I got my HP tx1220ca convertible (tablet notebook) running again through the use of the press-edge-of-palm-hard-on-JKL-keys-while-turning-on trick that Deelip had found for his "dead" tx2000 convertible.
But I had to completely restore the operating system to the hard drive, for I had pulled to 200GB drive to use a portable drive. And had wiped it clean.
I used the tx1220's restore CD to reinstall Vista. But of course it was the original Vista. The initial restore was followed by two days of further effort:
Naturally, the next step was to install Linux Mint 8, dual-boot. (This would be my 4th computer running Mint.) I created a 27GB partition for Linux Mint, leaving 150GB for Vista. I wondered, Would Mint recognize the touchscreen? Was the hardware so slow, or was Vista to blame?
But I had to completely restore the operating system to the hard drive, for I had pulled to 200GB drive to use a portable drive. And had wiped it clean.
I used the tx1220's restore CD to reinstall Vista. But of course it was the original Vista. The initial restore was followed by two days of further effort:
1. Restore the original Vista. Reboot several times.
2. Remove about 12GB of unwanted software (Norton, et al). Reboot several times.
3. Install dozens and dozens of updates from Windows Update. Reboot several times.
4. Download and install SP1. Reboot several times.
5. Install SP2 (which I had burned to a CD).
6. Install dozens of additional updates from Windows Update. Reboot several times.
7. Download and install updated drivers from HP Support. Reboot several times.
8. Install my own suite of utility apps, like FireFox, AVG AntiVirus, CClean, 7zip, and more.Through all this, I remembered why I dislike this computer so much. It is slow. Vista frequently pulls a "Not Responding." It is noisy, with the fan spending most of its time roaring away. The screen is dim, relative to all other monitors and notebooks in my office. The touchscreen is unresponsive. And its dedicated remote control does not work.
Naturally, the next step was to install Linux Mint 8, dual-boot. (This would be my 4th computer running Mint.) I created a 27GB partition for Linux Mint, leaving 150GB for Vista. I wondered, Would Mint recognize the touchscreen? Was the hardware so slow, or was Vista to blame?
1. Install Linux Mint 8. Reboot once.
2. Download and install one set of 95 updates. No reboots required.
3. Install my own suite of utility apps. No reboots required.
And then... golden silence. With Linux Mint, the tx1220 runs fast and quiet. The touchscreen does not, however, work.
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