JSI Tip 7342. How do I create hardware profiles on Windows Server 2003-based portable computers?

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.

Click Hardware, and then click Hardware Profiles.

Note that under Available Hardware Profiles, either the Docked Profile or the Undocked Profile (Current) setting is selected.

Click Copy, type a profile name, such as Out of Office, and then click OK.

Click the Out of Office profile, click Properties, click to select the This is a portable computer check box, and then click the best description for the profile. In this case, click The computer is undocked.

If you want to be able to select this profile when the computer starts, click to select the Always include this profile as an option when Windows starts check box.

NOTE: This is how you can configure your computer to permit you to select either the Docked Profile, Undocked Profile, or the Out of Office profiles when you start your computer.

Click OK , click Docked Profile or Undocked Profile (Current) profile, and then click Rename. Type a name, such as In Office, and then click OK. The available list shows the In Office and the Out of Office profiles. Click OK, and then restart your computer.

The Startup menu adds the Hardware Profile/Configuration Recovery menu with the In Office, Out of Office , and (possibly) the New Hardware Profile profiles. Click Out of Office, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: New Hardware Profile may be added to the list to permit you to add new hardware profiles from this menu. If you select this option, a new hardware profile is created with standard settings, such as standard VGA screen resolution. However, this profile is not saved to the list. Because of this, Microsoft recommends that you select one of the two existing hardware profiles.

When the hardware profile is loaded for the first time, it is exactly the same as the first profile, with network connectivity intact. If you receive any profile error messages when you log on to Windows, click OK or Continue to accept them and continue.

Click Start, click Control Panel, double-click System, and then click the Hardware tab.

Click Device Manager, and then locate and double-click the network adapter with the green network adapter icon.

Under Device Usage, click Do not use this device in the current hardware profile (disable), and then click OK.

NOTE: The Do not use this device in any hardware profiles (disable) profile disables all LAN connectivity.

The Device Manager dialog box should display a red X across the network adapter to show that it is disabled.

NOTE: Modem connectivity is active in both profiles for dialing the corporate network or an Internet service provider (ISP).

Restart your computer, and then select the appropriate profile.