Driver disconnects

[Guest]

I'm using a Wacom tablet with XP home and explorer 7. My only problem is
when my monitor turns off as it is set to after 20 min., and I come back to
the Computer after that time, the Wacom tablet driver is disconnected and I
have to reboot to get back to use. Is there a way to prevent this? Any ideas?

Thanks
Michelle

 

[bxf]

I'm using a Wacom tablet with XP home and explorer 7. My only problem is
when my monitor turns off as it is set to after 20 min., and I come back to
the Computer after that time, the Wacom tablet driver is disconnected and I
have to reboot to get back to use. Is there a way to prevent this? Any ideas?

Thanks
Michelle

Although it isn't necessarily so, I'm assuming that when you say
"...my monitor turns off...", it means your machine went into STANDBY.
It is a fact that some devices simply do not work properly after
resuming from STANDBY, but nevertheless, try the following:

In Device Manager, locate your tablet device, right-click and select
Properties, then the Power Management tab, and check the box that says
"Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". If your
tablet is a USB device, it may be necessary to locate the USB hub to
which the tablet is connected (use the Power tab of each USB hub's
Device Manager entry to locate the tablet) and set "Allow the
computer..." there as well.

Conversely, if the "Allow..." is already checked, you can try un-
checking it - could make a difference.

Having said all that, I'll point out that I've made a failing device
work on one machine but not on another, and I believe it depends on
the mainboard's USB configuration.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I have my monitor set to turn off after 1 hr. After a
few min., my screnn goes black with no screen saver. Not sure of the best
settings to have. The computer is used during the day til bedtime.

I went to Device Manager and don't really see the tablet device. I see the
Ports (Com &LPT)>Prolific USB-toSerial Comm Port (COM3) which my tablet runs
from?? When I right-click, select Properties on any of the thing I see in
Device Manager, I don't see a Power Management tab....??


Michelle

 

[bxf]

Thanks for the reply. I have my monitor set to turn off after 1 hr. After a
few min., my screnn goes black with no screen saver. Not sure of the best
settings to have. The computer is used during the day til bedtime.

I went to Device Manager and don't really see the tablet device. I see the
Ports (Com &LPT)>Prolific USB-toSerial Comm Port (COM3) which my tablet runs
from?? When I right-click, select Properties on any of the thing I see in
Device Manager, I don't see a Power Management tab....??

Michelle

My comments reflect what I see in Windows XP Pro.

I'd expect your tablet to be located under "Mice and other pointing
devices", and/or perhaps under "Human Interface Devices". It is
possible that your tablet will not have a Power Management tab -
different devices have different information.

You need to expand (click on the + sign) Universal Serial Bus
controllers, under which you will see several entries labeled USB Root
Hub. Right-clicking on each of these and choosing Properties, you
should see a POWER tab, where you will see any devices connected to
that Hub (some hubs will may have none). Also, you should see the
aforementioned Power Management tab.

 

[Guest]

Thank you so MUCH for you time and willingness to share with me. I did check
the USB Root Hubs and check in Properties. I have checked the other things so
I will see what happens. Since you are so helpful can I ask you a couple
basic questions...???? Does restarting a computer a couple times a day hurt?
What preferences do you suggest or power settings?

thanks again
Michelle

 

[bxf]

Thank you so MUCH for you time and willingness to share with me. I did check
the USB Root Hubs and check in Properties. I have checked the other things so
I will see what happens. Since you are so helpful can I ask you a couple
basic questions...???? Does restarting a computer a couple times a day hurt?
What preferences do you suggest or power settings?

thanks again
Michelle

Before I comment on your questions, I should say what I intended to
say previously but had forgotten, an that is to make sure you have the
latest driver for your device. You should check the manufacturer's
site for this.

"Does restarting a computer a couple times a day hurt?" The few times
I'd looked into this question in the past, the general consensus was
that... there was no general consensus. It's a trade-off between wear-
and-tear on components due to increased use, as opposed to increased
"shock" these components undergo when turned on repeatedly, in
conjunction with one's concerns about energy costs, etc. Take your
pick. For what it's worth (not much), I personally turn off my machine
if I don't intent to get back to it within about three hours. However,
I'm not making any claim as to the validity of the logic behind this
practice. I do force my machine into STANDBY if I leave for awhile,
though.

I would have liked to provide a meaningful answer to your second
question, but really I can't. Again, because I can't justify my own
habits, and for the same reasons I mention for people not agreeing on
the answer to your first question. I'd say that it all depends on how
long a period of non-use you wish to be interpreted as a probable
abandonment of your activity. In other words, if I don't use my screen
for 5 minutes, it is probable that I've walked away for some time, so
I may as well have the screen turn off until I return (or at least
invoke a screen saver). Similarly for turning-off the hard disk,
though you'd want to take into consideration the fact that some
activities don't use the disk, so you wouldn't want to have that
interpreted as an absence by you from your computer. And again, the
same for Standby. If I haven't done ANYTHING for 20 minutes, it is
probably because I've gone off somewhere. Apart from the problem
presented by some devices, there is no big harm in going into Standby
- you simply resume when you return. Sorry I can't be more specific.