Dead shift keys...

clownstyle · 09 January 2013, 22:10

Hey folks.

Just setup my Amiga after a couple of months of no use. Seems like I'm having a problem with the keyboard.

When trying to use tracktool typing in the cli I cannt get DF0:

It turns out as DF0;

I have tried resetting the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard but it's still the same

are my shift keys dead?

I would have thought a bit of a coincidence to have both of them not working.

Have I made some silly mistake?

Or maybe there is some other utility I can use to transfer the adf's to floppys? Maybe with a gui...

s2325 · 09 January 2013, 22:20

Maybe previous owner was pinball fan.
Stick/Tape a little tin foil over the contact and you may yet get a little more life out of it. In general it's the little contact pad inside the key that's worn thin and not touching properly if a shift key has been abused

clownstyle · 09 January 2013, 22:26

Strange thing is neither of them are working! Was working when I packed it away

Just tried TSgui and that seems a little better but ideally the shift keys would still work!

On another note the Ctrl+A+A won't restart the system although all the other keys are working fine

Lord Aga · 09 January 2013, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by clownstyle

Or maybe there is some other utility I can use to transfer the adf's to floppys? Maybe with a gui...

Well... there is TSGUI, so one problem off your back.
But with the more difficult one, about shift keys, I can't help

clownstyle · 09 January 2013, 22:30

I just know at some point I will NEED to use them

DDNI · 09 January 2013, 23:42

Is there an onscreen keyboard program available?

/heading for Aminet...

http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/Mouseki_1-13
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/OSK
http://aminet.net/package/driver/input/JakeBoard

I haven't tested these...

clownstyle · 10 January 2013, 00:06

Thank you DDNI. Might have to try these as they are still not working

Coltch · 10 January 2013, 08:23

Have you looked at the keyboard membrane?.

On my A500 I had to clean the membrane as the ESC key wasn't working.

Codetapper · 10 January 2013, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by clownstyle

On another note the Ctrl+A+A won't restart the system although all the other keys are working fine

My Amiga 1200 keyboard suffered the same fate. The matrix that has Ctrl, Left Shift and Left Alt died so none of those keys worked.

With "hacks" you might get a little life out of it but you might be best to bite the bullet and get a replacement keyboard or something like the Lyra which allows you to plug in a PC keyboard and use that instead. I have a PS2 keyboard adapter hanging out the back of my A1200.

DDNI · 10 January 2013, 10:50

A new keyboard is definitely the way to go for a long term fix.

£19 with a real warranty is a good price. http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=336

clownstyle · 10 January 2013, 14:11

It's an amiga 600 unfortunately!

demolition · 10 January 2013, 14:14

Just cut off 25% and it'll be a 90% fit..

DDNI · 10 January 2013, 14:33

Hmmm I may have one in the garage... Will look tonight.

clownstyle · 10 January 2013, 14:40

Excellent! Thank you

clownstyle · 29 January 2013, 22:24

Had to take the amiga apart anyway so I had another look @ the keyboard.

I know this may be unrelated but obviously not good. Anyone know what this wire is for exactly? Could it affect the shift keys anyway?

I'm thinking so

But if someone could confirm that would be great!

amigagenie · 29 January 2013, 23:24

looks like floppy power cable connector

DDNI · 29 January 2013, 23:30

Isn't it just the LEDs for power and drive activity?
It will need soldered back.

Sorry no membrane in the garage...

clownstyle · 29 January 2013, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDNI

Isn't it just the LEDs for power and drive activity?
It will need soldered back.

Sorry no membrane in the garage...

No worries!

Well the power and drive activity LED's are all working

demolition · 30 January 2013, 00:15

That cable is only for the three LEDs, so one of them must not be working. It has no effect on the keyboard, as long as the wire doesn't short to anything. I'm not sure if the metal on the underside of the KB is connected to anything, otherwise it could be a problem if it was touching that.

Thraka · 08 October 2013, 00:03

I'm searching through many posts trying to figure out how to fix this issue. I have the same problem. Left-Shift, Left-A, Ctrl don't work..

I've cleaned the contacts, the membrane, I cut a tiny bit off of the keyboard ribbon to give it better contact.

Many other keys weren't really working, doing all of these restored everything except the keys listed above.

Has no one has figured out why this happens?

09 January 2013, 22:10	#1
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	Dead shift keys... Hey folks. Just setup my Amiga after a couple of months of no use. Seems like I'm having a problem with the keyboard. When trying to use tracktool typing in the cli I cannt get DF0: It turns out as DF0; I have tried resetting the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard but it's still the same are my shift keys dead? I would have thought a bit of a coincidence to have both of them not working. Have I made some silly mistake? Or maybe there is some other utility I can use to transfer the adf's to floppys? Maybe with a gui...

29 January 2013, 22:24	#15
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	Had to take the amiga apart anyway so I had another look @ the keyboard. I know this may be unrelated but obviously not good. Anyone know what this wire is for exactly? Could it affect the shift keys anyway? I'm thinking so But if someone could confirm that would be great! Attached Thumbnails

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09 January 2013, 22:20	#2
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 44 Posts: 17,789	Maybe previous owner was pinball fan. Stick/Tape a little tin foil over the contact and you may yet get a little more life out of it. In general it's the little contact pad inside the key that's worn thin and not touching properly if a shift key has been abused

09 January 2013, 22:26	#3
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	Strange thing is neither of them are working! Was working when I packed it away Just tried TSgui and that seems a little better but ideally the shift keys would still work! On another note the Ctrl+A+A won't restart the system although all the other keys are working fine

09 January 2013, 22:30	#5
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	I just know at some point I will NEED to use them

09 January 2013, 23:42	#6
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,433	Is there an onscreen keyboard program available? /heading for Aminet... http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/Mouseki_1-13 http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/OSK http://aminet.net/package/driver/input/JakeBoard I haven't tested these...

10 January 2013, 00:06	#7
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	Thank you DDNI. Might have to try these as they are still not working

10 January 2013, 08:23	#8
Coltch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 108	Have you looked at the keyboard membrane?. On my A500 I had to clean the membrane as the ESC key wasn't working.

10 January 2013, 10:50	#10
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,433	A new keyboard is definitely the way to go for a long term fix. £19 with a real warranty is a good price. http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=336

10 January 2013, 14:11	#11
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	It's an amiga 600 unfortunately!

10 January 2013, 14:14	#12
demolition Unregistered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Copenhagen / DK Age: 44 Posts: 4,190	Just cut off 25% and it'll be a 90% fit..

10 January 2013, 14:33	#13
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,433	Hmmm I may have one in the garage... Will look tonight.

10 January 2013, 14:40	#14
clownstyle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 41 Posts: 139	Excellent! Thank you

29 January 2013, 23:24	#16
amigagenie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mo/USA Posts: 54	looks like floppy power cable connector

29 January 2013, 23:30	#17
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,433	Isn't it just the LEDs for power and drive activity? It will need soldered back. Sorry no membrane in the garage...

30 January 2013, 00:15	#19
demolition Unregistered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Copenhagen / DK Age: 44 Posts: 4,190	That cable is only for the three LEDs, so one of them must not be working. It has no effect on the keyboard, as long as the wire doesn't short to anything. I'm not sure if the metal on the underside of the KB is connected to anything, otherwise it could be a problem if it was touching that.

08 October 2013, 00:03	#20
Thraka Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington State USA Posts: 14	I'm searching through many posts trying to figure out how to fix this issue. I have the same problem. Left-Shift, Left-A, Ctrl don't work.. I've cleaned the contacts, the membrane, I cut a tiny bit off of the keyboard ribbon to give it better contact. Many other keys weren't really working, doing all of these restored everything except the keys listed above. Has no one has figured out why this happens?

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