Okay, sorry for all this, but we should review step-by-step and make sure
nothing is missing. Unfortunately, not seeing your machine, I can only
guess what single thing or combination of things might be causing this. You
did say you reinstalled from the OEM CD/DVD, correct? Did you format the
drive or reinstall over the top of what was there, and was the previous
installation functioning properly?

Meanwhile, please have patience and retrace the steps from the beginning
again, methodically using some of the original troubleshooting information I
posted months ago. I know we've covered some of the information, but
perhaps missed something. 8-)
=====
First, check something if you would. Go to Start/Run and put in "msconfig"
without the quotation marks and then tap the OK button. Then go to the
Startup tab. Please verify two things:


(1) There is a listing in the Startup Item column for "tablet s" (without
quotes), and there is a check mark in the box to the left of it.
(2) There is a listing in the Startup Item column for "tabtip" (again
without quotes), and there is a check mark in the box to the left of it.


If both of the above are correct, then we need to edit the Registry. If
neither are listed, we've got another issue. If both are listed, but don't
have check marks in the boxes to the left of the entry, please place a check
mark in the box, tap Apply, then OK and close out the System Configuration
Utility. Then restart your system and see if the floating tip functions
properly when the following three items are present (all three are
required): (1) the Tablet Input Panel is in Undock mode, (2) the pen is
within about 1/2 inch of the screen and, (3) the cursor is in a text input
area.


If this FAILS to function correctly, then you need to edit the Registry.
This can be done from Start/Run by putting in "regedit" (without quotes) and
tapping the OK button.


**If you haven't done this before, please follow the information to back up
the data by going to Help, then Help Topics, select the Index and put in
"backing up data" in the Search line. With that result, select "registry
data" and then explicitly follow the information to ensure you've got a
proper backup before editing anything.**


After backing up the Registry (it may take a while, because it is quite
large), you will note the listing of My Computer in the left pane. Tap the
+ sign next to it to expand, and you will see five different folders. We're
interested in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE listing where you need to navigate to:
\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cu*rrentVersion\Run. There's a lot of
information listed, so take your time, and just keep navigating until you
reach the precise location by tapping any additional + signs in the left
pane to expand what's below the listing.


First, once you're down to the Run location, you'll see a lot of entries
revealed in the right panel. Look for one named StartTabletService. The
listing in the Data column should be "tablet s" without the quotes. If it
is NOT, right-click the entry in the name column (StartTabletService) and
select Modify off the menu. This will open a new screen where you can put
the entry "tablet s" WITHOUT THE QUOTES in the Value data: line. After
you've precisely entered tablet s, tap the OK button.


Second, look for the "TabletTip" entry (without quotes) in the Name column,
then look in the Data column to see if EXACTLY this is listed - including
the quotation marks and spacing:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink\tabtip.exe" /resume .
If that exact phrase from "C: through /resume is not listed, right-click the
TabletTip entry in the Name column, and again select Modify. Enter the
additional or corrected information, again followed by OK.


You should now be done with editing the Registry. Just close the Registry
Editor either by tapping the red box with the white X in the upper-right
corner or using the File drop-down menu, followed by Exit. Restart your
computer,

=====
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone



"ivanh" <iphdub******.com> wrote in message
news:1114536696.875375.280610@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>> The advanced settings were correct. English US is the default
> language
>> and all 4 services were installed. Secondary language of English
>> (Ireland) is also installed which also has the 4 services active.
> Still
>> no input panel!
>
>> Thanks for your patience
>
> Thinking . . . Could you please leave the previous post in your
> response.
> Makes it much easier to review what we've done before. 8-)
>
>
>>Try this: Go to the Command Prompt (not Start/Run) and enter
> "regsvr32
>>inkobj.dll" without the quotation marks, then Enter and then "regsvr32
>
>>tpcps.dll" (without quotes) then Enter again. Restart your machine
> after
>>finishing each of those two modifications to the Registry.
>>--
>
> Thanks - both dll registrations succeeded from the c:\program
> files\common files\Microsoft shared\ink\ directory. I rebooted but
> still no joy.
>
> Ivan
>