Problems with pen recognition

[seabass]

Sometimes when we turn our ACTIVboards on the pen interaction doesn't work, is there a certain way we have to turn things on, i.e. computer first then board or board first then computer. It's a bit frustrating!

[Dug]

We too have had this problem. Thankfully we're now beyond the point where colleagues would bring me a pen (or send a child with it) saying 'Can I have a new pen, this one doesn't work'. Given the different sorts of arrangements and setups we have in different classrooms, the root cause varies. Firstly, I would always have the board switched on and connected to the computer before booting up. I would also always use the same USB slot (as the slots themselves need to be individually configured for the board)- worth remembering if users are plugging laptops in each day. You might need to right click the AV icon on the taskbar and choose 'configure', then 'search'. By the way, the AV icon is always the first thing I look at when someone says there's a problem (I'm looking for a red cross through it).
As we are a Primary school and tend to be one teacher/one board, colleagues soon get into a workable routine.
As a post script, I should say that just about everything I've learnt has been on the phone to those fantastically helpful people at 'Tech-Support'.

[AirSkeeter]

Sometimes you just need to hover over the board with the pen for a few(5-10) seconds and the board will recognise the pen.

[seabass]

Thanks for your help doug, the search thing is what i seem to have to do every single time by right clicking the AV button. Why does it do this, I have my board connected to my computer all the time and it just seems to randomly choose when to work and when not, sometimes I can go for weeks without needing to do that but then all of a sudden it will start to do it every day.

It's very frustrating, I never had this problem using other makes of board in other schools, why does it do it so much with the promethean boards?

[Margaret Allen]

Well hello Seabass,

It seems that you and I are destined to meet in various forums. My understanding from the last forum where we met, was that everything about Promethean boards was less than satisfactory :D . Have you had any good experiences? +wave+ Presumably you are using Activstudio/Activpirmary, have you not found these to be fantastic mediums for engaging the children?

As Dug has suggested Technical Support are there to support you through any difficulties. Where are you based? It might even be that we can send someone along to help you +wave+

[Dug]

I too have met you elsewhere, fishy one! Can't give you the specific help you sound like you need but do give them a ring - problems are usually sorted in minutes.

[Daniel Turner]

Seabass

It may be that you have the 2 board drivers on the system and they conflict at startup. It may just be the speed of bootup fluxuates so sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.


Best Regards


Dan

Tech Support

[seabass]

It seems I have lots of friends,

If it is the TES website that you are refferring to, I happen to like a good debate. I don't think everything Promethean is less than satisfactory, I just happen to prefer SMARTboards and their software, many of my collegues have a different opinion and everyone is entitled to their own. I use both boards since I teach in different classrooms which is why I am asking the questions in this forum.

I am using ACTIVstudio and it is fine, but I prefer the microsoft office feel of Notebook, it's just easier to operate.

Daniel, so how do I find out if I have two board drivers?

[Phil Simpson]

If you have to search each time you boot up, it could be that your Activdriver is set to manually start. You will find a dro;p down box in the same box as the start button to select Automatic start.

[seabass]

Phil, no it is definately set as automatic, thats why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

[AirSkeeter]

Call technical support.