geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Hypersphere on Tue, 11 October 2016, 08:33:35
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I bought a Northgate Omnikey 101 white Alps keyboard from "Northgate Bob". It was accompanied by a list of instructions, including a dire warning about hot-plugging:
"Do not under any circumstances hot plug your ... keyboard. (Hot plug means do not change your keyboard with power on). Shut down, power off the computer before connecting the keyboard."
The instructions go on to say that hot plugging the keyboard can result in destroying the motherboard and video card.
Before seeing this warning, I had been hot-plugging my Northgate and other keyboards, both vintage and contemporary, without incident.
However, yesterday, I was testing two Omni 101 boards. I unplugged one and then plugged in the other. Suddenly, the second keyboard became unresponsive. I went back to the first one and it, too, was unresponsive. I rebooted with one of the keyboards connected and it still did not work. Finally, I followed Northgate Bob's directions and powered down the computer then powered up and rebooted while holding down the Esc key. This restored function to the keyboard.
Questions:
1. My setup shares a keyboard and mouse with 3 computers using a KM switch and USB hub. With PS/2 keyboards like the Northgate, I use either an active converter such as the "blue cube" or an Orihalcon/Soarer PS/2 to USB converter attached to the USB hub. Therefore, if hot plugging is an issue, I will not be able to use susceptible keyboards. If hot plugging is indeed an issue, is there a workaround?
2. Is hot plugging an issue if the keyboard is using a PS/2 to USB converter?
Thanks for your insights and solutions!