CompuServe Thread

#Help – keyboard

12 messages in this thread
#124196From: Don SakersDec 7, 1993 6:21 PM
Help! My Amiga 2000 is having keyboard problems. Symptoms: The keyboard doesn't seem to be communicating well with the machine. The CAPS LOCK light keeps flickering. When I press keys, I get erratic results — often nothing at all, sometimes doubled letters, or flashes, or backspacing, or the whole thing goes wild and starts endlessly repeating the same character. I tried another keyboard, which I know is in good condition…same story. My local Commodore dealer, who is a clueless wonder, wants to keep the machine for a few weeks to diagnose the problem. Oh, I guess it would help if I told you about the configuration. What do I have on the machine? What DON'T I have on the machine? A2630 accelerator. 6 MB of 16-bit RAM. A 2091 controller with a Maxtor 210 MB disk drive. Video Toaster. A2088 Bridgeboard. KitchenSYNC in an AT slot. System 1.2 ROMs. Anybody have a clue what might be wrong — something I could tell this dealer to get her on track, or something I could do myself? (I've installed everything in this machine myself, I'm not afraid of its guts.) Thanks, Don
#124203From: Dale LarsonDec 7, 1993 7:29 PM
CIA A — Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing — INTERNET:dale@iam.com
#124257From: Don Curtis/SYSOPDec 8, 1993 12:08 AM
Don, I agree with Dale…the 'a' CIA chip (8520 chip) is more than likely shot. Don
#124293From: Dale LarsonDec 8, 1993 7:52 AM
Ha. And Andy said I wasn't allowed a screwdriver. 🙂 — Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing — INTERNET:dale@iam.com
#124316From: Don SakersDec 8, 1993 10:27 AM
Thanks a lot, guys. I will try a new 8520 and report back. (Pesky things, ain't they? I had to replace one last year when the parallel port started going wonky. I guess it's a good idea to lay in a supply of them, eh? -Don
#124610From: Brian BartlettDec 10, 1993 2:27 AM
Don, since the parallel port is on the same chip, it's no suprise that the keyboard would eventually follow. Brian bjbart@watserv.ucr.edu
#124670From: Shawn RandolphDec 10, 1993 8:47 PM
Hey Don, I had a thought that is some what related to this thread…. Have you ever heard of anyone useing a A600 keyboard with a 2000 or others?? I know the keymaps are different but is there a simple solution to this? The answer to the question "Why" is because I am curious on how this mapping works. Hey if a can figure it out maybe there is a way to use IBM keyboards on the Amiga…:) Shawn Silent Paw Productions
#124683From: Don Curtis/SYSOPDec 10, 1993 11:47 PM
Shawn, No, I haven't heard of anyone using an A600 keyboard with an A2000 but Im not sure it wouldn't work. I haven't seen the scancodes generated by the A600 kb to compare with the A2000 keyboard. My suspicion would be that they're the same…but that's all it is…a guess. Don
#124792From: Brian BartlettDec 11, 1993 10:09 PM
as I recall, there is a widget out there, perhaps from DKB that allows you to hook an IBM keyboard to the Amiga 2000. Another possibility is to buy a NorthGate OmniKey Ultra, which works with both the Amiga and the IBM. That's what I'm using here. I've even created a keymap to allow the Amiga to understand the additional keys that the Amiga doesn't normally see <grin>
#124822From: Jonathan HirschmanDec 12, 1993 2:05 AM
Could you send me that keymap via E-mail? I have a Northgate Ultra – it might prove useful.
#125048From: Brian BartlettDec 14, 1993 12:53 AM
there is a file in the libraries, NRTGAT.LZH in AmigaUser library 12. My version is the same except for specific customization for use with MicroEmacs and Emacs. I suggest you download the general version unless you like Emacs (I know, I'm weird ;-). If you need any help customizing it, let me know.
#124280From: Karl F. KugelDec 8, 1993 4:25 AM
If it's not one of the CIAs, you might check that the keyboard connector is well soldered to the motherboard. Had that on one of mine. // -Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!