HP Notebook Expansion Base Instructions

An expansion base makes your laptop more versatile.

Whether you use your HP notebook at home, at work or at school, having an expansion base available can make it more useful and give you the freedom to use your printer, external hard drive, scanner and other devices without constantly connecting and disconnecting them from your laptop. An expansion base allows you to use all of these devices as you wish, transforming the HP laptop into a true desktop replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Expansion base
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Printer

Instructions

1. Find the make and model of your laptop by looking on the bottom of the unit for a part number, or checking your owner's manual. Not all expansion bases will work with all HP laptop models.

2. Purchase the expansion base designed for your laptop. You can log on to the Hewlett Packard website at HP.com to purchase the expansion base, or you can buy one from a computer store or electronics retailer.

3. Connect your external monitor to the back of the expansion base. The monitor connection is approximately one inch in length, and it is often blue in color. Tighten the thumbscrews on the monitor securely to hold the monitor in place.

4. Attach your printer to the expansion base. Some HP expansion bases contain an old style parallel port. Others use only USB connections. Check the expansion base to make sure it fits the type of printer you need to connect. Fasten the thumbscrews tightly if using a parallel connection.

5. Connect your external keyboard and mouse to the expansion base. Depending on the exact model, the expansion base might use either old style PS2 connections or new USB ports.

6. Check the configuration of the connector on the back or bottom of your HP laptop. Some HP laptops have a connector on the back of the unit to plug into the docking station. Others place the connector on the bottom.

7. Line up the prongs on the docking station with the holes on the back or bottom of the laptop. Slide the laptop on to the prongs if it uses a connector on the back, or carefully lower the laptop on to the prongs if the connector is on the bottom of the unit.

8. Plug the power cord into the back of the expansion base and press the power button. The HP laptop display will be reflected on the external monitor, and you will have access to all of the external devices connected to the expansion base.