Tiny PC has keyboard problem/need FIC P4M-800T m/board

[Bob Crabtree]

A mate bought a PC from Tiny a little while before the company went down the tubes (no, he didn't ask my advice) and now a weird fault has developed that I've not seen before.

The PC boots up but soon stops with the message you'd typically get if no keyboard is plugged in.

But, of course, there is a keyboard plugged in - and the problem is still there if trying other keyboards.

All three keyboards he's tried have been connecting via PS2 and are known to be good - and he also tried a PS2 keyboard with a USB adaptor but I guess USB-keyboard access must be disabled in the bios (or that USB adaptor/keyboard combo doesn't work).

The PC has a FIC P4M-800T motherboard but there is no manual to download from FIC's site, and the CD that Tiny supplied didn't have a PDF for that board on there.

Any clues?

A PDF of the manual would be good, too, if someone has one about their person.

And, if it turns out that the motherboard needs replacing, it would be useful to hear recommendations for an easy-to-install (and basic) substitute for the FIC board.

Cheers

Bob

[Xaneden]

Well, looks like the KBCLK signal either isn't getting through. I'd check to see if the PS/2 pins are busted, if they aren't, I'd put it down to a generic hardware failure.

[Bob Crabtree]

Thanks but, I can't see quite what you mean about checking the PS/2 "pins".

Do you mean attempt to look in the socket and see if anything seems amiss?

I've tried that, but there's nothing obvious, and the two PS/2 sockets are integral to the motherboard, so it's not as though I can get inside them and have a better look.

Bob

[Xaneden]

Basically, I meant the pins that make up the PS/2 connectors, on both the motherboard (i.e. the green and purple ones which are visible), and on the keyboard itself.

[Bob Crabtree]

Thanks, but he's already looked at the socket from the outside and couldn't see anything that was amiss (not that I think I'd know what to look for - judging by a quick look I just had at a number of PS/2 sockets).

And, of course, he's tried three quite different keyboards - all known to be good (still).

Bob

[Curly]

if the PS/2 sockets are not working could you not use a usb keyboard.

Curly

[Bob Crabtree]

Curly,

Thanks.

He tried a known good PS/2 keyboard with a PS/2>USB adaptor, and that didn't work, so he brought them over to me today.

I tried them on one of my PCs, and they didn't work either, so I guess he's going to have to stump up for a USB keyboard as the next step.

However, I'm keen to find the manual for his motherboard to see where the Bios reset jumper is, just in case doing a reset sorts out the problem.

Bob

[Ramedge]

when you say usb adaptor you mean a PS/2 to USB? Just wondering because i havent come across one but i do see USB to PS/2 adaptors alot.

Cheers

[Bob Crabtree]

Yup, a PS/2 to USB adaptor ie it's got a female PS/2 and a male USB.

Bit of a rarity, I agree.

Trouble is, I'd had it in a drawer for years and had no idea whether it worked, and now don't know now whether to assume it's duff or whether it's wrong to assume that it will work transparently to turn a PS/2 keyboard into USB.

Bob

[Curly]

iirc, if you disconnect the power lead and remove the battery for a few mins this will clear the cmos.

Curly

[Bob Crabtree]

An update.

Mate bought a cheapo USB keyboard - sub £4 (ex VAT and delivery), plugged it in and the keyboard error went away.

Tonight, I searched various FIC sites and came up with two very useful ftp address for downloads, so we were able to get a manual.

ftp://ftp.fica.com
ftp://ftp.fic.com.tw

Now to see if we can sort out the problem that he wanted me to help him with in the first place - Outlook Express not working right - which, I'm pretty sure will be to do with Trojans and the like.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers

Bob