I am replying to this myself because I have solved the problem but there
seems to be so many questions on the topic but the full answers aren't
supplied.If you look at the advice at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;826851 it is all
correct but part of it is missing.In the Shared features section you do need
to activate alternative user input but you also need to activate the
microsoft handwriting component.I haven't seen this explained anywhere and I
found it by chance after trying for hours to make it work.
Can I also add that despite some of the comments on the forum the
handwriting tools do work with the very modest wacom tablets.The hand writing
recognition is very good and the drawing pad is a useful addition to Word
although I can't figure out why it doesn't seem to be available in
powerpoint.I know there are drawing tools in ppt but it's useful to be able
to draw completely freehand .I'm delighted because I was expecting to have
to fork out a massive sum of money for an accurate tablet but this one cost
only 26 English pounds brand new.I'm very pleased.
Also if anybody's interested I've used it with my special needs children who
have difficulty with handwriting and I've discovered it's a great training
tool because when they form the wrong letter they want to rush back and
change it.Further it trains them to form their letters in the standard
direction because they don't always get the right letter if they start at the
bottom rather than the top .For example one child who repeatedly started at
the bottom of the letter " c " kept getting a "J" until he realised and
was delighted to discover if he bgan forming it at the top he got a"c" every
time .Within minutes he was forming it accurately and the conversion type was
corrct and he will now follow the same action when he is using pen and paper.
