USB ports on HP Ultraslim docking station do not work

I have a HP Ultraslim docking station for my HP Elitebook Folio 9470m ultrabook. The connection to the external monitor and the network works fine - but I cannot seem to plug in any peripherals into the USB ports on the docking station

external keyboard attached to any of the USB ports isn't recognized - no typing works
external harddisk connected to the single USB port with power supply isn't recognzied

The peripherals work just fine when I plug them directly into the ultrabook - but that kinda defeats the purpose of having a docking station!

Any ideas? Thoughts? Similar experiences? Anything I can check, set, configure to make those USB ports recognize my peripherals?

marc_s

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 1 408

2Silly question, but is the docking station connected to the power? – Michael Frank – 2014-02-18T09:58:56.600

Sounds like the docking station isn't 'informing' the computer to use the external keyboard... Is the docking station up to date? – Dave – 2014-02-18T10:03:56.570

@MichaelFrank: yes it is - and the video signal shows up on the external monitor, and the ethernet network connection works just fine – marc_s – 2014-02-18T10:34:38.107

@marc_s you'll find that many docking stations will still happily send through video signals and network connections without any power supplied to them. I've run into this issue before, just needed to ask. – Michael Frank – 2014-02-18T11:04:42.377

@MichaelFrank: ah - ok - wasn't aware of that. But the docking station is definitely powered on in my case. – marc_s – 2014-02-18T11:25:36.257

Answers

Remove the laptop, turn off the docking station.

Now, plug in the keyboard/mouse etc

Now turn on the docking station, give it a little time, and now put on your machine. It appears many docking stations need to work in a certain order, it doesn't detect the keyboard/mouse (I guess in the same way a PC doesn't detect a PS2 mouse/keyboard without a reboot).

Some have reported that, "disable one of the two USB Root Hub from the Device Manager and refresh the list allowing the system to recognize the connected devices". Source

Others have claimed to roll back the driver to a generic driver Source

Based upon your comments, since it doesn't recognize multiple devices (keyboards/external disks) then it sounds faulty. You could ask HP for advice directly, if it's in warranty then it's a no brainer (send it back) but you may need to get a new dock :( However, to test this, try a different laptop in the dock (if possible).

Dave

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 24 199

Dave: I tried this - no luck, no improvement. Situation is still the same - trying to connect the keyboard to the docking station results in a "dead" keyboard - no typing is being sent to the notebook :-( – marc_s – 2014-02-18T21:42:33.093

Sorry @marc_s, for some reason your comment did reach my inbox. Did you try a different keyboard (just for testing purposes, I don't have much hope it will help, but it's easy to try) – Dave – 2014-02-21T08:46:29.443

@marc_s I think the only option you have is to contact HP and see what they suggest? Sounds like it's a faulty dock... – Dave – 2014-02-27T10:26:51.040

Dave - yes, I tried several keyboards, several external disks - all show the same behavior (not being "recognized" or "accepted" by the dock). – marc_s – 2014-02-27T10:27:59.963

@marc_s, can you try a different laptop in the dock? Some one else has posted here (probably will be deleted as it's not answer so you may not see it) stating they too have the same issue – Dave – 2014-02-28T16:01:44.567

Sorry, I only have one suitable ultrabook ... :-( – marc_s – 2014-02-28T16:26:08.707

1I'm sorry @marc_s, I've continued to look into this for you (to say thank you for giving so much to community at SO), I think this has to be going back to HP, I've found nothing to help. – Dave – 2014-04-24T07:12:19.917

There are several of us in our office that have Folio 9470m/ultraslim docking stations. I know of at least two who have the same usb problem. What I found that worked was to pull the power cord out of the docking station for about 10 seconds, plug it back in and miracle of all miracles, it works. So that is the workaround I use. Lame but until HP comes up with a fix, I'm not sure what else to do.

rich

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 11

My docking station worked fine, but I needed my IT Department to re-image my laptop for an unrelated issue. When I got my laptop back, the USB ports were not connecting. It was driver based. With the laptop docked, go into device manager and update all your USB drivers. I updated the drivers and everything is now working perfectly.

pointbreakpjh

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 11

I experienced this same issue -- dock was powered, but keyboard and mouse were not recognized. This worked for me: In your list of programs see if you have an Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible host controller (or any other USB host controller that may be preventing your laptop from recognizing the dock's usb ports). I removed it and my mouse lit up!

straussj

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 11

After I realized I plugged my power into the laptop instead of the docking station, I did the following:

Undock the laptop, power off docking station and re-connect mouse and keyboard - just plugged into different USB sockets.
Power on docking station, wait for 10-15 seconds with that back light on and then plugged in laptop.

Once screens lit up there was a message that USB devices were installed.

Weird thing is that the charger for my phone worked on any USB ports on docking station but mouse and keyboard did not recognize. They both worked when plugged into laptop directly.

On side notes, my docking station has 2 HDMIs and it supports two external monitors that way + analog one. Don't have a fourth monitor but guessing the HDMI port on laptop itself would support it.

HP newbie

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 11

I had identical symptoms on an Elitebook 840 G3. I went to device manager and opened the USB drivers. All said they were working ok except the last one which was "USB Composite Device". I tried to install the driver but my win7 Pro told me it was up-to-date. However it still said it was not installed, so I deleted it and rebooted (while attached to the dock - which probably made no difference). It then installed itself and the USB ports on the dock now work

Max

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 1

remove Ultrabook from dockingstation, connect USB dongle (wireless keyboard/mouse), redock and - wow! - works! Strange design

user338501

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 1

Even the keyboard doesn't work, so I suspect it is faulty. I had a power problem with an EliteBook 850 G1 on the 2013 UltraSlim Dock. Long story short, the dock power supply isn't supplying enough amps. I used an older HP power supply capable of supplying more amps, and everything works consistently. The older docks used to come with a higher amp capacity, so I reused one to solve my issue. I would not think keyboard and mouse would be an issue, but if a higher capacity power supply is available to you, try it, but I suspect something is up with that dock.

Lee J. Jones

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 1

Upon inspection of my laptop, I saw that the driver for the USB ports on the docking station was not installed.

Follow the steps below to install the driver; or at least validate the USB driver is installed.

Open Control Panel
Open Device Manager
Scroll to Bottom "Universal Serial Buss Controller" (USB)
Expand Tab
Install driver, or verify if driver is installed

Chasd798

Posted 2014-02-18T09:50:11.387

Reputation: 1