Ok the short and sweet version, since the averatec c3500 only comes with a ghost backup image it makes it hard for those of us who like to install our OS our way. Luckly Averatec gave us the i386 folder that is located @ c:\windows\i386 , im not sure if this is a true oem version for which the key on the bottom of the case will work, or if you need the actualy install key that Averatec used, which you can get with this program keyfinder


ok here comes the fun, you need a copy of an actual windows xp pro cd, follow the steps in the link below to copy the contents of the cd to the hard drive, then after your done copying the contents to the hard drive, replace the i386 folder the one from c:\windows\i386, then follow the rest of the site, after you are done you will have a bootable windows xp tablet pc 2005 cd


http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...slipstream.asp

Neat, and so you get an install that is already updated, no more sitting through the SP2 update. Also, since you can use the provided key to register the "trial" version of OneNote, you have that...I guess the only other applications you'd be missing from the recovery CDs are PowerDVD and Roxio. PowerDVD could be a pain to replace unless you already have an install CD for that too.

I really don't have a big problem with how the recovery image is set up, except for having Norton Antivirus trialware installed. I have to blow that away and install AVG. But hopefully I won't have to reinstall XP since the dual-boot setup is working now; my desktop has had the same install of XP for at least a couple years. You just take care of it and it won't mess itself up too badly. XP and 2000 probably being the first Windows operating systems I ever took seriously.

ok, so the install never asked me for the cd key, so i am willing to bet that there is an unattend script,

also power dvd and roxio are no biggy i use nero anyways and you can get an oem version of powerdvd cheap these days.

I meant the key for the newest version of OneNote, people have already found out that you can download the updated trial version and register it with the OneNote key included in the box. Actually this is the only way to update OneNote because when trying to run the online update for OneNote, it asks for installation media which Averatec doesn't provide.

when i said it never asked me for a key i ment that OS install, and there is an unattend script in the i386 folder thus you dont need the windows cd key on the bottom of the case unless you remove the unattend.

This did not work for me. I followed the directions to the letter, then when trying to install windows, everything goes fine from the boot cd, copies the files over, etc, and after the first reboot, I get an error about 'malformed text' in one of the files that it's trying to copy from the cd. Says installation cannot continue..blah, blah...

Anyone else had this problem or is it only me?

I can't help you out here; as I said before, the base image is not bad. They could have really loaded it down with crap like you get with Dell or HP, but it's actually pretty clean. I haven't had to reinstall XP on my desktop for a couple years, and I don't plan to do it on this laptop.

If you have trouble breaking things and only knowing how to reinstall instead of fix the problem, one possibility is to create a user account with limited permissions and use that for your day-to-day stuff.

Or alternatively you could just pm me for a copy of TPC OEM SP2 integrated. Using your own key of course.

Well I've tried a few things with this...

I followed the instructions provided, and wound up with an install ( fully unattended ) that did not wipe out the original partition.. ( not what I wanted ).

So, I formatted the partition, and re-ran the install, and all was well.. Except... I couldn't configure the Windows Firewall ( with SP2 ). It seems the 'Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing' service requires another service which is not installed.. Tried doing updates from Windows Update, and still no Win Firewall config.

All in all, I ended up doing a restore ( using the hacked password ) to the partition to get things working correctly...

So, I ask...Has this happened to anyone else using this procedure??

I replaced the entire i386 directory.. Should I maybe have just overwritten it? ( Maybe there are files in the XP-Pro i386 folder that are not in the Averatec C:\Windows\i386 folder.. ) Will try that sometime in a virtual machine.

Averatec C3500 Convertible
Bought Feb 2004

Tried everything to the letter - during install it was missing the tabcal.exe - calibration exe - hit cancel - xp still continued installing.....
Anyone else encountered this problem?

Install got over finally - but it is totally messed up - cannot use the touchpad to do anything - basically the installation was useless. As I moved along the touchpad, it was clicking sometimes left sometimes right buttons automatically. Never went past half the screen - total mess.

Will try to restore from the Ghost images on the restore CD.
Will also try to extract the images using Ghost Explorer (if it is not encrypted) and try to create all software disks that way.

Anyone tried this approach?

Looks like my WinXP Cd had a file missing from the \cmpnents\TABLETPC\i386 directory and the file was Tabletpc.cab. That is the file with all the programs that are used for TabletPC edition.

Here is what I did:

1. Copy all files from the Averatec boot cds to one folder on the harddrive IMAGE.GHO, IMAGE001.GHS, IMAGE002.GHS (Located in \FILES directory)
2. Get Hiren's Boot CD 6.0 (Hard to find but available on google)
3. Load in Windows - Navigate to Bootcd\Wintools directory - Extract all files in the the GhostExplor...cab file (or something like that) to your hard drive
4. Run the Ghostexp.exe
5. Open the IMAGE.GHO file in the GhostExp.exe
6. Navigate to \cmpnents\TABLETPC\i386 directory and copy the file Tabletpc.cab to your harddrive
7. Now follow the instructions above for creating the WinXP Bootable CD

Hope that helps :)

Still having mouse issues - will post what happens as I troubleshoot

Got the drivers for the ALPS touchpad from Averatec site and all kinds of drivers - seems like I have a fresh clean install of XP Tablet on - let me see if I have the problems of 100% CPU, hibernate slow down etc that I had with the Averatec install.