Odd Smartboard/Dell problem

witch · 02-10-2008, 09:14 AM

My newest smartboards have a standard 'printer type' usb connection and work fine- EXCEPT:
One teacher has a newish Dell Latitude D520 and it will not connect to the board no matter what I do. (Although it has done for a year) I have upgraded smart software and drivers, and I cannot find a problem on the Dell.
I have spoken to Smart and they have said that it is a problem with newer Dells that they believe is to do with excessive current.
I have tried another laptop - a newish Tosh - and it worked first time, so I think Smart may be right.
Has anyone come across this and maybe a solution?

SYSMAN_MK · 02-10-2008, 09:18 AM

Are you using the latest BIOS (A07) on the D520?

witch · 02-10-2008, 09:19 AM

Yes I am

teejay · 02-10-2008, 09:20 AM

We have had a problem with the D520's, not quite the same problem as yours, and it was down to the power supply. Try running the laptop off battery and see if it works. If it does Dell will swap the power adaptor if its still under warranty with a different model.

SYSMAN_MK · 02-10-2008, 09:25 AM

Also you using Vista or XP?

witch · 02-10-2008, 04:35 PM

XP pro

Thanks TeeJay I'll try on monday - but I thought the smartboards will only work when the laptop is on mains power - that's what they told me, anyway

witch · 06-10-2008, 08:27 AM

Right - still no joy - doesnt work with or without power supply. I will ring Dell support but I hold out little hope of a solution. Has anyone any other ideas or experience of this?

dave.81 · 06-10-2008, 09:38 AM

I wonder if this could be the same problem as our new vostro laptops producing spikes, excess current making the boards short out against the wall. Hmmm will have to investigate this.

powdarrmonkey · 06-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Get hold of an externally powered USB hub and try connecting through that. If you're lucky a cheapy one will have some power isolation between the host and the devices, which may help.

cooper · 06-10-2008, 10:22 AM

Have you tried all the usb ports i had a dell laptop that would only work the my ipod from one port the others didnt like it.

wesleyw · 06-10-2008, 10:23 AM

The USB hub won't work for long we've had the problem you describe except our would connect but produce some very strange effects as the power spikes occurred. What you need to do is mount some wooden batons about 2 - 3 inches deep and then mount the smartboard on these that will stop it shorting out against the wall. Just to make sure though take the Smartboard down plug the laptop into then and try it if it works mount the batons and then the smartboard you'll be fine.

Wes

witch · 06-10-2008, 12:01 PM

I have ordered a powered hub and will try this as well as taking the board off the wall and seeing if that is the problem
I'll let you know

witch · 08-10-2008, 08:50 AM

Update: Dell have 'no idea' what the problem is. Powered hub doesnt work. Taking board off the wall doesnt work.
I am really stuck here- does ANYONE have any more ideas? Smart definitely seemed to think it was a known issue and I cant believe it doesnt have a solution

SYSMAN_MK · 08-10-2008, 08:54 AM

Have you tried to re-image the laptop in question? You mention that it was working previously. Could be a software related issue.

witch · 08-10-2008, 12:20 PM

Havent reimaged it as I dont have an image of this one. But I dont think it is that as the other Dell has the same problem. I am also not convinced it ever worked!
Have System Restored though and that didnt work!

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02-10-2008, 09:14 AM	#1
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	Odd Smartboard/Dell problem My newest smartboards have a standard 'printer type' usb connection and work fine- EXCEPT: One teacher has a newish Dell Latitude D520 and it will not connect to the board no matter what I do. (Although it has done for a year) I have upgraded smart software and drivers, and I cannot find a problem on the Dell. I have spoken to Smart and they have said that it is a problem with newer Dells that they believe is to do with excessive current. I have tried another laptop - a newish Tosh - and it worked first time, so I think Smart may be right. Has anyone come across this and maybe a solution?

02-10-2008, 09:18 AM	#2
SYSMAN_MK Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 1,997 Thanks: 66 Thanked 231 Times in 161 Posts Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 52	Are you using the latest BIOS (A07) on the D520? Last edited by SYSMAN_MK; 02-10-2008 at 09:21 AM..

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Odd Smartboard/Dell problem

02-10-2008, 09:19 AM	#3
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	Yes I am

02-10-2008, 09:20 AM	#4
teejay Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts Rep Power: 3	We have had a problem with the D520's, not quite the same problem as yours, and it was down to the power supply. Try running the laptop off battery and see if it works. If it does Dell will swap the power adaptor if its still under warranty with a different model.

02-10-2008, 09:25 AM	#5
SYSMAN_MK Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 1,997 Thanks: 66 Thanked 231 Times in 161 Posts Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 52	Also you using Vista or XP?

02-10-2008, 04:35 PM	#6
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	XP pro Thanks TeeJay I'll try on monday - but I thought the smartboards will only work when the laptop is on mains power - that's what they told me, anyway

06-10-2008, 08:27 AM	#7
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	Right - still no joy - doesnt work with or without power supply. I will ring Dell support but I hold out little hope of a solution. Has anyone any other ideas or experience of this?

06-10-2008, 09:38 AM	#8
dave.81 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Devon Posts: 461 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts Rep Power: 5	I wonder if this could be the same problem as our new vostro laptops producing spikes, excess current making the boards short out against the wall. Hmmm will have to investigate this.

06-10-2008, 09:53 AM	#9
powdarrmonkey Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alcester, Warwickshire Posts: 1,211 Thanks: 60 Thanked 121 Times in 99 Posts Rep Power: 26	Get hold of an externally powered USB hub and try connecting through that. If you're lucky a cheapy one will have some power isolation between the host and the devices, which may help.

06-10-2008, 10:22 AM	#10
cooper Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 143 Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Rep Power: 4	Have you tried all the usb ports i had a dell laptop that would only work the my ipod from one port the others didnt like it.

06-10-2008, 10:23 AM	#11
wesleyw Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Walsall Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 27 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Rep Power: 10	The USB hub won't work for long we've had the problem you describe except our would connect but produce some very strange effects as the power spikes occurred. What you need to do is mount some wooden batons about 2 - 3 inches deep and then mount the smartboard on these that will stop it shorting out against the wall. Just to make sure though take the Smartboard down plug the laptop into then and try it if it works mount the batons and then the smartboard you'll be fine. Wes

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06-10-2008, 12:01 PM	#12
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	I have ordered a powered hub and will try this as well as taking the board off the wall and seeing if that is the problem I'll let you know

08-10-2008, 08:50 AM	#13
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	Update: Dell have 'no idea' what the problem is. Powered hub doesnt work. Taking board off the wall doesnt work. I am really stuck here- does ANYONE have any more ideas? Smart definitely seemed to think it was a known issue and I cant believe it doesnt have a solution

08-10-2008, 08:54 AM	#14
SYSMAN_MK Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 1,997 Thanks: 66 Thanked 231 Times in 161 Posts Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 52	Have you tried to re-image the laptop in question? You mention that it was working previously. Could be a software related issue.

08-10-2008, 12:20 PM	#15
witch Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dorset Posts: 2,039 Thanks: 7 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Rep Power: 18	Havent reimaged it as I dont have an image of this one. But I dont think it is that as the other Dell has the same problem. I am also not convinced it ever worked! Have System Restored though and that didnt work!

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