• ×
    Information
    Need Windows 11 help?
    Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
    Windows 11 Support Center.
  • post a message
  • ×
    Information
    Need Windows 11 help?
    Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
    Windows 11 Support Center.
  • post a message
Guidelines
Are you having HotKey issues? Click here for tips and tricks.
HP Recommended
Thunderbolt Dock G4 280W

Our company recently aquired a Thunderbolt Dock G4 280W for testing, because we want to set up remote workspaces. The notebook (MSI Summit E16) we chose for the initial test is not officially supported by the Dock, but it still has TB4 and we are able to use all features of the G4, except for the full Ethernet capability. It was even shown in the TB-control center.

When connecting a network cable, we were only able to access our local server, but not the internet. Windows diagnosed a faulty network IP-configuration, and the connection-details show a very wrong IPv4-adress starting with 169.x.x.x. I also took the dock and the notebook home to x-out our local network as the problem, but it was the same in my home network.

Troubleshooting wise I tested everything I found online:

  • Installed the latest firmware for the dock, also the latest ethernet-drivers
  • uninstall and reinstall ethernet drivers / deactivating and reactivating the device
  • reset the notebooks IP-config and DNS-config
  • router restart etc.

After resetting the config and flushing the DNS I had some strange interactions too, sometimes the IPv4 shown in details was correct but it still had no internet, once i had an active IPv6 and could access the internet but not our server.

Also deactivating TB in the UEFI and reactivating it did not help. I also found no TB security options in the UEFI, but I don't think that is the issue since DP and USB work fine (the G4s button even locks the notebook).

Recently the notebook occasionally gives a notification that there might be restrictions in use of the connected USB4-Device, perhaps due to compatability issues.

 

I just want to know if there is something wrong with the G4 or if this is normal behavior if the connected device is not an HP-device. Thank you in advance.

2 REPLIES 2
HP Recommended

Hey Brother. Ive been beating my head against a wall trying to figure out why I cant get this block to recognize my internet connection. I finally found an article today about this and it solved my issue. If you are using an external keyboard, this was what was causing all my problems. The simplest solution: have the external keyboard disconnected before plugging the firewire from the block into your computer. Once recognized and internet access is granted, you can plug the keyboard in and everything works fine. This has something to do with a security setting in the thunderbolt bios. I will include a link to the article that gives you the permanent fix by going into the device BIOS.  This is the simple gist.  Hope it helps. 

HP Thunderbolt Docking Stations - HP Dock Is Not Recognized When BIOS Security Level Is Set to 'Secure Connect'

 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06383177

HP Recommended

I face exactly the same problem on 2 different laptops: Asus Zenbook UX325 EA and a HP Fury G8 15.6 inch.
When i connect the HP G4 Thunderbolt dock with 120W power and latest firmware, it does not recognize the ethernet port with a signal on it. The ethernet connection itself is fine 🙂 When i try to download and install the latest drivers from the HP site, on both laptops the same behavior: Doubleclicking the downloaded driverpack sp138474.exe is executed, a window shows up to unpack the file, followed by a quick black command prompt window that disappears with no feedback at all. The main install window is also closed. So i am stuck as i want to use the ethernet connection on this very expensive dock.

† The opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of the authors, not of HP. By using this site, you accept the <a href="https://www8.hp.com/us/en/terms-of-use.html" class="udrlinesmall">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="/t5/custom/page/page-id/hp.rulespage" class="udrlinesmall"> Rules of Participation</a>.