How to Manually Create Hardware Profiles for Laptop Computers

ID: Q141600

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98

SUMMARY

This article describes how to manually create hardware profiles for a laptop computer in docked and undocked states.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows is designed to switch the hardware profile for a laptop computer when it is docked or undocked if the computer's BIOS is Plug and Play-compatible or if the computer is connected to one of the following docking stations:

Any Texas Instruments

Any IBM ThinkPad or PS/2

Any Compaq LTE Lite 4/x

Toshiba 2000-4900 series

Any NEC Versa

Note that docking or undocking a laptop computer may require shutting down the computer.

If your laptop computer is not Plug and Play-compatible or your docking station is not listed above, you can create hardware profiles for the computer manually. You can create one hardware profile for when the computer is docked and one for when it is undocked.

Notes

Display settings are per-user (instead of specific to the hardware profile) in both Windows 95 and Windows 98. The only way to get a different resolution or color setting in a different hardware profile is to use a different display adapter in each hardware profile.

The monitor type is not maintained as part of a hardware profile.

To create hardware profiles for your computer manually, follow these steps:

Make a list of hardware devices you have access to when the computer is docked and when it is undocked.

For example, when the computer is docked you may have access to another monitor, display adapter, CD-ROM drive and controller, network card, pointing device, and sound card. When the computer is undocked you do not have access to these devices.

The following is a sample configuration:


      Docked:
   
         Sony CD-ROM drive and controller card
         Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card
         Intel Ether Express 16 network adapter
         Logitech Mouse on COM1
         Generic S3 display adapter
         NEC MultiSync 3FX monitor

      Undocked:

         No Sony CD-ROM drive and controller card
         No Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card
         No Intel Ether Express 16 network adapter
         No Logitech Mouse on COM1
         No S3 display adapter
         No NEC MultiSync 3FX monitor
         Microsoft BallPoint mouse
         Standard VGA display adapter
         Laptop Display Panel (800x600)

Install Windows, if it has not already been installed, with the computer docked. Windows should detect and configure all the hardware devices that can be accessed when the computer is docked.

Configure your desktop and hardware device options as you want them to appear when the computer is docked, and verify that all hardware devices are working correctly.

Using the sample configuration above, you could change the monitor type to a NEC MultiSync 3FX and change the screen resolution to 1024 x 728 with 16.8 million colors.

Rename the Original Configuration hardware profile to Docked. To do so, follow these steps:

In Control Panel, double-click System.

Click the Hardware Profile tab.

Click Original Configuration, and then click Rename.

In the To box, type Docked, and then click OK.

Copy the Docked hardware profile to Undocked. To do so, follow these steps:

Click Docked, and then click Copy.

In the To box, type "Undocked", and then click OK.

Click OK.

Remove devices from the Undocked hardware profile that are not accessible when the computer is undocked. To do so, follow these steps:
1. In Control Panel, double-click System.
2. Click the Device Manager tab.
3. For each device that is not available when the computer is undocked, follow these steps:
Using the sample configuration describes above, the Undocked check box would be cleared for the following devices:
Sony CD-ROM drive
Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card
Intel Ether Express 16 network adapter
Logitech Mouse
S3 display adapter

Shut down the computer and then undock it.

Verify that all devices that should be connected to the computer when it is undocked are connected, and then start the computer. Select the Undocked hardware profile from the configuration menu.

Use the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel to detect any additional hardware that is available when the computer is undocked. To run the Add New Hardware tool, follow these steps:
1. Press CTRL+ESC to open the Start menu.
2. Press the UP ARROW key until Settings is selected.
3. Press the RIGHT ARROW key to select Control Panel, and then press ENTER.
4. Use the ARROW keys to select Add New Hardware, and then press ENTER.
Using the sample configuration, Windows should detect the following new devices:
Microsoft BallPoint mouse
Standard VGA display adapter

When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so.

Choose the Undocked hardware profile from the configuration menu.

Configure your desktop and hardware device options as you want them to appear when the computer is undocked.

For example, you might want to change the display adapter to Laptop Display Panel (800 x 600).

If you want to install additional devices at a later time, make sure to install the device in each hardware profile in which you want the device to be accessible.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kbenv kbhw win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95,98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 26, 1999