OK, I need a computer geeks help (again).

[TheVTCGuy]

You know… being an Engineer I find it infuriating when I can not solve a technical issue. I mean, I am the geek, the all-knowing wizard right?

Here is an issue, I have sent an email to the manufacturer, contacted the PC support leader at my company, nothing yet, but working on it for three days I thought maybe one of you smart-inteliganteae PC folks here on TRF might be able to solve it. Yes, if it is something obvious by all means tell me and I will admit to being a Dorklehead.

My work PC is a Dell laptop, I can get the model number if it helps but it is a robust system. I had it connected to a docking station, the model is JDC381 and made by a company called J5create. It supported two HDMI ports, a CAT-5 port, two USBs and a USB-C power/charging port connecting it to the laptop. It is known as a mini port and is pictured below. It worked flawlessly. I never had any issues and used it daily for several hours.

NOW, my company is adding on some additional updates to software and procedures. The bottom line is I am adding a third monitor and doing some more robust programming. SO…. I purchased an updated docking station, same company, a model known as the JCD543. This one offers more USB and HDMI ports but is the same manufacturer and it’s picture is below. It should be no problem right?

IF, the docking station is plugged in to the laptop through the USB-C port (as it is 100% of the time) and I power up the PC, THE LAPTOP WILL NOT BOOT UP. It freezes about 50% of the way through. I unplug the station from the laptop and it boots up fine.

Now, I said to myself I said: “Self!, this can’t be that much of a problem, let’s figure it out.” My first thought was the boot sequence was somehow set to look for an external USB drive to boot from first. NOPE, external boot drive it turned off. My SECOND thought was it must be the “Secure Boot” feature, something about the hardware is not conforming and it is stopping the boot process when it detects the docking station. NOPE, I turned secure boot off in the BIOS and IEFL and…. Same result.

FINALLY, I took a second laptop, this one a Lenovo, and tried it; same result.

I contacted J5create but am thinking the only possible issue is some kind of hardware failure? What could be causing two PCs to halt their boot process when connected to this docking station, keeping in mind it is the same manufacturer as the previous one that works flawlessly, just a higher-end model.

A couple last points, if I boot the laptop, THEN plug in the docking station it works perfectly. Also, I removed every connection to the docking station, no HDMI or USB or anything plugged in to it at all, simply the docking station plugged in to the laptop stops it from booting. Yes, I installed the latest drivers from the J5Create website too.



Anyway, a lot of you guys are smarttter then I am, so thought I would throw it out there, anyone have any ideas I am open to trying anything.

[Blansky]

Paul, I'm thinking all the hell you're going through with computers, rearranging your house, buying cable ties, all for your new job.....

Is it really worth it?????

Could you go on some sort of disability??? Stress related.

Just spitballin here.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Paul, I'm thinking all the hell you're going through with computers, rearranging your house, buying cable ties, all for your new job.....

Is it really worth it?????

Could you go on some sort of disability??? Stress related.

Just spitballin here.

Boy do I qualify for mental disability!

Blansk, is my room ready?

[enjoythemusic]

What, again?

Yeah, was thinking bios change to ignore USB as boot. Sounds like the j5 has something wack going on. Try another one, if same thing happens, find diff design.

[ZOOK]

Paul

What version of Windows is on your laptop?

Try unplugging the new monitor from the J5. Does the laptop boot without the new monitor? If it does, plug in the new monitor and see if windows see it and adds it to your system. If it doesn’t, your laptop may not support three monitors.


Just a guess


Good luck

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by ZOOK

Paul

What version of Windows is on your laptop?

Try unplugging the new monitor from the J5. Does the laptop boot without the new monitor? If it does, plug in the new monitor and see if windows see it and adds it to your system. If it doesn’t, your laptop may not support three monitors.


Just a guess


Good luck

Thanks, it’s 11. I have tried just the docking station with no monitor (or anything else) plugged in, same result.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Boy do I qualify for mental disability!

Blansk, is my room ready?

It’s been sitting here waiting for you……

Wasn’t sure which one you wanted, take your pick.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Blansky

It’s been sitting here waiting for you……

Wasn’t sure which one you wanted, take your pick.

The one with the built in pool please

[brandrea]

I’m going to tell you what our tech guru always says first ….

Have you tried turning the computer off and then powering it back up?

[77T]

First off, I think Steven has a point on BIOS.

You can only PXE-boot from a NIC that the BIOS recognizes. Your USB-C to Ethernet has to show up on the BIOS as a boot option. Also, the desktop setup your employer provides may be having a fit with the new dock.

The new dock only has 2 HDMI like your old one (I looked at J5create). I’m guessing you used the new one’s DisplayPort for the 3rd display?

I don't have a Dell, so I'm not sure if it supports booting from the new dock with a different set of devices? Your company’s boot sequence may have a security issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[INC]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

A couple last points, if I boot the laptop, THEN plug in the docking station it works perfectly.

But what is your problem if you have already solved it flawlessly?

From now on, simply turn on the laptop and only plug the dock in after booting. No offense, but there's nothing to fix if it works

Anyway, the laptop freezes probably because of USB legacy or boot order, for example because it sees the dock as a bootable unit. Forget it, if it works after the machine starts, there's nothing wrong with it. Try not to turn off the machine, but only use standby (hibernation). If the system starts up from there, then it is definitely the boot sequence that has a NON ESSENTIAL problem.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by INC

But what is your problem if you have already solved it flawlessly?

From now on, simply turn on the laptop and only plug the dock in after booting. No offense, but there's nothing to fix if it works

Anyway, the laptop freezes probably because of USB legacy or boot order, for example because it sees the dock as a bootable unit. Forget it, if it works after the machine starts, there's nothing wrong with it. Try not to turn off the machine, but only use standby (hibernation). If the system starts up from there, then it is definitely the boot sequence that has a NON ESSENTIAL problem.

WINNER WINNER!!!!!

Yep, the solution was disable USB-Bootable. I guess the laptop was looking for a bootable storage device connected to the USB port, since the docking station ISN’T one, it simply stopped the booting process. Once I disabled USB boot capability it has worked.

[77T]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Once I disabled USB boot capability it has worked.

OK - one last thing.
Boot your Dell with the dock plugged-in.

Now plug a USB drive into one of the ports and see if IT boots and is visible as storage in Devices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by 77T

OK - one last thing.
Boot your Dell with the dock plugged-in.

Now plug a USB drive into one of the ports and see if IT boots and is visible as storage in Devices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Good idea

[INC]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

WINNER WINNER!!!!!

I like it, when everyone is a winner

[INC]

Originally Posted by 77T

Now plug a USB drive into one of the ports and see if IT boots and is visible as storage in Devices.

With the "USB boot" mode on, the laptop will boot only, if it's a bootable device. Anyhow, if the laptop boots, all the USB device will show up in the operating system. To avoid this, you can disable the external USB ports in the UEFI (BIOS).

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

WINNER WINNER!!!!!
Yep, the solution was disable USB-Bootable.

Sweeeeet, congrats

[Bluside]

I'm not part of this thread but this forum is just great.