Tablet Freeze up in the Far North

[Alaska Mike]

I have been using my Electrovaya 3100 Tablet since August of 2006 after a few years with an oldie but goodie Compaq TC1000. The Electrovaya is a much nicer and faster tablet than the Compaq but is rather fussy. It likes to freeze up in the middle of its use for no apparent reason. I am a physician and using a wireless connection to a server so the freeze up is a pain in itself that is increased by the time and hassle of having to restart the computer (Contol_Alt_Delete does nothing to break the freeze), and wander thru the serial steps of getting back to my chart note, all in the midst of talking with a patient or documenting an exam. It is now happening 3-5 times a day so becoming a serious problem. I have interacted with "Technical Support" last year and found them to be difficult to contact due to limited hours ( I am in Alaska and 4 hours behind them on the Eastern time zone in Canada), and then very slow to respond or unhelpful with guidance or advice so I am much less than enthusiastic about the idea of sending the tablet in for service, if that's what it needs. So, I am trying to exhaust other options first by asking thoughts from all of you about what this may mean about my tablet and any non-mail in fixes you know about.

Thanks for your help!

[WNewquay]

Hello Alaska Mike,

Can tell us the specs for your machine (processor, memory, hard drive).

Are you running Windows XP - Tablet PC Edition or???

Are you up to date with everything available through Windows Update?
windowsupdate.microsoft.com


Take a look at the the Windows Event Viewer.

Start
Run
you type "eventvwr" (no quotes then hit enter)

Look under
Application
and then under System.

Do you see any red circles with white X's - what if any errors are showing up?

[Alaska Mike]

Thanks for helping me with this.

My system is an SC3100, Intel Pentium 1.6 GHz, 760 MB Ram, HD has 53.8 GB and 39 GB is free.

Per your guidance I look at the event view and found a large number (100+) error messages, a lesser number of warning messages. The majority (60%) are for W32Time, followed by Netlogon (35%) and a few acpiec, 2 for disk.

What does this tell you?

[Alaska Mike]

Addendum: I do automatic updates on the system so I am pretty confident it is up to date for Windows, I use Windows XP Tablet edition.

[WNewquay]

Hi Alaska Mike,

If you are running 768 megabytes of RAM, I have to wonder if you would do better getting more memory. I don't know the maximum you can put in your machine, but I would be surprised if you couldn't get 1.0-2.0 gigabytes.

As for the errors.

W32Time is the Windows time synchronization service, and I wouldn't be overly concerned about these errors. It probably means that the System could not contact the time servers. It may be an indication that you are losing your network connection and I think this might also explain the Netlogon errors.

I am not familiar with the acpiec errors, but found this:
http://winhlp.com/node/43

I don't know what to make of the disk errors - because we need to know the time period over which these occurred.

So I would be looking at more memory.
I would also look at moving your wireless access point, or at least being really aware if there is any pattern to the freeze-ups and your location when it happens. If it happens in the same general area then try moving your wireless access point.

[Alaska Mike]

Hi Wnewquay,

The tablet is used almost exclusively in "thin client" mode, if you will, for linking to the server. 90% of the time I sit in my primary exam room where I talk with patients and do exams. I didn't get more memory as it doesn't really run software beyond the linkage to the server, at least most of the time, do you think increase RAM will make a difference? I will watch for patterns and move the wireless connection closer to me. I think it is out at the front desk about 100' away but the tablet indicates I have a strong signal when I hook up to the server in the morning. I read the acpiec info but too compu-dumb to really understand it. Thanks for your help!

[CEOmike]

All of the error are very likely related to the wireless. If the wireless is set to automatically look for available networks and there are a number close by it will chew up both processor and memory resources resulting in Netlogon, time server, and even HDD access errors.

While the Scribbler can have some unexpected problems this is not one of them but is common to all wireless laptops/tablets and their setup.

To make sure it is not a configuration or wireless router problem, physically connect with a network cable, turn the wireless off and try duplicating the problem.

[digitaldoc]

I agree with CEO Mike. Sounds like a connections issue. I have been using a 3100 for a couple of years too with 1.2 gigs of Ram. I'm on wifi all day charting as well. There are few things in life as frustrating and disabling as what you have experienced.