Active Stylus no longer working after Windows Update on SP111-32N-C77J

gpgeek
gpgeek Member Posts: 5

Tinkerer
in Swift and Spin Series

As reported by other forum members a while ago, I've been using my Acer Spin 111 mini laptop for quite some years now and have an Active Stylus pen that came with it and has worked just fine until about 6 months ago.. As I'm not using it on a daily basis, but only to draw or take notes once in a while, I didn't realize that it stopped working after an update, which makes it quite difficult to roll-back as several months have gone by.

I also first though it was the rechargeable batteries, as it would only point a 'dot' on the screen, but not draw anymore, but even after swapping the battery against brand new (regular) AAAA battery, it would still keep "pointing" only, not even doing anything.. I can follow the cursor on the screen, but trying to launch or open anything on the desktop doesn't work anymore. Opening W10 Journal from Microsoft which used to work just fine is the same behavior.. The cursor can move around the virtual page, but I can't even select or draw anything.. it's like the underlying Windows Driver stopped recognizing the proper work of the pen..

Here is a link from another thread with similar issues going back 3 years ago..

Has anyone ever run into the same issue and managed to fix it ? TIA for any help.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/618432/acer-active-stylus-not-drawing-needs-fixing-asap

Answers

  • GAMING6698
    GAMING6698 ACE Posts: 7,774 Pathfinder
    edited November 2023

    @gpgeek

    You cam run system restore point this option takes your PC back to an earlier point in time,

    Follow this link- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recovery-options-in-windows-31ce2444-7de3-818c-d626-e3b5a3024da5#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 (Expand and follow Restore from a system restore point)

    After system restore don't run windows update again otherwise same will happen

    windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming 
    Windows 10/11 optimization guide for gaming — Acer Community

    My AN515-43 laptop UserBenchmark-
    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/51514566
  • gpgeek
    gpgeek Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Thanks @GAMING6698 ,

    if you read my OP, this is not an option, as too many months have passed by and there have been several major Microsoft updates applied, the biggest one being 22H2 that was applied in May.. but it's worth a try. I Just hope no data will be lost along the process (which technically it shouldn't).

    I'll report back once the system has been rolled back.

  • gpgeek
    gpgeek Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    So, as I expected, this didn't work.. simply because Windows Updates doesn't allow to roll-back more than a couple of updates.. turns out that no more than 2-3 KB updates could be removed, but that's not getting me nowhere, as they are quite recent and even after they got removed, the stylus doesn't work better.. The October KB5031445 made a lot of changes in the driver sub-system of Windows, but that unlikely the only culprit..

    What's really bad is that Acer doesn't update their driver at the pace that Microsoft publishes Windows Updates to patch driver vulnerabilities and that's likely what causes the Active Stylus to fail now.

  • gpgeek
    gpgeek Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    A Windows Store app I had used in the past with the Stylus (Inkodo) somewhat still recognizes the stylus when I briefly press the lower button on the stylus and release it.. I can get some graffitis on the "paper" but no more than an inch or so.. The eraser doesn't work, though I see the cursor changing aspect (ring) which would be the right thing, but nothing erases when I move over. It looks like when I'm putting more pressure on the tip of the stylus that sometime the system (digitizer) draws on the withe-board.. but to me that's not an option as it's really uncomfortable .

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