

5. To complete drive installation, go to “Finishing Up.”

Finish up drive installation as follows.

1. Locate the tabs on the bottom of the docking station

chassis.

2. Position the drive cage a little behind the tabs and lower

it into the unit.

3. Slide the drive cage forward until the tabs slide into the

matching holes on the bottom of the drive cage.

4. Replace the two screws that secure the drive cage in the

docking station.

4-32 Adding Options

Replacing drive cage screws

5. If you installed a drive that requires external access, re-

move the drive slot cover from the docking station cover
as follows:

n Locate the drive slot cover tabs inside the docking

station cover.

n Gently push the tabs out until you can release the

cover.

n Remove the slot cover and store it in a safe place for

possible future use.

Adding Options 4-33

6. Being careful to move cables out of the way to prevent

crushing them, replace the docking station cover as de­scribed in “Cover Replacement.”

Hard Disk Drives

Installing a hard disk drive involves the following steps:

n Preparing the hard disk drive

Removing the drive slot cover

n Setting your hard disk drive to slave or master as appro-

priate

n Installing the drive
n Connecting cables
n Finishing up.

This section describes how to install a hard disk drive in the
internal hard disk drive bay in the docking station.

4-34 Adding Options

WARNING

Make sure docking station power is off, the NEC
Versa is not docked, peripheral devices are discon­nected, and cables are detached from the docking
station before beginning installation procedures.

Preparing the Hard Disk Drive

The NEC Versa Docking Station 4000 has built-in IDE and
SCSI controllers. However, some hard disk drives require
that you install a controller board. Before installing a drive
that requires a controller board, install the board as de­scribed in “Expansion Boards.”

See the documentation that comes with the
drive for specific cabling instructions.

Before starting the installation , check the following.

n The interface of your hard disk must match the interface

of the hard disk controller. For example, an IDE hard
disk requires an IDE hard disk controller.

If you are installing another controller board,
you must disable the built-in IDE. This is done
through the Setup or Automatic Configuration utility
that comes with your NEC Versa system. See your
NEC Versa series user's guide for more information.

Adding Options 4-35

n If you are installing a SCSI drive, you must purchase an

optional SCSI cable. If you are installing a Plug and
Play SCSI device for use with a Plug and Play system,
make sure the SCSI cable comes with a terminated con­nector. You can purchase this optional cable from your
NEC dealer.

n Follow any pre-installation instructions in the guide that

comes with the drive, such as setting jumpers or
switches.

Specifying Master and Slave Drives

IDE drives must be set correctly as the first (master) or
second (slave) drive. Check the jumper settings on the drive
before beginning the installation procedure.

Only one drive can be identified as the master drive. If you
plan to use the NEC Versa IDE drive when docked, set the
docking station IDE drive to the slave settting.

Installing the Drive

Follow these instructions to install a hard disk drive in the
internal drive bay of the docking station.

1. Remove the docking station cover as described in

4-36 Adding Options

WARNING

Make sure docking station power is off, the NEC
Versa is not docked, all peripheral devices are dis­connected, and all power cables are detached from
the docking station before starting this procedure.

“Cover Removal.”

2. Locate the internal hard disk drive bay.

Locating the internal drive bay

3. Align the hard disk drive so that its cable connectors

face the front of the docking station. Make sure the
screw holes on the hard disk drive face the drive bracket
in the docking station.

4. Insert the drive into the drive bay,

Adding Options 4-37

Aligning and installing the drive

5. Align the screw holes on the drive with those on the

bracket.

4-38 Adding Options

6. Use four screws and attach the disk drive to the guide.

Attaching the drive to the bracket

7. To continue, go to the appropriate cabling section:

n See “Attaching IDE Drive Cables” for IDE drive in-

stallations.

n See “Attaching SCSI Drive Cables” for SCSI drive

installations.

Adding Options 4-39

Attaching IDE Drive Cables

Attach IDE drive cables as follows.

1. Locate the IDE cable in the accessories bag that came

with your docking station.

IDE Signal Cable

2. Connect the IDE cable to the IDE connector on the

docking station interface board. The connectors are
keyed to fit in only one position.

3. Route the cable over the edge of the interface board and

snake the cable behind the LED bracket.

4-40 Adding Options

Routing the IDE cable

4. Align the IDE cable connector with the connector on the

hard disk drive.

5. Taking care not to bend any pins, press the cable con-

nector firmly onto the pins on the drive. The connectors
are keyed to fit in only one position.

6. Locate the power cable that came in the cable accesso-

ries bag.

Adding Options 4-41

Connecting the power cable to the interface board

7. Connect the cable to the interface board. Power connec-

tors are keyed to fit in only the correct position.

Connecting the power cable to the interface board

4-42 Adding Options