Vista - Dell and port replicator

I have a Dell Latitude D800 with a Dell monitor attached to a
port-replicator. Shortly after Vista starts up, the external monitor goes
blank and believes the system is in standby. But the notebook's internal
monitor is on and showing the desktop. I suspect it has something to do with
dual-monitors which I can't do because the notebook is closed and under the
shelf the external monitor is on. I can't get to the Window Mobility Center
settings in order to try to detect the external monitor or try to set the
dual-monitor feature off because the notebook can't open wide enough under
the shelf. Any ideas on how to get it to always use the external monitor
when it's plugged into the port replicator? Thanks!

In article <DellCA.2r1ztb@no-mx.tabletquestions.com>, DellCA wrote:
> From: DellCA <customer_advocate@dell.com>
> Subject: Re: Dell and port replicator
> Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 13:37:21 -0700
> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
>
> Hello
>
> My name is Rick and I am a customer advocate here in the Dell
> headquarters in Round Rock Texas. Sounds like you are having an issue
> with your docked hardware profile. All that you need to do is setup the
> system to work going out to the external monitor while docked (just go
> into the display settings and set the system to go out to the external
> monitor) and reboot the system. You will want to have the system docked
> and probably not under the shelf so that you can make sure you have it
> set properly before you reboot. This should save this as the way that
> you want the system to act while docked.
>
> You can email me at Customer_Advocate@Dell.com (Just put “Attn Rick” in
> the subject line) if you have any questions or concerns.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
>
> --
> DellCA
>
I'm not clear where the settings are that you're referring to. Are they in
Vista (if so, where exactly) or in the BIOS (if so, where). Thanks!