Promethean Pen issues

[MK-2]

This seems a bit of a strange one:

 

One specific laptop has the Activ software installed, the icon shows it is running, everything is fine, yet the pen has no effect on the board.

Same pen works elsewhere and same board works with other laptops.

There are no driver issues, I've tried reinstalling the driver/software and it does the same, and we have the same brand laptop working elsewhere.

 

Anyone ever had problems with just the pen not responding when all things show it should be?

[Geoff]

cable/broken port on laptop? Also is it USB or serial or keyspan? If it's keyspan, try reinstalling the keyspan driver.

[Hcc2]

we had the same problem and we found you have to reset the boards power to re-enable the pen, simply de-power the board for 5 mins then plug back in.

[MK-2]

thing is, the board works with a seperate laptop. so that would indicate all hardware except the laptop being ok.

 

last resort is to ghost the laptop and see if it's something the teacher has installed.

 

i'll still try powering the board down though.

 

thanks guys

[bishopsgarthstockton]

is device manager flagging any problems?

[ZeroHour]

We are having the same issue. Our slates work when linked and can control the PC but the board does nothing.

I have tried the usual tricks to no success so far.

No errors anywhere including event logs. It was working yesterday morning and then just gave up.

[StuartC]

try updating to activdriver 4.1.9, there were a few connectivity problems in 4.1.8. or try phoning support, or email through the form on http://uk.prometheankb.com/

[ZeroHour]

God they release updates almost as fast as Raisers Edge lol.

I will try that version and let you know.

[StuartC]

hehe, if you find a problem we release a fix

 

btw, love the sig

[witch]

You say there are no driver issues - in my experience it is that the proper activ driver is not being used, but a generic driver is. Have you forced it to take the ACTIV driver? Sometimes it looks as if it has been installed and says it is fine but it is not using it!

Go to device manager

USB Human Interface Device

(If not there try usb connector in the other port)

Right click Update driver

NOT autosearch

Choose from list

There will be 2 possible choices:

Choose the USB Activboard driver

 

Always keep the USB connector in the same port

I Hate Prometheans:

2 schools, one all Smartboards, one all Prometheans.

Smartboard school, no driver or software issues in 3 years

Promethean school, driver and software issues every week minimum!

[StuartC]

actually that statement has been wrong since before xmas 2006. the driver from 4.1.8 onwards has been signed by microsoft so it can be used correctly. I currently have only heard of 1 problem with 4.1.9 activdriver and that has been internal, so no customer reported issues. which I think is a first.

[tosca925]

Anyone got the 4.1.9 activdriver driver or have alink to download it?

[ZeroHour]

Its on the site. I got it from there.

[alonebfg]

We Have cal problems with the driver on some laptops and it drive the teaches mad and we have the most up to date driver. About every 1 hour they have to recalabrate with ap3 but the ones with 2.5 are ok.

[plexer]

StuartC: I presume you are from promethean?

 

Ben

[StuartC]

Yup, says so in my profile

 

worked in call centre for 2 years, last 1 year has been technical training international and UK resellers and developing the knowledgebase (and other tools to be released soon)

 

as for the calibration problem reports by alonebfg, just check that the users have the correct write permissions in these registry locations:

Driver 2/3 Serial HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ACTIVdrv\Parameters

Driver 2/3 USB HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ActivDRV_USB\Parameters

Driver 4 Serial HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ActivHIDSerMini\Parameters\Calibration

Driver 4 USB HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ActivHIDMini\Parameters\Calibration