Re: Fatal problem with Apple II?

[jonINTERNETrelayCHAT@napaVALLEYnet.CLARInet (Jon Bettencourt)]

In article <38710CFB.7E8B@hotmail.com>, sark314@hotmail.com wrote:

> John Robertson wrote:
>  
> > Chances are the disk controller card was damaged by this insertion
> > with the power on. Have you tried a second controller?
> 
> I tried the controller from my Unitron and got similar results.  Since
> the problem apparently extends to keyboard signals, I'm thinking the
> unit's more or less done for.  :(

You could try replacing all the chips inside that you can. Some chips,
however, specifically the ROM chips, are hard to find.

The AY-whatever keyboard controller is most likely the cause of the
problems with keyboard signals. It's hard to find, too, but there is a
different keyboard decoder chip out there that is more common and will
work as a replacement.

Can you get the self-test (ClosedApple-Control-Reset) to work, or is the
keyboard signal there also mixed up? I don't know how far the self-test
goes (it at least goes as far as the RAM chips), but it might help if any
of the chips it tests are blown.

I've had problems with keyboard signals on my IIe, although the only
problem I have is that the Escape and 2 keys won't work. I've wanted to be
able to use some other source of input, like a peripheral card, to type
stuff in. If someone makes a driver or card or something that will use an
IBM PC or ADB or USB keyboard and "type" whatever you type into the Apple
II, I'm sure both of us will want to use it (if, of course, your only
problem is with the keyboard signals).

Someone has made a driver for ProDOS 8 that will use an IBM AT (or was it
XT?) keyboard plugged into the game port for input. Are you able to use a
boot disk with your other disk controller? If you can successfully do
that, you can probably make use of it.

-- 
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jonrelay@napanet.net                             jrelay.cjb.net
An Apple II fanatic since 1998!     S0.5 LIS+++! Suzy+++! M1987
"I can't stand to see you so miserable, Lis. Unless it's from
a rubber spider down your dress. Hmm... that gives me an idea. 
(Pulls out tape recorder) Note for later: put rubber spider down
Lisa's dress. He he he he he."

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