Connecting to a Docking Station

[NBALL1987]

I am trying to connect my laptop to dual monitors so that I can work more efficiently. Setup as follows:

Lenovo 300e 2nd Gen Notebook Type 81M9 running Windows 10 Pro 64
Lenovo ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen2
HP ProDisplay P232 x2

The Dock is working, bios fully updated etc. and is charging the laptop via USB-C connection. The Ethernet cable connected to the Dock is also supplying a wired internet connection.

The problem is that I cannot seem to get the display to show up on the external monitors. I have tried to extend, duplicate, change resolution etc. but in display settings the monitors cannot even be detected.

Monitors are connected to the dock via DP cable.

I have been in touch with Lenovo and been through the usual troubleshooting to no avail. Lenovo are unable to confirm whether the laptop is compatible with the dock or not.

I wondered whether anybody has experienced anything similar or whether there is anything else that anybody can recommend that I try?

Thanks

 

[Armageus]

Personally I'd say it was a limitation of the laptop, and that the USB-C port is intended purely for charging:

Specifically the specs of the 300e say "USB-C (AC power)" for the USB-C port, rather than stating something like : "5. USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (power delivery + display port)" as other Lenovo models do e.g.
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/lenovo/student-laptops/Lenovo-300e-2nd-Gen/p/88EL10S9992
vs
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/ideapad/s-series/IdeaPad-5-14ARE05/p/88IPS501392

My Dell laptop also specifically mentions displayport in the USB-C specification: "Two Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1 DisplayPort (optional Thunderbolt)Two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports"

 

[NBALL1987]

That’s great, thank you for clarifying. So long as I ensure that any laptop that I get provides for “USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (power delivery + display port)" then I should be able to get this up and ruining

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Alternatively switch the dock out for one that supports Displaylink; cheaper and easier in many cases
Your dock sounds like it essentially provides monitor routing for the inbuilt graphics in your laptop; this is lower latency and can use the power of the integrated graphics, but if you don't have DP over USB-C, they're useless. Displaylink models essentially provide additional (basic) graphic adaptors; capable of up to 4K50/60 on newer models.

Displaylink docks will work with anything that can provide a USB 3 datalink; and don't require a laptop with Thunderbolt/DP output via USB-C (as essentially its a standard data link rather than high bandwidth monitor connection).

Extremely useful for those who have a laptop without DP over USB-C, I have used one on multiple occasions to solve these issues for myself or others.
They are also super useful when you want to run more screens off one device, than the onboard graphics support (ie say 3-4 external screens off one laptop, whilst the internal screen is still working also).

They are more expensive than a standard Dock, typically £100-150 new; but that is substantially cheaper than swapping laptops.

ONLY issue with the Dell Displaylink dock I have is I occasionally need to reboot the dock if the screen drops out if I've left it running/hibernated for too long (days), but thats more of a quirk of the Dell Displaylink dock than the actual solution. Otherwise it offers me multiple additional screen outputs, extra USB, Sound and another network port.

For reference I am currently using:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (Intel/Integrated no dedi GPU)
Microsoft Dock 2 (with 1x 1080P monitor and 1x 1440P monitor via DP)
Dell D6000 Displaylink Dock (with 1x 1440P monitor connected via HDMI, 1x 1080P screen via DP).

Theoretically I believe the Dell Dock will take a 3rd screen via DP, but as I'm running a 1440p screen off it I'm not even going to try it, 4 extra screens is already taking up the rest of my desk and some of the floor haha