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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:19:19

Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:19:19
Hello, Recently I purchased a filco majestouch keyboard (uk layout with tenkeys,blue switches, black colour).
Today was my first day of using this keyboard, all was well until after about 3 hours both CTRL keys stopped working. I plugged the keyboard into another computer, the problem was still present.

All the other keys seem to work fine.

Please help, I really like the keyboard and have no interest in sending it back (I bought it off ebay, so it would be a chor and the guy was a bit of a  douchmaster) I am willing to disassemble the keyboard if necessary.

Thanks in advance
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: brkim1324 on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:21:21
Are you using PS2 adapter?
You cannot hot swap PS2 adapter. You have to restart.  
Try restarting the computer
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: The Solutor on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:24:28
Not working switches on filco boards looks more the rule than the exception nowadays.

Btw you should buy a switch or swap the not working one with one less used like pause/break one.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:25:24
@brkim1324 , Im using USB and Ive tried restarting and swapping ports.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: The Solutor on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:28:25
Quote from: mikeasro;343705
@brkim1324 , Im using USB and Ive tried restarting and swapping ports.

 
It's a broken/stuck switch,  the usb port has nothing to do with a single not working key.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: brkim1324 on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:30:37
Quote
@brkim1324 , Im using USB and Ive tried restarting and swapping ports.
damn.. sadly, then it is what soultor has said...
you gotta replace switch... :( hope it works out for u!
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: RiGS on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:33:01
RMA it.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:38:05
BTW Im using linux , heres the output from XEV. So it does work sometimes:

 KeyPress event, serial 38, synthetic NO, window 0x5600001,
    root 0x12b, subw 0x5600002, time 605170, (25,56), root:(2021,303),
    state 0x10, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: The Solutor on Mon, 09 May 2011, 07:40:45
You can try blowing the switch with canned air and/or with a spray cleaner for electronics.

There is a small chance that the switch is just dirty
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: noodles256 on Mon, 09 May 2011, 08:41:24
A lot of peeople are starting to post Filco problems.

where is armando penblade
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: minhtri on Mon, 09 May 2011, 09:28:21
it is because the shipping progress or filco themself ?
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: neo on Mon, 09 May 2011, 09:38:15
OP says "both CTRL keys stopped working". So it's unlikely to be a switch problem.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: Chobopants on Mon, 09 May 2011, 09:43:58
Quote from: neo;343775
OP says "both CTRL keys stopped working". So it's unlikely to be a switch problem.

Yup, exactly what I was going to say. That's not going to be bad switches. I'm sure some people do have problems with Filcos but I calling a few people complaining vocally on the forums does not an endemic make.

I've purchased 3 Filcos in the past 5 months and not a single problem betwixt them. Of course I purchased them all from legit dudes (EK, TKC) so I no worries if I DID have to RMA them. If you bought something suspect off eBay you could in the danger zone. :x
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: The Solutor on Mon, 09 May 2011, 09:50:35
Franky I missed he mentioned *both* CTRL. (sorry)

If so, the problem looks very strange, just a controller problem could explain it, or maybe, a partly shorted switch fools the controller ?
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 15:11:17
So heres an update>>>  After a while I was tipping the keyboard up-right and ctrl would work intermittently, so I thought I would have a look inside the kb. Inside the keyboard the solder of the left ctrl looked like it had been soldered by Ray Charles under the supervision of  Stevie Wonder, I followed the line off from the LEFT ctrl and it passes right next to the RIGHT ctrl. The void sticker was already broken which would lead me to believe that they guy I bought it from tried to repair or mod it. I remapped the ctrl key to capsLock but couldn't get used to it, and after all I wasn't happy with the situation.

AT this point XEV does not register ANY key-presses from either CTRLS.

Anyway I sent a msg to the guy on ebay and filed it as a problem...... as I was messing around on ebay I spotted a das keyboard for sale and bought that.
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: mikeasro on Mon, 09 May 2011, 15:33:20
Quote from: ripster;343966
He may have done a CTRL to CapsLock mod.  I've seen that one before.  Kinda Ghetto.  I just use AutoHotkey.

He done goofed!
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: Zet on Mon, 09 May 2011, 15:45:04
Quote from: ripster;343966
He may have done a CTRL to CapsLock mod.  I've seen that one before.  Kinda Ghetto.  I just use AutoHotkey.

can you make macros with that thing too?
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: godofdeath on Mon, 09 May 2011, 16:28:25
resolder the stuff to the right places

its just really annoying to rip open the filco
Title: Filco Majestouch CTRL stopped working
Post by: Surly73 on Mon, 09 May 2011, 17:42:45
Quote from: neo;343775
OP says "both CTRL keys stopped working". So it's unlikely to be a switch problem.

 
Wouldn't that mean that it could be a stuck switch?  If one CTRL is stuck, the other fails to register?  Or does L and R CTRL send distinct key codes?  No sure.