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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: starfscker on Sun, 20 July 2014, 12:59:08

Title: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: starfscker on Sun, 20 July 2014, 12:59:08

Hello, I have a Model M from 1990.

When I plug it in, either through a USB adapter or a PS/2 port, the Caps and Scroll Lock lights turn on, then after a second the Num Lock light turns on, then they all turn off together, and nothing works.

Anyone have a clue what this means?

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: absyrd on Sun, 20 July 2014, 13:14:25

What USB adapter do you use? I have M's that do the same unless I use the ol' "blue cube" adapter to USB.

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: starfscker on Sun, 20 July 2014, 14:30:08

It does it when just using PS/2. It's a crappy 6 dollar green PS/2 to USB adapter.

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: noway on Sun, 20 July 2014, 15:26:42

Have you tried it on a different computer(s)?

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: FrostyToast on Sun, 20 July 2014, 15:40:30

Have you tried using the keyboard in the BIOS?
It might be a long shot, but when I plugged in my model m into my computer directly via ps/2 it did that exact thing and it worked in the BIOS only.

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 20 July 2014, 18:58:36

Quote from: starfscker on Sun, 20 July 2014, 14:30:08

It does it when just using PS/2. It's a crappy 6 dollar green PS/2 to USB adapter.

That might be the problem.

mkawa was selling these (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40549.0) at one stage.  I used one to connect a Model M to a Mac - worked perfectly!

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: terrpn on Sun, 20 July 2014, 19:06:03

even the purple one gave me some issues, but the zioteck works flawless on all my stuff

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: starfscker on Sun, 20 July 2014, 21:44:23

Yes, I've tried it on different computers, one with a PS/2 port and one without using usb. I've also tried it with usb on the one with the PS/2 port. It does not function in bios.

I've ordered the blue cube from Amazon, its reviews say it works flawlessly with the Model M. We'll see if that helps at all, but I don't think that's the problem. I've inspected the internals and I do not see any blow capacitors or flaky wiring, it all looks immaculate.

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: Melvang on Sun, 20 July 2014, 22:20:25

A lot of people have issues with passive adapters.  Also keep in mind that PS/2 is not plug and play.  The computer has to be powered down when you plug it in.  Cord length seems to be the biggest variable here on whether a passive adapter works or not from what I have seen.

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: starfscker on Thu, 24 July 2014, 20:52:48

HOLY SHOE IT WORKS! :D

I'm so happy. I spent all that time taking apart the keyboard and painting it pretty colors and it didn't work and now it DOES. I'm using the Blue Cube mentioned in the second post. I was skeptical, but y'all were right. Thank you so much. I love you all. Happy typing.

yay yay yay yay

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox said GeekHack was awesome.

:D


(http://i.imgur.com/QURNYlw.jpg)

Title: Re: Help with my Model M; Lights light up, then turn off, nothing works.
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 24 July 2014, 21:13:33

Excellent news!  Congratulations :)

And on a side note i love the yellow keycaps ;D