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    eSATA/USB Combo Port

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Sefirothe, Dec 4, 2010.

  1. Sefirothe

    Sefirothe Notebook Consultant

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    So I was reading my manual and saw where it said the eSATA/USB combo port can be used to charge stuff even while the laptop is turned off. Great I thought! My iPhone is about to die and I'm too lazy to get up and put it on it's dock. Nope. It's one of those items that doesn't qualify. Way to cover your behind Dell lol!
     
  2. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Why would the laptop differentiate when it was off? It would just supply 5VDC to the port(s). Odd.
     
  3. Porter

    Porter Notebook Virtuoso

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    If I had to guess it would be that the apple must do something a little different (hehe, big surprise) that causes this. Maybe the iphone itself has to sense and approve the USB port before it charges, and with the laptop off it doesn't recognize the active USB connection.
     
  4. The0ne

    The0ne Notebook Consultant

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    Mine just started working without me doing anything last night, shrug. I checked the bios and it has been enabled since I first got the laptop. Not too worry about it since I use the laptop often.

    Forgot to add that I tried PMPs, several 2.5" external hard drives, several 3.5" external hard drives, HDD docks, and my HTC phone to no avail.