Porting DELL M90 Workstation to DELL 17R Inspiron
Computer geeks
Been working on my change-over to WIN 8.1. My original setup was using a DELL M90 WORKSTATION that was using XP PRO and has the PRO1X D/Port Advanced Port Replicator (Docking Station). The docking station ran my DUAL MONITORs just fine here at main console and also in the RV setups. Also provided me additional INPUTS for my Ham Radio interface requirements.
my new DELL LAPTOP Inspiron 17R5737 of course does not have the DOCKING STATION large connector under the laptop so had to make things work differently here. I am now setup for running two external DELL Monitors which took some doing. The only VIDEO OUTPUT connector is a HDMI. I was hoping for at least DVI or VGA...
Tried to ADAPT the HDMI to DVI with adapter which worked but but lost resolution really bad.
Closer look at my DELL 2408WFP Monitor I notice I have HDMI INPUTs so connecting directly to that all is OK now for one Monitor. The second monitor is fed by STAND ALONE DOCKING tower which is fed by a USB 3.0 port from the DELL Inspiron but my older Toshiba Docking Tower model which only support ONE external Monitor. So far I am only required to hookup the HDMI and USB cables to my new Dell Laptop to get my two external DELL Monitors to work. My external keyboard and mouse works though the Toshiba Docking Station.
I am planning to continue using my DELL M90 and PRO1X Docking station setup basically just for my RADIO INTERFACE CONTROLs and run some Internet Scanner frequencies.
It would neat if I could use the S-VIDEO connector on the PRO1X Docking Station to connect to one of my DELL 2408WFP Monitors and use the PIP Picture in Picture mode to view the M90 Computer when needed. The S-VIDEO MODE is the only PIP/PBP input I can use with my 24-inch monitor. The PRO1X shows this connector to be a TV OUTPUT Mode
On the MONITOR I have a 4-PIN DIN SOCKET and the PRO1X has a 7-PIN DIN socket. I have cannot find a 7-PIN DIN MALE to 4-PIN DIN MALE cable setup to connect between the two units on AMAZON. Did find one from SVIDEO.COM but hate to use my credit card for unknown companies to purchase things. I use AMAZON PRIME all the time with an account. WALMART will probably have a 4-pin din MM cable...
I have read you can plug a 4-PIN DIN connector into the 7-PIN DIN connector and only use 4 of the 7 pins but don't know this for sure. It seems I can order the 4-PIN DIN PLUG Male to Male cable from AMAZON. Wondering if this will work. I don't even know yet the PRO1X will feed my 24-inch MONITOR PIP input and work. I did plug the DELL R17 LAPTOP HDMI cable into a TV SET and it worked just fine selecting HDMI mode on the TV set input controls.
If this doesn't work with the PIP setup my plan B is to connect to the a regular DVI connections which is available on either 24-inch monitor and switch to it when I need to view the M90 ops. Would be nicer if I had the PIP small window showing the M90 ops along with my other LAPTOP on-going ops - then could switch to FULL or HALF screen when needed for the radio OPS.
My console area would work best if I have the DELL M90 snapped into the PRO1X Docking station and then sit my new DELL INSPIRON LAPTOP on top of the DELL M90. The M90 has a START button on the docking station and the DELL INSPIRON 17R 5000 series requires you to open the lid to start then close it for external monitors. Having the two LAPTOPs setup I still have to have two external keyboards and mouse's which works fine with my two console pull out trays.
I have been using the wife's WIN 7 LAPTOP since Microsoft dropped support for the DELL M90 XP-PRO stuff. Be glad to get back to using my own stuff.
I could have just updated the M90 to WIN 8.1 but probably didn't have enough Processor and Ram to support it well. These new DELL LAPTOPS really scream now so QVC says... I have carried my M90 Workstation many miles in my working days.
The things we radio guys go through to setup somewhat simple things hehe... Momabear knew this was coming when I signed up for bigger DATA PLAN and faster speed from the local Internet provider hehe. Maybe one of these days the local country internet provider will offer FIBER OPTICS - hmmmm
NOTE-I HAVE MY ANSWER NOW TO MY QUESTION: It appears the outside 4-pins of the 7-pin DIN connector is the same dimensions as the 4-pin din connector so I can plug a 4-pin din plug into a 7-pin din connector. The additional three pins on the 7-pin has to do with R-G-B signals.
Roy Ken
Been working on my change-over to WIN 8.1. My original setup was using a DELL M90 WORKSTATION that was using XP PRO and has the PRO1X D/Port Advanced Port Replicator (Docking Station). The docking station ran my DUAL MONITORs just fine here at main console and also in the RV setups. Also provided me additional INPUTS for my Ham Radio interface requirements.
my new DELL LAPTOP Inspiron 17R5737 of course does not have the DOCKING STATION large connector under the laptop so had to make things work differently here. I am now setup for running two external DELL Monitors which took some doing. The only VIDEO OUTPUT connector is a HDMI. I was hoping for at least DVI or VGA...
Tried to ADAPT the HDMI to DVI with adapter which worked but but lost resolution really bad.
Closer look at my DELL 2408WFP Monitor I notice I have HDMI INPUTs so connecting directly to that all is OK now for one Monitor. The second monitor is fed by STAND ALONE DOCKING tower which is fed by a USB 3.0 port from the DELL Inspiron but my older Toshiba Docking Tower model which only support ONE external Monitor. So far I am only required to hookup the HDMI and USB cables to my new Dell Laptop to get my two external DELL Monitors to work. My external keyboard and mouse works though the Toshiba Docking Station.
I am planning to continue using my DELL M90 and PRO1X Docking station setup basically just for my RADIO INTERFACE CONTROLs and run some Internet Scanner frequencies.
It would neat if I could use the S-VIDEO connector on the PRO1X Docking Station to connect to one of my DELL 2408WFP Monitors and use the PIP Picture in Picture mode to view the M90 Computer when needed. The S-VIDEO MODE is the only PIP/PBP input I can use with my 24-inch monitor. The PRO1X shows this connector to be a TV OUTPUT Mode
On the MONITOR I have a 4-PIN DIN SOCKET and the PRO1X has a 7-PIN DIN socket. I have cannot find a 7-PIN DIN MALE to 4-PIN DIN MALE cable setup to connect between the two units on AMAZON. Did find one from SVIDEO.COM but hate to use my credit card for unknown companies to purchase things. I use AMAZON PRIME all the time with an account. WALMART will probably have a 4-pin din MM cable...
I have read you can plug a 4-PIN DIN connector into the 7-PIN DIN connector and only use 4 of the 7 pins but don't know this for sure. It seems I can order the 4-PIN DIN PLUG Male to Male cable from AMAZON. Wondering if this will work. I don't even know yet the PRO1X will feed my 24-inch MONITOR PIP input and work. I did plug the DELL R17 LAPTOP HDMI cable into a TV SET and it worked just fine selecting HDMI mode on the TV set input controls.
If this doesn't work with the PIP setup my plan B is to connect to the a regular DVI connections which is available on either 24-inch monitor and switch to it when I need to view the M90 ops. Would be nicer if I had the PIP small window showing the M90 ops along with my other LAPTOP on-going ops - then could switch to FULL or HALF screen when needed for the radio OPS.
My console area would work best if I have the DELL M90 snapped into the PRO1X Docking station and then sit my new DELL INSPIRON LAPTOP on top of the DELL M90. The M90 has a START button on the docking station and the DELL INSPIRON 17R 5000 series requires you to open the lid to start then close it for external monitors. Having the two LAPTOPs setup I still have to have two external keyboards and mouse's which works fine with my two console pull out trays.
I have been using the wife's WIN 7 LAPTOP since Microsoft dropped support for the DELL M90 XP-PRO stuff. Be glad to get back to using my own stuff.
I could have just updated the M90 to WIN 8.1 but probably didn't have enough Processor and Ram to support it well. These new DELL LAPTOPS really scream now so QVC says... I have carried my M90 Workstation many miles in my working days.
The things we radio guys go through to setup somewhat simple things hehe... Momabear knew this was coming when I signed up for bigger DATA PLAN and faster speed from the local Internet provider hehe. Maybe one of these days the local country internet provider will offer FIBER OPTICS - hmmmm
NOTE-I HAVE MY ANSWER NOW TO MY QUESTION: It appears the outside 4-pins of the 7-pin DIN connector is the same dimensions as the 4-pin din connector so I can plug a 4-pin din plug into a 7-pin din connector. The additional three pins on the 7-pin has to do with R-G-B signals.
Roy Ken
