Installing Windows 7 RC 1 on HP tc4200 tablet
A month ago I performed a fresh install of Windows 7 RC1 (32-bit) on an HP tc4200 tablet PC (Pentium M 1.86 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM, 120 GB HDD with two existing partitions including XP operating system partition).
Some things that caught my attention during the install and setup process:
- The upgrade advisor indicated I would have been OK doing an upgrade from XP to Windows 7, but that wasn’t the point of the exercise. Still, it gave good and clear instructions about how to prepare for and what to expect after the upgrade.
- I was able to extend an existing partition and format the resulting larger partition all through a GUI in about 5 seconds, with appropriate warnings along the way. Nice!
- From boot-to-CD to Windows 7 desktop took less than 40 minutes.
- Tablet’s stylus and touch screen were recognized immediately, as was WLAN adapter. Sweet. Handwriting recognition in Windows 7 is excellent.
- Pop-up alert told me I needed antivirus software and took me directly to an Internet page showing multiple brands offering Windows-7-compatible software. I’m starting with the 60-day trial from Trend Micro.
- Remote desktop connection to a Vista Professional desktop: no problem whatsoever (although I did have to sign in as domain\user instead of just user).
- I live-docked the tablet and it froze. Not so nice. Had to hold the power button to get it to turn off. (This didn’t happen the next time I live-docked, and hasn’t happened since.)
- Roboform works fine on Windows 7. With a browser and Roboform, really, what else do you need? (One weird problem: sometimes when I Alt-Tab between IE8 windows, I get a User Access Control prompt and Roboform brings me to the identity settings screen. I can cancel and get out of it, though.)
Bottom line: When computers from Dell are available with Windows 7 preinstalled, that’s what my clients are going to start buying. Whether they’ll bother to upgrade any XP machines to Win7, I’m not sure.
Hi, my name is Sean but call me Corey…. i have an old refurbished tablet tc4200 business tablet pc with an OEM date backing to the year of 2004. my curiosity about installing windows 7 on my tablet still concerns me. i have a windows xp professional OS tablet pc edition installed. with a 2gb ram, 120 HDD, 1.86 Ghz intel processor. and id like to run this… were there any other problems you came accross while using this new OS system. Were all appropriate drivers located and registered to allow full proformance as if you were using xp pro? and how is the use of windows 7 with your pc. what is your take on it so far, as apposed to using a vista version?
Hi, Sean. I’ve had no significant problems so far (and any problems I’ve had, such as a flaky cursor, I attribute to the age of my computer rather than to Windows 7). Go for it!
I also installed win 7 on my TC4200 (with 2gb ram). Unfortunately the Wifi was not detected automatically. That was quite annoying. However, the automatic update service of win 7 easily solved this problem after being plugged in to the LAN.
Meanwhile I managed to freeze (complete freeze!) win 7 twice: If I fix a browser window to one half of the screen while a video is running in the browser (e.g. youtube).
Apart from that win 7 runs without any problem. I recommend to give 7 a try.
Hi – I recently updated my tc4200 to 2 GB RAM and the OS to Win7. For the most part, all went well including updates, etc. The Win 7 Upgrade Advisor indicated that the update should work.
However, I cannot get the pen stylus to work – it’s as though it doesn’t exist and the rotation feature, including the button / slider isn’t recognized. It is essentially a Laptop PC!!
I read from the HP website that a Wacom driver is required, however Wacom seems to only have the Vista driver and I couldn’t locate a Win7…will it work?
Any advise is appreciated – I am looking forward to using the Tablet PC!
Thank you.
Hi All.
OK, installed Windows 7; beautiful … given the TC4200 life again!
I have no unknown hardware in device manager. The Q Menu is working, screen is rotating, pen is working, and pen activated buttons are working. In fact, it shuts down in about 10 seconds and starts in 30 … and everything runs fast. (just the OS fully updated)
First run WIndows Update and let it update everything it can. This will leave 3 errors in Device Manager. Here is how to solve them. This is the thread I used as a resource http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1338977 … full credit to the smart guys there!
The drivers you need to install are:
1. The WACOM driver (it works) … from http://www.wacom.com/downloads/drivers.php … Wacom Penabled Driver Driver 5.08-2a (RC) for Penabled Tablet PCs
2. The TC4200 Texas Instruments Media Card drivers for Windows Vista Business from hp.com support / download drivers …
3. Follow AdamJGreenberg’s post on how to get rid of the unknown device … it’s an Intel(R) 82801FBM LPC Interface Controller – 2641 … http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1338977
To get the QMenu and other stuff working, install the » HP Quick Launch Buttons (12-2009 6.50.12.1) for the HP TouchSmart tx2z-1300 CTO Notebook PC. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=4062&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=au&lang=en&product=3999429
Hope this saves someone else some time.
Cheers.
I’m surprised you had stylus problems. Mine worked fine from the get-go. I would not expect the buttons on the side of the case to work. Only HP could make that happen and I can’t imagine they’re spending much time creating Windows 7 drivers for this old piece of hardware. You can still rotate the screen using Windows 7 display commands — it just won’t happen automatically as you swivel. Do try the Vista driver from Wacom. Good luck!
hi, put win 7 on my tc4200 , how do i config the wifi? other than that its a well stable os ,
What’s wrong? Is it not recognizing the WLAN adapter at all? Did you load drivers for it?
hi , i have now put win xp tablet edition back on hp tc4200, but it says the wifi is off?, ive pushed the button on the side , and nothing? thanks for posting reply to my 1st message hope someone can help me , cheers mark
hi again , does anyone know if there is any where i can buy the recovery discs for the tc4200, i got the product key so it should all be legal , , thanks all