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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Barbastruzzolo on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:08:14

Title: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: Barbastruzzolo on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:08:14

Recently I received as gift a beautiful  Zenith Data Systems Keyboard whit green ALPS like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zenith-Data-Systems-Keyboard-Z-Series-Z-151-/160910170140?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D4151442356190693011%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D160901070530%26 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zenith-Data-Systems-Keyboard-Z-Series-Z-151-/160910170140?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D4151442356190693011%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D160901070530%26)

I connected it to my PC using a AT/XT to PS2 converter and... nothing appened! It doesn't work.
The only life sign is a firm RED  led on the Num Lock button and nothing else :-(
I cleaned the keyboard using a brush and a deoxidizer spray for electronic circuits but the problem remains.


What should I do to get it work again? It feels very very nice at tact and I don't want to throw it away

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: JPG on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:37:22

Did you reboot your computer after plugging the keyboard?

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: laffindude on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:44:06

Is it an XT board? You need to use an active converter to use that on a PS2 port.

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: scoot on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:45:21

PS2 isn't hot-pluggable. Shut your computer down, plug the keyboard in while the computer is off, then boot your computer back up. Hopefully that fixes it for you!

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: Barbastruzzolo on Fri, 14 December 2012, 11:41:42

I shutdown my computer before plugging in the keyboard connector.

Quote from: laffindude on Fri, 14 December 2012, 10:44:06

Is it an XT board? You need to use an active converter to use that on a PS2 port.

I can't exactly tell if  it's AT or XT (the keyboard has no labels outside nor inside).
For active converter do you mean something like http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/500722 (http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/500722) ?

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: laffindude on Fri, 14 December 2012, 11:55:14

One of those will work. Though, if you don't absolutely need PS2, there is this (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0).

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: SmallFry on Fri, 14 December 2012, 17:51:08

That is an XT board... I fried mine that way...

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: Barbastruzzolo on Sat, 15 December 2012, 01:38:43

Quote from: SmallFry on Fri, 14 December 2012, 17:51:08

That is an XT board... I fried mine that way...

Can you be more precise? What appened?

Title: Re: Zenith Data Systems Keyboard: dead?
Post by: SmallFry on Sat, 15 December 2012, 04:20:38

Not quite sure, but I do know that I fried mine...:(