Thanks for the info. I'm still working at it.

Well, this is turning out to be one tough cookie. I fooled around enought with drivers and settings that I decided to start again from scratch.

I started off by formatting and doing a "clean" install from the Acer recovery disks. Then, I installed every single application that came on the "other" disks, regardless how useless/pointless some of them turned out to be. I figured this would have to install the missing driver/apps.....but no such luck.

Actually, the opposite...I found out that when you uninstall their "Empowering Technology" software, it uninstall the keyboard drivers and windows won't reinstall them on reboot (gotta do it manually using the pen....). Contacted Acer and it's like talking to Dumb & Dumber....

I'll keep trying stuff...I'll let you know if I find the miracle solution...