http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc1.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc2.jpg

Some friends have this laptop problem.

For months, they have not been able to remove the onscreen keyboard
from view. One can move the keyboard down and off the screen, but it
just pops up again. There is no X to click. This keyboard stays on
top of any program running.

I'm not that familiar with XP or Tablet PC Edition. I don't know if I
reinstalled all the software and OS if the same thing would happen.

Is the pen actually allowed to touch the screen?

Tim

Hey man, I'm new too. I have seen that very keyboard on my screen during
setup. It only showed up the first time I booted the machine, but it was
seriously annoying. The best I could do is resize it (so I made it as small
as it would go). It shows up just at boot, but before the OS starts in
order for someone to log in while in tablet mode (it's hard for handwriting
recognition to recognize complex passwords correctly, it better to type it
in).

As to why it's showing up *all the time* for you is, as far as I can tell, a
problem.

And yes, according to all the data I've gotten, the tutorial, and personal
experience, it seems appropriate to touch the screen with the pen. Be
gentle of course, but that's how the thing works.

HTH


"Tim923" <tws0923@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:m72cd0hvfj4hqjeu89ksbo4tneqn1vofnt@4ax.com...
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc1.jpg
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc2.jpg
>
> Some friends have this laptop problem.
>
> For months, they have not been able to remove the onscreen keyboard
> from view. One can move the keyboard down and off the screen, but it
> just pops up again. There is no X to click. This keyboard stays on
> top of any program running.
>
> I'm not that familiar with XP or Tablet PC Edition. I don't know if I
> reinstalled all the software and OS if the same thing would happen.
>
> Is the pen actually allowed to touch the screen?
>
> Tim

Can't help on the keyboard, except that one should disappear. As far as
touching the screen with the pen, by golly that's what you are supposed to
do. Treat it like pen on paper. You'll tap to mouse click and even need to
press down and hold to effect a right mouse click, called tap and hold.
Depending on the tablet and software, the tablet may be pressure sensitive
and alter the stroke depending on the pressure applied.

--
Sven, MS-MVP Mobile Devices
"Callahan" <callahanmct@SPAMBAD.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:u3OSWvzVEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hey man, I'm new too. I have seen that very keyboard on my screen during
> setup. It only showed up the first time I booted the machine, but it was
> seriously annoying. The best I could do is resize it (so I made it as
small
> as it would go). It shows up just at boot, but before the OS starts in
> order for someone to log in while in tablet mode (it's hard for
handwriting
> recognition to recognize complex passwords correctly, it better to type it
> in).
>
> As to why it's showing up *all the time* for you is, as far as I can tell,
a
> problem.
>
> And yes, according to all the data I've gotten, the tutorial, and personal
> experience, it seems appropriate to touch the screen with the pen. Be
> gentle of course, but that's how the thing works.
>
> HTH
>
>
> "Tim923" <tws0923@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:m72cd0hvfj4hqjeu89ksbo4tneqn1vofnt@4ax.com...
> > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc1.jpg
> > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8adrh/tabpc2.jpg
> >
> > Some friends have this laptop problem.
> >
> > For months, they have not been able to remove the onscreen keyboard
> > from view. One can move the keyboard down and off the screen, but it
> > just pops up again. There is no X to click. This keyboard stays on
> > top of any program running.
> >
> > I'm not that familiar with XP or Tablet PC Edition. I don't know if I
> > reinstalled all the software and OS if the same thing would happen.
> >
> > Is the pen actually allowed to touch the screen?
> >
> > Tim
>
>

How would I reinstall the operating system? Is it like the Windows 98
installation?

I don't even know if a clean reinstall would fix the problem.

This isn't a supported fix, but you might try installing SP2 RC2. No one
will support it outside of beta newsgroups, but the TIP was replaced
completely in SP2 so it might work itself out that way. You wouldn't be
running unsupported for very long cause it should be shipping in a few
months.

--
Josh Einstein
Einstein Technologies
--------------------------------------------------------
Add ink input to Outlook with Tablet Enhancements for Outlook! Only $19.99!
http://www.einsteinware.com

"Tim923" <tws0923@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:53hdd0tq3bgmkkngln39mshulru7q056ad@4ax.com...
> How would I reinstall the operating system? Is it like the Windows 98
> installation?
>
> I don't even know if a clean reinstall would fix the problem.

In article <53hdd0tq3bgmkkngln39mshulru7q056ad@4ax.com>, tws0923
@verizon.net says...
> How would I reinstall the operating system? Is it like the Windows 98
> installation?
>
> I don't even know if a clean reinstall would fix the problem.

Unless you have quite a bit of experience installing Windows XP, I
wouldn't undertake a manual install. There are additional files & folders
that need to be available for all the Tablet PC extentions to get
installed. However, all Tablet PC's come with an EZ Restore CD that
returns them to original factory settings. If you are contemplating a
full re-install anyway, this is probably your best bet. If the problem is
still there after that then it is definitely time to call the
manufacturer. But I just don't see how this could possibly be anything
other than a software problem.

If you do try the SP-2 RC 2 technique, you should keep in mind that you
will probably have to do a full re-install anyway when the final release
comes out. Others may disagree but this is my prediction.

Is it really that complicated to do a fresh install of Windows XP
Tablet PC Edition?

>Unless you have quite a bit of experience installing Windows XP, I
>wouldn't undertake a manual install. There are additional files & folders
>that need to be available for all the Tablet PC extentions to get
>installed. However, all Tablet PC's come with an EZ Restore CD that
>returns them to original factory settings. If you are contemplating a
>full re-install anyway, this is probably your best bet. If the problem is
>still there after that then it is definitely time to call the
>manufacturer. But I just don't see how this could possibly be anything
>other than a software problem.
>
>If you do try the SP-2 RC 2 technique, you should keep in mind that you
>will probably have to do a full re-install anyway when the final release
>comes out. Others may disagree but this is my prediction.

No, Tim, it's not if you use the CD included with your Tablet.

I believe he was talking about building the OS from scratch. Since each OEM
can use specialized drivers, it can be quite a project to rebuild the Tablet
PC without using the recovery CD.

--
Terri Stratton
Microsoft Windows MVP / Tablet PC
http://thetabletpc.net
Expert Zone - http://microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.asp


"Tim923" <tws0923@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:4v6hd0p9t9j6cmivvv7q9t084edfqd7s9i@4ax.com...
> Is it really that complicated to do a fresh install of Windows XP
> Tablet PC Edition?
>
>>Unless you have quite a bit of experience installing Windows XP, I
>>wouldn't undertake a manual install. There are additional files & folders
>>that need to be available for all the Tablet PC extentions to get
>>installed. However, all Tablet PC's come with an EZ Restore CD that
>>returns them to original factory settings. If you are contemplating a
>>full re-install anyway, this is probably your best bet. If the problem is
>>still there after that then it is definitely time to call the
>>manufacturer. But I just don't see how this could possibly be anything
>>other than a software problem.
>>
>>If you do try the SP-2 RC 2 technique, you should keep in mind that you
>>will probably have to do a full re-install anyway when the final release
>>comes out. Others may disagree but this is my prediction.
>

OK, I have the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition DVD-CD.

On the disk it reads: "To reinstall the operating system: Insert this
DVD, close all programs, restart your computer, then follow the
on-screen instructions." Sounds easy. Do I need the recovery CD, and
what is the title of that CD.

The laptop is Gateway M275.

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 14:06:39 -0700, "terri" <support@thetabletpc.net>
wrote:

>No, Tim, it's not if you use the CD included with your Tablet.
>
>I believe he was talking about building the OS from scratch. Since each OEM
>can use specialized drivers, it can be quite a project to rebuild the Tablet
>PC without using the recovery CD.

Hi, Tim,

The XP Tablet PC Edition is the correct one.

Since there have been so many new viruses and worms introduced since the
release of the Tablet, make sure that you get all updates and patches before
you go online. Do NOT take the option during the installation to get
updates during the install. The time between going online to get the
updates and actually getting them leaves the computer open to infection.

You can use Windows Catalog or Windows Update Service to download the
necessary patches and either copy them to a CD or to a network drive for
installation to the Tablet.

--
Terri Stratton
Microsoft Windows MVP / Tablet PC
http://thetabletpc.net
Expert Zone - http://microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.asp


"Tim923" <tws0923@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1uehd0dgs226ht02ihigc3tm50darsm4f6@4ax.com...
> OK, I have the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition DVD-CD.
>
> On the disk it reads: "To reinstall the operating system: Insert this
> DVD, close all programs, restart your computer, then follow the
> on-screen instructions." Sounds easy. Do I need the recovery CD, and
> what is the title of that CD.
>
> The laptop is Gateway M275.
>
> On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 14:06:39 -0700, "terri" <support@thetabletpc.net>
> wrote:
>
>>No, Tim, it's not if you use the CD included with your Tablet.
>>
>>I believe he was talking about building the OS from scratch. Since each
>>OEM
>>can use specialized drivers, it can be quite a project to rebuild the
>>Tablet
>>PC without using the recovery CD.
>

In article <4v6hd0p9t9j6cmivvv7q9t084edfqd7s9i@4ax.com>, tws0923
@verizon.net says...
> Is it really that complicated to do a fresh install of Windows XP
> Tablet PC Edition?
>
>
>
Terri was correct. Each OEM may require a different set of files to be
available when you do the install. Interestingly, there are no extra
steps that you take DURING the actual install. However, if you don't have
all the files already arranged on the hard drive or install CD for the
install to find when it needs them then many features will be left out
with no way to add them in later.

In article <1uehd0dgs226ht02ihigc3tm50darsm4f6@4ax.com>, tws0923
@verizon.net says...
> OK, I have the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition DVD-CD.
>
> On the disk it reads: "To reinstall the operating system: Insert this
> DVD, close all programs, restart your computer, then follow the
> on-screen instructions." Sounds easy. Do I need the recovery CD, and
> what is the title of that CD.
>
>
This IS your recovery CD.

In article <#dwul$KWEHA.3380@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>,
support@thetabletpc.net says...
> Since there have been so many new viruses and worms introduced since the
> release of the Tablet, make sure that you get all updates and patches before
> you go online. Do NOT take the option during the installation to get
> updates during the install. The time between going online to get the
> updates and actually getting them leaves the computer open to infection.
>
> You can use Windows Catalog or Windows Update Service to download the
> necessary patches and either copy them to a CD or to a network drive for
> installation to the Tablet.

Hey, Terri, it sounds as if you are getting just about as paranoid as I
am these days. It's getting to be worse than a jungle out there isn't it?
However, I don't know if the Windows Catalog is going to be too very
useful for a relative novice. I still haven't been able to figure it out
myself and I beat my head on it for weeks. There are so many indications
and contra-indications, to steal from medical parlance, that it was just
unmanageable. Not to mention the multiple different numbering systems
that Microsoft uses. If I had a whole enterprise to manage and could
assign an employee to just this task then I would certainly do it. But
I'm just a small independent consultant and I just don't have the time to
keep up with that mess. So I don't think regular people will be able to
do it either. If they have made it more simple recently let me know.

Tim, my standard technique now is to just make sure I am behind a
hardware firewall and run the standard Windows Update from the Start menu
right off the bat. I recommend a good hardware firewall for everyone who
has a broadband connection. It's really worth the hundred bucks or so in
the time and trouble you will save later. I prefer the NetGear brand
models for home and small businesses. They do much more than most of the
ultra-cheapo models but still aren't too expensive.

If you can figure out the Windows Update Catalog then it would be the
safest route to go. But if you don't want to go to all that trouble you
still definitely, ABSOLUTELY MUST, update Windows and Office as quickly
as possible. Terri is right, it is pretty awful out there and if you
don't update then something WILL get you within a week at the most, maybe
even the first day. It's that bad.