Troubleshooting ActivBoard Connection Issues 10/10

Here is my “go to” checklist for pen/board connections that aren't working:

1. Look at the ActivManager icon on the Task Tray across the bottom of the screen
1. If it is an orange icon on a white square, then it is connected
2. If it is a red X on a white square, then it is not properly connecting
3. Your goal is to make sure the orange icon appears (not the red X)
4. After each step here, check to see if the Red X disappears
   
2. Update ActivDriver - \\pisdcifs02\pisdshare\Promethean\ActivBoard_Install_Items\ActivInspire\Drivers_and_Updates
1. The one to open is almost always - ActivDriver_x64+v5.9.27+setup
2. To find out for sure, you can right click on My Computer, choose Properties and look at System Type to determine the number
   
   
3. If updating the driver doesn’t work, reseat/replug (find a different USB plug) the Promethean Board USB plug in the back of the computer (this serves as a chance for the promethean board to “reacquaint” itself with this newly updated driver)
   
   
4. If that doesn’t work, unplug and replug the Promethean Board into the electrical outlet (this might be necessary if there was a power outage or power surge recently at the campus).
   
   
5. If that doesn’t work, you might see if the board is connected to the computer via a network cable and make sure it is securely connected.  And not a bad idea to check all other cables to make sure they are securely connected.
   
   
6. If the board connects (red X on task tray turns to an orange promethean symbol) and the lights are on from the promethean board BUT the pen still doesn’t work, you might consider getting a pen from a neighboring teacher that works and testing to see if it works on the board.  This will narrow down whether the pen is good or not.
   
   
7. And one final thing is to check the “nib” on the end of the pen and make sure it is still in reasonably good shape.  If not, you might see about changing it out to see if that helps.

After all that, give up and turn the work order over to tech services.  It could be a firmware (hardware) problem…..and they have to address this.