Okay, I noticed this problems about two weeks ago when we got our first batch of Latitude E6400 laptops in. I originally thought it was a problem with our OS build image and contacted Dell Support to find out if this was unusual. Dell Support did think it was unusual, but could not rule out that my build image was causing the problem.

I went back and created a new build image through Dell Image Direct and still had the same issue as described in my opening post. I was at a total loss and called up Dell Support once more this afternoon. After speaking with a Dell tech, I was told that there is no longer a docked/undocked profile with the "E" class of Latitudes and you do not need to hit "undock" in Windows to remove your laptop from the port replicator. He pointed out that Dell even removed the "undock" button from the new port replicators.

So, according to Dell Support, there is no more docked/undocked hardware profiles with these laptops and you can remove them from the port replicator by just pressing down on the eject button.

I don't have a problem with this, but I wish the first support tech I talked with had explained it to me. Now I just need to wait for Dell to update their control point software so I can set up a software profile that will disable wireless when the laptop is on the port replicator.

What a pain - not using the built-in Windows docking profiles, but requiring ControlPoint is a major step BACKWARD, IMHO.  Why should customers depend on this software, especially when it's not even ready?  We, too, want to turn off wireless when docked, and this will delay our laptop deployment as we don't want to touch them again when Dell finally gets CP updated to include wireless (not like wireless is a new technology???).

Yes, but it's handy to be able to enable/disable hardware under docked/undocked profiles - especially the wireless NIC.  This feature is built in to Windows, but Dell chose to bypass it without a full solution - we're still waiting for the wireless module in DCP to be able to disable the NIC when Ethernet is connected.

I did find that the E-series with Intel 5300 AGN is part of the problem because it doesn't have the property to Disable When Wired Connect, which the Dell 1510 N card does.  I'll probably order my next E6400s with the Dell card now.

To sort this all out: ... Using dual spanned desktop? Hotdock, second monitor goes off, redock, there it is, laid out the same.  It is a world of improvement and has NOTHING TO DO WITH the DCP. It's from items added with the Notebook System Software and Chipset software after OS load.

The problem we see is that if you undock with spanning desktop, anything that was opened on the lost moniitor now opens off screen.  previously XP would realign everything on the remaining desktop.  Anyway to make this happen?  One of our execs is frustrated...

\\uSlacker

We are seeing issues with the E6400 and E6500 with port replicators.  The replicators do not present an undock button and there is no “undock” option on the Start menu with XP svc pack 3 on these machines.  According to this Dell forum, you should be able to just press eject on the replicator.  I’m not sure it hot-undocks/ejects properly. I have users where the laptop screen not coming back on after ejecting and they are forced to do a hard shut down, sometimes multiple times to get it to come back. 

Dell is saying that the bios versions on these machines are already out-dated.  Ours have version A06 and the Dell site now has version A11.  I will try that on one of the machines and let you know how I make out.

Updating the bios version cured all my ejecting issues on one machine.  Looks like the fix.

My new E6500 also experiences these problems.  I would like to disable the wireless while docked, plus I have an annoying screen issue.  When I use laptop undocked, it obviously switches to the laptop screen.  When I place the laptop back in the dock and boot up, it continues to use the (closed) laptop screen.  Luckily I have the LCD mount dock, so I can open the laptop a bit, logon, change the display properties to use the dock's monitor rather than the laptop screen, reboot, and close the laptop while it's power-cycling (closing the laptop while in Windows will cause it to suspend).  I am using the A11 BIOS and WinXP SP3.

I definitely prefer the docked/undocked profiles of my old D610.  It was simple and "just worked" with both profiles.  The E6500 is a major hassle everytime I put it back in the dock after using it undocked.  I see that A12 was just released, but the notes don't mention anything that appears to be related to this.