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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 3K on Tue, 04 August 2015, 14:18:29

Title: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 3K on Tue, 04 August 2015, 14:18:29

So recently I got me this old numpad. When trying to get it to work I noticed that it needs a driver to allow it to do whatever fancy things it's able to do.
I downloaded the driver, but appearantly the drivers last known compatible Windows version was Windows 2000.

I guess this is the point where I either mod it or sell it. What could I make out of this guy? I thought about a switch tester that displays the switches name in its display. Or simply swap the PCB for a new one?

Any thoughts?

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(http://abload.de/img/2xrokk.jpg)

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(http://abload.de/img/35ppki.jpg)

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(http://abload.de/img/4tkq2j.jpg)

Title: Re: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 04 August 2015, 14:39:57

Try using the win2K driver in compatibility mode in the newer OS?

Title: Re: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 3K on Tue, 04 August 2015, 15:16:31

Quote from: 0100010 on Tue, 04 August 2015, 14:39:57

Try using the win2K driver in compatibility mode in the newer OS?

The problem is there is no executable that I could run in compatibility mode. The downloadable folder only includes system files that are not recognized by my system when chosen as driver.

Title: Re: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 05 August 2015, 10:22:43

Any details in the sys or ini file as to what kind of chip is in the numpad?  Or looked at the chips in it directly?

Title: Re: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 0100010 on Wed, 05 August 2015, 10:31:52

After some digging, it looks like that numpad uses an FTDI FT8U232AM chip (RS232 UART to USB).  If that is the case, then a current driver from FTDI from this page - http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm may work.

Title: Re: Reviving an old Datacomp numpad
Post by: 3K on Wed, 05 August 2015, 13:39:07

Thank you for taking time to help me!
I tried it again with the driver from the site you linked, but it didn't helped.

By now I took it apart - was a btch to desolder, to put it nicely. Cheap solder I suppose...

Reading stuff now to hook up the display to a teensy.