A500 keyboard problems SOLVED

[scuzzb494]

I have a rom switcher in an A500 with A590 sidecar. When I booted today she went into 1.3 when normally I go 2.04 and the early startup screen has a series of 'hyphens' I guess is what I would call them running constantly until they stopped. Like as if a key was stuck. The run of hyphens looked like this ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' and then stopped.

I was able to reboot from the keyboard but when she came back up, although booting into 2.04 from the A590 the power light was not on and the keyboard caps light was steadily flashing. The worst was that the keyboard is not working. The capslight comes on full on boot then off and then a steady blinking light. I can soft boot from the keyboard. I tried a 1.3 floppy boot and the disk light comes on but still no keyboard.

So there you go. Any ideas.

UPDATE: Was the power supply which had given up the ghost. Evidently multiple blinks means low voltage on the 5V line from the PSU. So got another brick and she booted no problem and the keyboard is now working. Amazing what self tests the keyboard goes through as it synchronizes with the Amiga itself. And that caps light is the last to check. So very useful that.

Anyway I'm good. Thanks for reading.

[Pat the Cat]

If the ROM switcher is wired to switch on holding down reset or another key, then it's a fair bet the keyboard has a hardware fault.

Could be the ROM switcher though. Unlikely but if either works without, the keyboard is OK.

A590s are horrible. More so without their own power supply.