Well, after trying any number of things to see if I could discern a pattern to
the problem if 100% CPU every once in a while I gave in. I swapped the unit at
CompUSA. My problem was random, but when it hit, the problem could only be
resolved by rebooting and then it still could come back. Usually, though, a
reboot of the system resolved it for that session - be that an hour or a day. It
mattered not if it was on AC or battery. Wireless LAN adapter on or off made no
difference. I updated the Pen/Digitizer driver by uninstalling it and
reinstalling it, with no change, as the Event Viewer showed 2 entries at every
boot for the pen. The Event Viewer also showed some entries for Machine Check
that led me to believe it was a driver problem. When the Averatec worked, it
worked wonderfully. The battery life is terrible, but the price of this unit is
very good.
Anyway, Averatec support suggested using the restore CD set - 3 CD Ghost image
set - to see if maybe a driver hadn't registered itself properly the first time
around. I held off on that until yesterday. It didn't resolve the problem. So, I
went over to CompUSA and returned the unit and asked for another one. They gave
me no problems on the swap, but wanted to run diagnostics on the new one before
I took it, to make sure that there would be no problems with the new one. I came
back 2 hours later and picked up the unit.
Fortunately, I opened the box at the store, because they had given me the AC
Adapter and other stuff from my box along with the new Tablet and case. They had
not given me the Restore CD set or the printed One Note license. I got that
straightened out - they had not seen the CD sleeve in the box that I brought in.
Since I had not brought the little Windows booklet or the fliers that came with
the PC, they kept those from the new one. They did give me my Restore CD set
and the One Note paper. Well, I'm actually glad that they did this because the
unit I took home was an older unit, probably a customer return! I was amazed to
boot the unit up to see Windows SP1 and Tablet PC 2002 greet me. I had already
noted that the little plastic labels below the keyboard were not fully adhered
to the casing.
The good news is that I was able to simply restore the Ghost image to the "new"
unit and I had the latest software. More good news is that there has been no
problem with a spiking CPU despite multiple reboots and fairly constant use all
day today. It is also interesting to note that the Pen errors at every boot and
the Machine Check entries are in the Event Viewer logs on this unit, too. I
suspect that there is indeed a driver that needs to be updated, but the machine
works perfectly, so I'll live with it. If not, I'm under warranty, so I can
return it again. :-)
-steve

--
Stephen Boots
MVP MSN.COM
sboots@mvps.org

Good deal on receiving another unit. I would suggest you install the pen
drivers, but do it in Safe Mode by booting with F8 (without Networking) so
nothing interferes with the install.
--
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
In memory of a true friend, Windows MVP Alex Nichol

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


"StephenB" <nospam@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:l99941ld4558rucn38gs7jae9pd0mhsjj3@4ax.com...
> Well, after trying any number of things to see if I could discern a
> pattern to
> the problem if 100% CPU every once in a while I gave in. I swapped the
> unit at
> CompUSA. My problem was random, but when it hit, the problem could only be
> resolved by rebooting and then it still could come back. Usually, though,
> a
> reboot of the system resolved it for that session - be that an hour or a
> day. It
> mattered not if it was on AC or battery. Wireless LAN adapter on or off
> made no
> difference. I updated the Pen/Digitizer driver by uninstalling it and
> reinstalling it, with no change, as the Event Viewer showed 2 entries at
> every
> boot for the pen. The Event Viewer also showed some entries for Machine
> Check
> that led me to believe it was a driver problem. When the Averatec worked,
> it
> worked wonderfully. The battery life is terrible, but the price of this
> unit is
> very good.
> Anyway, Averatec support suggested using the restore CD set - 3 CD Ghost
> image
> set - to see if maybe a driver hadn't registered itself properly the first
> time
> around. I held off on that until yesterday. It didn't resolve the problem.
> So, I
> went over to CompUSA and returned the unit and asked for another one. They
> gave
> me no problems on the swap, but wanted to run diagnostics on the new one
> before
> I took it, to make sure that there would be no problems with the new one.
> I came
> back 2 hours later and picked up the unit.
> Fortunately, I opened the box at the store, because they had given me the
> AC
> Adapter and other stuff from my box along with the new Tablet and case.
> They had
> not given me the Restore CD set or the printed One Note license. I got
> that
> straightened out - they had not seen the CD sleeve in the box that I
> brought in.
> Since I had not brought the little Windows booklet or the fliers that came
> with
> the PC, they kept those from the new one. They did give me my Restore CD
> set
> and the One Note paper. Well, I'm actually glad that they did this because
> the
> unit I took home was an older unit, probably a customer return! I was
> amazed to
> boot the unit up to see Windows SP1 and Tablet PC 2002 greet me. I had
> already
> noted that the little plastic labels below the keyboard were not fully
> adhered
> to the casing.
> The good news is that I was able to simply restore the Ghost image to the
> "new"
> unit and I had the latest software. More good news is that there has been
> no
> problem with a spiking CPU despite multiple reboots and fairly constant
> use all
> day today. It is also interesting to note that the Pen errors at every
> boot and
> the Machine Check entries are in the Event Viewer logs on this unit, too.
> I
> suspect that there is indeed a driver that needs to be updated, but the
> machine
> works perfectly, so I'll live with it. If not, I'm under warranty, so I
> can
> return it again. :-)
> -steve
>
> --
> Stephen Boots
> MVP MSN.COM
> sboots@mvps.org

"Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote:

>Good deal on receiving another unit. I would suggest you install the pen
>drivers, but do it in Safe Mode by booting with F8 (without Networking) so
>nothing interferes with the install.

Knock on wood, it's still working great. The digitizer/pen driver has been
updated (in safe Mode) from the updated driver supplied on the Averatec web
site, yet the errors in the Event Viewer remain at boot. At least the 100% CPU
problem is not evident on this replacement unit.

-steve

--
Stephen Boots
MVP MSN.COM
sboots@mvps.org

Is the pen driver the original from Averatec? I don't recall exactly, but I
believe they don't use the Wacom drivers, is that correct? If they're
supplying their own, perhaps you should inform the support section of what
you're seeing and tell them the steps you've taken to try correcting the
problem. If the "Averatec" drivers are from a third party, perhaps you
could find a newer one on that company's web site?
--
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx
In memory of a true friend, Windows MVP Alex Nichol

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


"StephenB" <nospam@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:qvid4116huhsnfqmkuhvm77vrm1mdb0i35@4ax.com...
> "Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote:
>
>>Good deal on receiving another unit. I would suggest you install the pen
>>drivers, but do it in Safe Mode by booting with F8 (without Networking) so
>>nothing interferes with the install.
>
> Knock on wood, it's still working great. The digitizer/pen driver has been
> updated (in safe Mode) from the updated driver supplied on the Averatec
> web
> site, yet the errors in the Event Viewer remain at boot. At least the 100%
> CPU
> problem is not evident on this replacement unit.
>
> -steve
>
> --
> Stephen Boots
> MVP MSN.COM
> sboots@mvps.org

"Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote:

>Is the pen driver the original from Averatec? I don't recall exactly, but I
>believe they don't use the Wacom drivers, is that correct? If they're
>supplying their own, perhaps you should inform the support section of what
>you're seeing and tell them the steps you've taken to try correcting the
>problem. If the "Averatec" drivers are from a third party, perhaps you
>could find a newer one on that company's web site?

The drivers are from Averatec and are not available from the OEM for the
digitizer. I don't have the link handy, but the company that makes it for
Averatec doesn't have anything that looks like the Averatec pen on their site
nor do they have drivers available for anything but the models they sell
directly.
I will be letting Averatec support knw of my problems. Thanks, Chris!
-steve

--
Stephen Boots
MVP MSN.COM
sboots@mvps.org