Amiga 1200HD ... Keyboard das not work the most time!

25 September 2008, 23:29

Hey!

I hope anyone of you can help me.

I've a Amiga 1200HD since a few days. It works perfect ... BUT the Keyboard seems to work a few seconds after i switch the Amiga on, but then it does nothing.
I tested it with the Caps Lock-Button, because there i can see the light (on/off) ... but after a few seconds (in workbench) it hangs and i can press all keys, but no key works.

I got the Keyboard working one time ... i changed nothing, but this one time it worked.

I hope you understand my bad english!

Greetings
Evilboy

rkauer · 26 September 2008, 01:20

Virus on the Amiga?

26 September 2008, 01:40

Is there a known virus that could disable the Keyboard?

How can i check this? disconnect the HD, and boot with a Workbench Boot-disk ? Or is it enough to boot with a workbench bootdisk without disconnecting the HD ?

rkauer · 26 September 2008, 02:28

Better disconnect the HD in order to see if the keyboard works using a known clean boot disk.

If you never unprotect the installation floppy, use it.

If the keyboard works really OK, then you know for sure. But if the same problem appears, time for some hardware repair.

papa_november · 26 September 2008, 03:12

Unplug it and then plug it back in?

rkauer · 26 September 2008, 05:55

No, unplug the HD and boot from a known CLEAN boot floppy.

Plug the HD back only after the test is done, with the machine turned off.

utri007 · 26 September 2008, 07:30

I had similar problem. It was solved wheen I connected power wire from PSU (floppy) to amiga mobo

26 September 2008, 09:38

Thank you very much! I will try these tips after work! Hope it will help.

1. Disconnect HD and boot with a clean Boot Disk!
2. Check the Keyboard contact to the motherboard again.
3. @utri007: You connect the power wire from the PSU to the motherboard? I'm not an Amiga Pro, but where should i connect this power wire on the motherboard?

The mysterious thing is, that the Keyboard seems to work a few seconds after switch the power on. But of course i will try anything i could

Thank you all! I will report

27 September 2008, 02:08

It's not a Virus ... thats clear ... I'm not sure what it is .... when the Keyboard is not working i tried to knock on my amiga and then it works sometimes.

I tried a Bootdisk, i formated my HD and install Workbench. Same problem as ever. I checked the cable of the keyboard on the mainboard. Its okay.

Fingerlickin_B · 27 September 2008, 03:31

The problem is more than likely that your keyboard connection is bad.

When the ribbon is taken out & put back into the connector over & over again it wears out.

I'll bet it appears good, but only if you haven't had this problem before...I thought mine was good, but it wasn't.

If you look where the ribbon connects the carbon will be worn out, revealing what looks like a metallic surface...looks like it will make a good connection, but it most certainly does not.

Carefully trim only one or two millimeters off the end of the ribbon cable with a good pair of scissors & your problem will disappear

Just make sure that you don't cut all of the connecting surface off the ribbon!

PZ.

TheCorfiot · 27 September 2008, 13:23

And if you do cut too much don't panic use a sharp blade such as a scalpel to separate the sticky top part of the Green ribbon cable that insulates it & start again, I've done this succesfully when the contacts were worn right up to the insulation.

TC

Edit see photo
http://eab.abime.net/album.php?albumid=45&pictureid=254

Photon · 27 September 2008, 19:43

When you are looking at the PCB from the front, pull up the plastic frame around the ribbon, align the ribbon to the right edge of the connector, and push down the ribbon and frame simultaneously. Done.

FOL · 27 September 2008, 22:00

Just to add to the last 3 comments, its more likely the carbon on the ribbon cable worn. I had this problem, and solved it the way The Corfiot said.

28 September 2008, 15:51

Thank you for the picture @TheCorfiot
And thank you all for the answers.

I cutted 1-2 milimeters from the cable. But that doesn't change anything

The connection seems to be perfect.

I nearly sure that it's no Software Problem (Workbench, ...), too.

Sometimes the Keyboard is working fantastic, sometimes after a soft knock on the Amiga, and sometimes it did not work, no matter what I do.

I'm so sad that i don't get it working everytime.

rkauer · 29 September 2008, 01:22

Maybe you need a radical solution: buy/steal/rent/borrow an A500 keyboard and solder it in the 1200 motherboard. After swap the key caps between the keyboards.

Or, in a second thought, check the capacitors near the keyboard MPU (just the electrolytics). Swap them. Sometimes (after more than 10 years placed) they become faulty and cause a lot of bad behaviour on the hardware.

25 September 2008, 23:29	#1
Evilboy Posts: n/a	Amiga 1200HD ... Keyboard das not work the most time! Hey! I hope anyone of you can help me. I've a Amiga 1200HD since a few days. It works perfect ... BUT the Keyboard seems to work a few seconds after i switch the Amiga on, but then it does nothing. I tested it with the Caps Lock-Button, because there i can see the light (on/off) ... but after a few seconds (in workbench) it hangs and i can press all keys, but no key works. I got the Keyboard working one time ... i changed nothing, but this one time it worked. I hope you understand my bad english! Greetings Evilboy

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26 September 2008, 01:20	#2
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Virus on the Amiga?

26 September 2008, 01:40	#3
Evilboy Posts: n/a	Is there a known virus that could disable the Keyboard? How can i check this? disconnect the HD, and boot with a Workbench Boot-disk ? Or is it enough to boot with a workbench bootdisk without disconnecting the HD ?

26 September 2008, 02:28	#4
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Better disconnect the HD in order to see if the keyboard works using a known clean boot disk. If you never unprotect the installation floppy, use it. If the keyboard works really OK, then you know for sure. But if the same problem appears, time for some hardware repair.

26 September 2008, 03:12	#5
papa_november Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 184	Unplug it and then plug it back in?

26 September 2008, 05:55	#6
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	No, unplug the HD and boot from a known CLEAN boot floppy. Plug the HD back only after the test is done, with the machine turned off.

26 September 2008, 07:30	#7
utri007 mä vaan Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Finland Posts: 1,664	I had similar problem. It was solved wheen I connected power wire from PSU (floppy) to amiga mobo

26 September 2008, 09:38	#8
Evilboy Posts: n/a	Thank you very much! I will try these tips after work! Hope it will help. 1. Disconnect HD and boot with a clean Boot Disk! 2. Check the Keyboard contact to the motherboard again. 3. @utri007: You connect the power wire from the PSU to the motherboard? I'm not an Amiga Pro, but where should i connect this power wire on the motherboard? The mysterious thing is, that the Keyboard seems to work a few seconds after switch the power on. But of course i will try anything i could Thank you all! I will report

27 September 2008, 02:08	#9
Evilboy Posts: n/a	It's not a Virus ... thats clear ... I'm not sure what it is .... when the Keyboard is not working i tried to knock on my amiga and then it works sometimes. I tried a Bootdisk, i formated my HD and install Workbench. Same problem as ever. I checked the cable of the keyboard on the mainboard. Its okay.

27 September 2008, 03:31	#10
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	The problem is more than likely that your keyboard connection is bad. When the ribbon is taken out & put back into the connector over & over again it wears out. I'll bet it appears good, but only if you haven't had this problem before...I thought mine was good, but it wasn't. If you look where the ribbon connects the carbon will be worn out, revealing what looks like a metallic surface...looks like it will make a good connection, but it most certainly does not. Carefully trim only one or two millimeters off the end of the ribbon cable with a good pair of scissors & your problem will disappear Just make sure that you don't cut all of the connecting surface off the ribbon! PZ.

27 September 2008, 13:23	#11
TheCorfiot Amibay Senior Staff Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cardiff / Wales Posts: 1,302	And if you do cut too much don't panic use a sharp blade such as a scalpel to separate the sticky top part of the Green ribbon cable that insulates it & start again, I've done this succesfully when the contacts were worn right up to the insulation. TC Edit see photo http://eab.abime.net/album.php?albumid=45&pictureid=254

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

27 September 2008, 19:43	#12
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,634	When you are looking at the PCB from the front, pull up the plastic frame around the ribbon, align the ribbon to the right edge of the connector, and push down the ribbon and frame simultaneously. Done.

27 September 2008, 22:00	#13
FOL PSPUAE DEV Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales / UK Age: 45 Posts: 6,020	Just to add to the last 3 comments, its more likely the carbon on the ribbon cable worn. I had this problem, and solved it the way The Corfiot said.

28 September 2008, 15:51	#14
Evilboy Posts: n/a	Thank you for the picture @TheCorfiot And thank you all for the answers. I cutted 1-2 milimeters from the cable. But that doesn't change anything The connection seems to be perfect. I nearly sure that it's no Software Problem (Workbench, ...), too. Sometimes the Keyboard is working fantastic, sometimes after a soft knock on the Amiga, and sometimes it did not work, no matter what I do. I'm so sad that i don't get it working everytime.

29 September 2008, 01:22	#15
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Maybe you need a radical solution: buy/steal/rent/borrow an A500 keyboard and solder it in the 1200 motherboard. After swap the key caps between the keyboards. Or, in a second thought, check the capacitors near the keyboard MPU (just the electrolytics). Swap them. Sometimes (after more than 10 years placed) they become faulty and cause a lot of bad behaviour on the hardware.