Frustrated in Maine

[wgamage]

H E L P ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Hello out there. I'm a new Activboard user. Went to the NECC in Atlanta last June and came back knowing I had to have a board in classroom. Worked the rest of the summer and first half of the school year to raise the money and had a board installed in December. I've pretty much been trouble shooting ever since and just last Thursday had a new board installed. Here's what's happening...the new board has not solved the problem.

1) When using the board it will simple stop working. It will be working just fine and I'll put the pen to the board and NOTHING!. It's like it has frozen completely. If I go directly to the computer I can operate the software using the mouse at the the screen, but the board will not function. I can't tell you how discouraged and upset I am. Across the hall they use a Smartboard will no trouble what-so-ever...on a mac as well. The district is buying 6 more boards this summer and I pushed for Promethean, but the order hasn't been placed I've got to resolve this issue before they will even consider buying another one. Has anybody out there experienced anything like this using a mac and how did you fix it.

Bummed out in Maine.

[srchlc]

Well, I don't have a MAC, but I did have this problem. Do you have a USB cord going to your computer from the board? That was my quick fix for a long time. I unplugged the cord and the board magically started working again. After much annoyance, our reseller brought a CD of new firmware for the board and it has never happened again. Please don't let this annoying thing change your attitude toward the Activboard! :eek: It's still the best by far in my book and I wouldn't give mine up for anything.... even when it keep freezing up!

Keep your chin up!

Holli

[wgamage]

Thanks Holli,

I have a junction box, so the USB doesn't connect directly into the computer. The board connects to the junction box and a smaller USB runs to my computer. In the trouble shooting process, they had me run one directly to the computer, it didn't work...but I think I'll try again with the new board. Thanks. I love the board, really can't imagine teaching without it, but I lose so much class time and momentum when it freezes and I have to reboot everything. Thanks again for your help. This is the first time I've used the forum. What a quick reply! I thought us teachers had weekends off? (NOT!) I'll give it a whirl.

Wendy:)

[BenPosner]

Wendy,

It could also be a driver issue. You may want to go to the dashboard and see what driver you are currently running, and then go to http://www.PrometheanWorld.com and see if that matches the latest driver available for your specific system. I know when we were having similar issues, it was due to a driver that was not up to date.

Hopefully you can get this fixed, because getting more ActivBoards would really be a good investment for your school! Keep us updated so we know what's going on!

~Ben

[JanP]

Hi Wendy,

I don't blame you for being bummed out! I have encountered the problem before and the quick fix of unplugging the USB and plugging it back in has worked for me.

I would definitely make sure that you are using the most up to date driver. For the Mac it is Driver 2.3.147. Do you know how to find what Driver you currently have installed?

This issue I would also report to Promethean Technical Support. Have you contacted them for advise already? You can find the number for your region on the front page of Planet under support.

I hope you get your problem sorted soon!

Janice
TLA Scotland

[saha]

Hi Wendy,
I think your junction box is the problem.
If I am correct, your junction box is box that connects your USB cable, your speakers and your projector.

Couple of things:
-Please make sure you the updated driver and the software.

-Your junction box is currently acting like a USB cord extender. Ask the reseller who installled or if you can trace it yourself, you need to have the USB cable directly connected from the board to your computer. Bypassing the junction box/USB extender might do the trick.

[gpatrenos]

I've had the same problem in the past.
The driver update fixed it.
We are installing several new boards at my school and updating the driver is one of the first things I do.