#Missing 1st Keystroke
16 messages in this thread
I have one of the first 2000s. I recently replaced my original keyboard
(it had the small function keys) with a new Amiga keyboard (large function
keys). Since the replacement, I have been experiencing the following
problem every time I warm or cold boot the system:
The first keystroke is not recognized by the computer. I have to
press any key once before the system will begin accepting keyboard
input.
Has anyone else experienced this problem? I would appreciate any
assistance I can get.
Thanks,
Nevin
Nevin,
That's a known problem with the older A2000's. The fix is to have
capacitors c910 and c911 removed from the motherboard by the keyboard
connector. If you're a competent tech…you can do it yourself, if not,
your dealer can have it done, probably for a small fee.
Don
Thanks for the reply, Don. What's all involved with removing the
capacitors? If there's any soldering involved then I'll have to take it to
my dealer. I know I'm way pass the warranty period, but is this a hardware
"bug" that CBM may allow the dealers to bill them for?
Nevin,
No idea if Commodore will accept it as a warranty repair even if
it's out of warranty.
As to actually removing them…no, no soldering involved. The caps
are (normally) blue, right behind the keyboard connector on the motherboard
and in tight quarters (other capactiors right next to them). You need to
remove the power-supply/drive bay bridge to get at them.
Once you get at them, you can simply "wiggle" them until the leads
break and remove them. Leaving the stub of the lead in the board will do
no harm.
Don
Thanks for the info, Don. I'll open 'er up and give it a look. Here's
another problem I've been having: I have the KS 1.3 ROM installed with a
Microbotics HardFrame 2000 controlling a MiniScribe SCSI 40mb hard drive.
Frequently when I power on my Master Piece surge protection/power strip,
the system unit comes on but the hard drive sounds like it powers *down*.
Nothing happens for about 30 seconds or so and then I receive the prompt to
insert the Workbench 1.3 disk. When I reboot (warm), my hard drive kicks
in and my startup-sequence executes normally. Again, this happens maybe
50% of the time that I cold boot. Any ideas on this one? Before I call
Microbotics I thought I'd better make sure this isn't another "old 2000"
problem.
Nevin
Nevin,
My *guess* is that the drive is failing power-on diagnostics, more
than likely, didn't spin up fast enough, or didn't stabilize fast enough.
The reset of the computer sends a reset to the drive also and it tries
again…this time succeeding.
Another possibility would be the reset line on the SCSI cable.
Some drives don't like that line being held high…some host adapters (the
A2090 being one of them…no idea on the HardFrame) hold the line high
rather than pulse it to reset the drive(s). However, that usually shows up
as a failure to spin up at all rather than a spin up and then spin down.
Don
Nevin,
You've already seen Don's answer to your problem. Good suggestions, all.
However if you eliminate them and are grasping at straws, check this out.
I recently had a HardFrame and a Quantum 105 in the shop with very similiar
symptoms. Turned out to be that the drive was getting its power from the
on-board connector. Apparently the connector had a bad connection that had
to warm up a bit before it would flow power smoothly. I just unplugged the
on-board connector and plugged in one of the spares that comes directly
from the power supply. It's been working fine for about 4 months with no
problems. BTW This unit had been in 2 other repair shops without being
fixed.
Course, if you are not using the on-board connector, ignore this. However
you might want to check the power connector, anyhow.
Greg
Greg White / MicroSearch 72230,1617
We listen to our customers..carefully
Thanks for the reply, Greg. I think you may have hit on something there.
I'll give it a look tonight.
Nevin
Nevin,
I've had problems with my HardFrame and a MiniScribe SCSI drive also. My
symptoms were very different from yours (in my case, the HF software was
GURUing when first accessing the drive), but my "solution" may help you
also. I simply changed the SCSI-ID of my drive from 0 to 2. That changes
the timing somewhat when the HF is doing it's setup/looking to see what
devices are on the bus. It may be enough of a change to get around your
problem.
For what it's worth…
…BobR
White Wolf Productions
Thanks Bob. Last night I removed the two capacitors and fixed my keyboard
problem. I also plugged my HardFrame directly into my power supply instead
of drawing current from the board. That worked too! It's like having a
new computer… 8).
Nevin,
That is a known problem, and luckily there is a known fix. There are a
couple of capacitors near the keyboard connector that need to be removed.
(I don't have the schematics handy, and my memory isn't as good as it could
be, so I can't be more specific). I'm sure someone else here can remember
the details.
Hope this helps…
…BobR
White Wolf Productions
Thanks Bob. I'm going to look into it further. I'll probably have a
dealer make the mod for me.
This was a frequently-discussed problem in the early days of the Amiga
2000. There are two parts – I think capacitors? – with numbers like 910
and 911 on them that have to be removed from the motherboard to correct the
problem. I saw a discussion of this a few days ago, and it said that the
parts were needed for the first keyboard, but were just too much for the
later ones, and that it took a while to get the problem corrected.
Betty
Betty,
The caps are there for RF noise suppression, but aren't needed.
Don
If I find the reference, I'll upload it to you, Don. Just recently,
someone asked why those capacitors had to be cut, and Dave Haynie explained
why they were put there in the first place, and why they were not needed
(in fact, interfered) after they changed keyboards. I kept the message
…somewhere….but I don't recall his exact words. But you are right –
they are no longer needed.
Betty
Thanks for the reply, Betty.