#Bridgeboard Problem
9 messages in this thread
To Don and all,
The keyboard seems to be working with no lockup. Let me explain what I
tried.
Before making any changes I checked to see if the keyboard was still locking
up. It was. After starting a PC word processor and typing about 20 or so
"7"'s rapidly it froze. REBOOT.
I found the file that you suggesting removing. The file is
SidecarSettings.Table located in my Workbench:PC/System drawer. After locating
it I renamed it, just in case, SidecarSettings.TableOLD (132 bytes) and started
the Bridgeboard (BB). I checked my settings, made some changes to my colors
and saved my settings. I then flipped back to the Amiga side and saw a brand
new SidecarSettings.Table file (132 bytes). I flipped back to the PC side and
ran a word processor. It looked good but after about 50 "7"'s it froze.
Progress but still the lockup. REBOOT.
I don't know if this mattered but my wife blew a fuse (literally). No power.
I reset the breaker. Now back to computer madness.
I ran PCPrefs in th PC drawer and Disabled the Monochrome Display Adapter
Emulation just so I could save a change. BTW I haven't changed it back.
I started the BB and ran BBSETUP on the PC side to check my settings there. All
was O.K. I escaped with no changes. It PC rebooted.
I then closed the BB and powered down the Amiga. Waited a minute and started
the it back up.
I started the BB, ran the word processor and typed about a thousand "7"'s. No
keyboard lock up. Success! (I hope with my fingers crossed.)
Thanks for all the input.
Les from Bayonne, NJ via Auto Pilot
-TTFN
Les, I'm curious — have you ever waited for 5 or 10 minutes to see if it comes
back? Also, do you have a screenblanker running on either side? I have a Golden
Gate in right now, and it has a tendency to do the same thing. Every once in a
while the keyboard locks up, and if I wait it out, it suddenly starts repeating
keys — the 7 is a favorite. It goes on and on, line after line, but eventually
stops and I get the keyboard back. It happens consistently if I have
screenblanker running on the Amiga side, or if I have GPFax running.
Marion Deland
CROSSINGS – Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility
Marion,
Yes, I've waited sometimes 20-30 minutes for the keyboard to start working
again but it wouldn't. No, I don't have any screen blankers running on the PC
or Amiga side. Normally, I am not running any other Amiga programs when I
start the Bridgeboard.
My setup is an A4000, 1084, and A2386SX-25, but I'm looking to add a VGA
monitor very soon.
How can I get some information about "CROSSINGS" ?
Les from Bayonne, NJ via Auto Pilot
-TTFN
Les, Just leave your postal address for me by e-mail, and I'll send you a
sample issue, subscription info, etc. If you'd like to leave copies of your
config.sys, autoexec.bat and startup-sequences as well, I'll take a look at
them and see if I have any ideas. Also, have you experimented with other
settings in PC Prefs?
Marion Deland
CROSSINGS – Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility
Les,
The other thing you might want to check if you have problems again in
the future is the keyboard repeat setting.
Don
Don,
The keyboard is still working just fine. About the keyboard repeat setting, if
you mean the "Adjust Key Timing" it's 5000 microseconds. BTW "Cursor Blink
Rate" = 2, "Number of Text Colors" = 16 and "Display Task Priority" = +10.
Thanks again.
Les from Bayonne, NJ via Auto Pilot 1.77
-TTFN
I tried disabling the Mono Display and for a while, believed that the problem
was solved. But, the keyboard eventually froze on me again.
Before, when I had both displays enabled (Color and Mono), I simply went over
to the Amiga side and hit a pcreset. The keyboard would be restored to the PC
side. BUT now with the mono display disabled, the PC side still did not have
keyboard control after a pcreset. I had to reset the amiga as well! So… I
have enabled my mono screen again, as I prefer crashing just the pc side, and
not have to reboot the amiga.
From what I have seen from others here, the problem is solved by using a
separate monitor and VGA card.
Of course, when one doesn't own a VGA monitor… the problem isn't solved.
James,
I doubted that I stopped the keyboard problem, but I've tried many times to
lock up the keyboard and it now works fine. It used to lock up when I typed
using a PC word processor (and I type slowly). I tried randomly typing every
key very rapidly, holding keys down and using arrow keys, but now it works
fine.
If it will help here are some of my settings:
[A4000/040 (10 MB RAM), 1084, A2386SX-25 (5 MB RAM)]
PCPREFS
———————————————————-
PC Configuration v3.0
Janus Handler Load Segment: D000
Janus Handler Shadowed: YES
Monochrome Display Adapter Emulation: DISABLED <- this was ENABLED
Color Graphics Adapter Emulation: ENABLED
Default Bridgeboard Video Mode: COLOR
Bridgeboard Speaker: OFF <- this was ON
Drive A: SHARED
Drive B: INTERNAL
Shared Amiga Drive: DF0:
Shared Amiga Drive Type: DUAL SPEED
———————————————————–
BBSETUP
———————————————————–
Commodore Setup Utility
Date System Speed HIGH
Time DRAM Wait States 0
Diskette 0 1.4M Page Mode ENABLED
Diskette 1 NONE On-board Base Memory 640 KB
Hard Disk 0 NONE On-board Ext Memory 3008 KB
Hard Disk 1 NONE Off-board Ext Memory 0 KB
Video COLOR 80 VGA/EGA Shadow DISABLED
BIOS Shadow ENABLED
Total DRAM on the Bridgeboard = 5120 KB
No on-board extended memory if base memeory < 640 KB
On-board DRAM not used as base, ext, and shadow memeory can be used for EMS
———————————————————–
PC side pull-down menu settings
———————————————————–
Adjust Key Timing… 5000 microseconds
Cursor Blink Rate 2
Number of Text Colors 16 Colors
Display Task Priority +10
———————————————————–
I hope this helps (or you find a VGA monitor and card in a closet
somewhere).
Les from Bayonne, NJ via Auto Pilot 1.77
-TTFN
Thanks for the settings Les. My Display Task Priority was at zero, so I'll
give +10 a try. I also will try turning off the speaker on the BB. It sure
would be nice if one of those things corrects the problem!
I rebooted my PC about 15 times in a hour today. It seems to crash whenever I
do anything with any type of speed on the keyboard. I type quite fast, about
70 words a min, but most oof my crashes result from moving around with the
cursor keys.
I will be keeping my fingers crossed 🙂