Different versions of Promethean boards

[john]

Thanks for that info Dan, much appreciated! On a quick note, last time I checked, if the hardware didn't have certified drivers by default it would refuse to let you install it as it would in MSFTs view compromise the stability of the system, I take it we can get round it as we do in XP by saying yes we know etc etc....

[woody]

We have just bought 8 new 78" Promethean Active boards and they have come with ActivStudio. I have tried Activstudio on our older TDS Activeboards (bought around 2002ish just before Promethean took over) running on USB. The new driver works fine, but when you run Activstudio, it asks you to install a 'Promethean Activboard', then the software quits. If I unplug the TDS board, Activstudio will run fine. How can I get the software to work with the TDS board then?

[drjturner]

we have some Promethean PX boards, they wouldnt work with anything but PX software that is causing no end of problems due to the fact that staff have their own laptops and expect things to just work.

 

is it possible to use ative studio on PX boards? and vise versa?

 

Hi Dave

 

This is because these boards are really marketed at Businesses ie conference centres, hotels, emergency services etc rather than Education establishments.

 

You can have the boards upgraded but you will have to contact your original reseller to purchase. If you do not have record of your reseller pm me a serial number and I will be able to let you know.

 

 

Px flipcharts can be imported into activstudio but not the other way around.

 

Hi Woody

 

Your TDS boards works in the same way as Daves PX boards above, You need to contact your original reseller who will be able to provide you with a price. Again if you do not know this information PM me a serial number and I can tell you who your reseller is.

 

You can use PX on your TDS boards without upgrading.

[woody]

So what you mean is we have to buy a license for Activstudio to run it on the older TDS Activboards?

[drjturner]

So what you mean is we have to buy a license for Activstudio to run it on the older TDS Activboards?

 

You either need an electronics change or a hardware key to allow Activstudio to run as electronics firmware is different.

 

So yes there will be a cost involved for a license and the above.

[Richie1972]

Our school's got around seven TDS boards and it's a pain having to explain to staff that they can't have activstudio 2 on them.

The fact that there's different electronics is irrelevent, as the staff only use the basics - surely the only real hardware difference is that the TDS boards don't have the built in wireless comms that the promethean boards do.

We have a site licence for Activstudio 2, so can't we be supplied with a version that will work with TDS boards?

Or is there a firmware update that would help?

I can't imagine our school going for what I would think is a prohibitively expensive upgrade

 

Richie

[drjturner]

Richard

 

I think you have hit the nail on the head, We market these boards not for education purposes, but resellers sell them into education with PX (boardmate at the time), at a lower cost, ie the saving for the developement cost of activstudio or activprimary, therefore you are paying the extra now rather than at the time of purchase.

 

A firmware upgrade will not help.

 

The license states

 

This agreement permits you to install and use one copy of this application on a single computer that acts as host to a Promethean Activboard or Activpanel. Presentation of this application on a projector only, or usage with any other manufacturer's tablet or interactive board is a breach of license.

 

So yes install Activstudio on any pc, for preparation work if you have an agreement with someone here to do so, but it cannot be connected to another manufacturers board.

[Richie1972]

Ok, so if we wanted to "upgrade" our seven TDS boards, how much is it likely to cost?

[woody]

Another question: Do we have to buy the upgrade off the original re-seller? We had a bad experiece with the company we bought the first boards off which were all TDS boards. We have recently been using another company for the newer promethean boards. Can not this company provide us with a board upgrade?

[drjturner]

I am getting this confirmed and let you know.

[drjturner]

Ok

 

Got word back

 

you can buy from any reseller you are happy with.

 

You will need serial numbers, so it maybe worth getting them before phoning, these can be found on the pen holders or on very early boards on the back.

[mullet_man]

@ drjturner

 

I wonder if you can help me, I have a new teacher laptop which I am trying to install the latest activ driver on 3.05 (USB), but for some reason when I go to Device Manager and choose to manually install the right driver for the board, it is not bringing up the ActivBoard driver, it will let me choose any device, or all devices.

 

This is the first time this has happened? Any ideas?

[tomscaper]

We have a similar problem, we have two types of board in our school, the older boardmate board they say TDS on them, and the newer promethean board, the drivers all work on the TDS boards but when it comes to opening up activstudio 2 it brings up an error message asking to connect the promethean board.

 

If we put the older boardmate driver on the board connects up to activstudio fine with no problems, it can be quite a pain if teachers try and move around the school, so we just told them they can only move rooms if they dont move there laptops.

 

I havnt been able to find a solution to this, or even someone who also has this problem.