hp tc4200 tablet pen input howto?

[prad <prad@towardsfreedom.com>]

i'm running debian squeeze stable and according to this:

Instructions for Debian Squeeze (Xorg >= 1.7)
Both Xorg and the Linux Wacom project have changed DRASTICALLY in Debian
Squeeze (for example Xorg 1.7 eliminated its configuration file
"xorg.conf" file). The instructions on this page are limited to older
systems. However, if you have Squeeze then you can easily get your Wacom
working by installing the Debian packages "xserver-xorg-input-wacom" and
"xinput". After plugging in your tablet you can configure it using the
"xinput" command (note that the utility "xsetwacom" is no longer
necessary).
http://www.spencerstirling.com/computergeek/wacom.html

i should be able to get the tablet to work.

xserver-xorg-input-wacom
xinput
hal
are all installed.

however, whenever i try to do something with xinput i get:

Unable to connect to X server

i got the impression that xinput will help me configure the tablet so
the pen will work?

i tried the tablet on ubuntu live and the pen worked right away.

what do i need to do?


-- 
in friendship,
prad