HELP Needed!

[Encryptor]

I've googled on this and haven't been able to find much of anything. I have 3 of these things and can get 3 more if I can get them to work. I've tried to load XP on them as well as Ubuntu Linux but both stop before they really get started. The company I work for bought some of these units for Point of Banking terminals but after much testing decided they would not work for that application.

They have 533Mhz cpu, 128mb RAM, 20GB hard drive and a 12 in. color LCD touchscreen. I thought they would be perfect for a jukebox but I can't get a usable (for me) operating system on them. They have a version of SUSE on them now I believe but I don't know enough about linux to manually do stuff with it.

Any info anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Even if someone can get a pinout for the LCD touchscreen would be great. At least then I could hook the monitor up to a pc and go from there.

If someone can help me make these things useful I'd gladly give them one. All they would have to do is pay the shipping to get it to them. Thanks.

[Hoopz]

Interested in selling any of the three you have to anyone? 

I would probably need to work with it before offering any help.   

Edit:  It could be TekVision 500.  Looking some more...
http://www.racoindustries.com/tek500.htm

Specs are slightly different (ie larger HD in yours) but that can be a simple upgrade from the manufacturer.

[Kaytrim]

You need to see if you can add more RAM.  I would suggest trying to squeeze 512mb in there.  That should help as long as the processor is an intel or amd standard chip.  If they are not a standard processor then you might be SOL.

TTFN

[shardian]

Have you tried tiny XP?

Also, try win2k if you have it.

[BobbyG66]

Encryptor,

I think the key thing here may be the Linux app SUSE.
I no nothing about Linux, but did have an experience last year with it.
I was trying to convert a PC to a firewall/Server that was Linux based.
The program I installed reformatted the hard drive and installed the new OS.

I never got the thing to work, number of issues with networking I never got resolved.
So, I tried to re-install windows and it would not let me.
I worked on it for weeks, trying all kind of ways to reformat and install windows.

I finally got thte drive formatted using "Bart-PE"
See links here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BartPE
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

So basically, reformat the drive and then install windows.
Good luck

[knave]

I would suggest trying a different hard drive.  also will the thing boot using a floppy?

[Encryptor]

HooPZ - That may be a consideration. I'll see if I can get my hands on the other 3 tomorrow and let you know.

Kaytrim - There isn't a ton that's standard about these things unfortunately.

shardian - Yes I have tried TinyXP  Rev 06, Tiny XP Platinum and Ubuntu 7.10. I'll be trying Win 2K tonight and let you know.

BobbyG66 - I'm not sure if that will work but I'll give it a shot. When trying to install XP it gets to the part where it says Setup is inspecting your computer and just hangs there forever. With Ubuntu it shows the Ubuntu screen and after a couple of minutes of the bar going back and forth across the screen it kicks me out to a linux command prompt.

knave - It can use a floppy but it's not standard. The external port for IDE is a 50 pin plug because the power is included so I had to modify a 50 pin scsi cable woth a power plug to hook up the cdrom. The external floppy connector is 40 pin (ie 34 + power) so I would have to modify an IDE cable with a floppy plug to hook that up which I haven't done yet.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to try a couple more things and see what happens.

Encryptor

[Hoopz]

Waiting to hear from tech support with the manuals.  They gave me a link to a listing of manuals but none of the files worked.  If I get anything useful, I'll post it. 

edit for typo

[Encryptor]

I think I have found the correct manufacturer of the unit. Unfortunately it's an old unit and every thing I tried to download from their site in the way of manuals or drivers came back with no such file or directory errors. After much more looking I found an installation manual but it doesn't tell much in the way of the inner workings. Here is the site.

http://www.flytech.com/product-10.html

Encryptor

[Hoopz]

I was working on the same site but a different page. 

http://www.flytech.com/tech4-1.htm

Someone is checking to see if they have archived files that can be emailed.  If/when I hear, I will let you know.

[Encryptor]

Yeah that's the page off of the one I posted that I got errors for everything I tried to download. I sent them an email but haven't heard anything from them yet. Thanks for the help.

Encryptor

[Encryptor]

HooPZ,

I know this is an old thread but I was wondering if you ever heard anything back from whoever was checking this for you?

If not can you give me the info on who you talked to or check with them again please?

Thanks!

Encryptor

[Hoopz]

I emailed them a few times, but they never could find the correct info.  I think I tried the wayback machine, but I don't recall now.

The email address I used was just support@tekvisions.com.

Here is the signature on the bottom of the email with more contact info:

Fred Meyerhofer
Tech Support / RMA Department

300 Shawnee North Drive
Suite 500
Suwanee, GA 30024
Office: (800) 827-0127
Fax: (678) 730-1731

I'd still be interested in one of these if they are available depending on price.