A1000 Dead Keyboard Key

[cmvsm]

Hi all,

Just took my entire A1000 apart, 'de-yellowed' the plastic, compressed aired the entire unit and cleaned areas with alcohol for what turned out to be a very nice looking unit. Aside from grounding the drive wrong the first time around, it runs like a champ with 1.5MB RAM.

Only thing left is to understand how to fix a dead key, which is my 'Z' key. Definitely could be worse from a key perspective. My mouse is also slow to run upwards. No issues scrolling down, just up.

Thinking maybe the mouse just needs to be cleaned a little better. Anyone know how to fix a dead key on the keyboard?

Thanks.

[desiv]

1.5M?  Awesome!  You have expanded memory...

As for the keyboard, I've heard using some contact cleaner and "working/exercising" the key can help..
I have a dead key on mine, but it's the caps lock, so not a biggie..
I've tried cleaning it, but nothing so far (well, I got several other keys working/working better).

At some point in time, I'll try desoldering it, taking it apart, and cleaning it that way...

Just got a hot air/solder work station for Christmas, so I should have a better chance to not ruin it.. ;-)

desiv

[motrucker]

Hi all,

Just took my entire A1000 apart, 'de-yellowed' the plastic, compressed aired the entire unit and cleaned areas with alcohol for what turned out to be a very nice looking unit. Aside from grounding the drive wrong the first time around, it runs like a champ with 1.5MB RAM.

Only thing left is to understand how to fix a dead key, which is my 'Z' key. Definitely could be worse from a key perspective. My mouse is also slow to run upwards. No issues scrolling down, just up.

Thinking maybe the mouse just needs to be cleaned a little better. Anyone know how to fix a dead key on the keyboard?

Thanks.

 I have to ask - Did the "z" key work before the cleaning? An internal cleaning MAY help - but a dead key is usually deeper than that.

[cmvsm]

Thanks for the replies guys. As for the keyboard, i can't tell you if the key worked before the cleaning. I didn't fully disassemble the keyboard, just enough to take all of the keys off and clean in and around the posts. I did notice a couple of tiny rust patches on the pad. The entire thing was a bit speckled, but nothing crazy.

I started to go down the path of pulling the tiny screws out and peeling away the pad from the circuit board, but wasn't sure what to expect and didn't feel like buying a whole new keyboard.

[barney]

The A1000 keyboard is a mechanical keyboard.  If it's anything like an Omnikey, each key has an individual Alps switch that can be easily desoldered and popped out.  If you have a spare A1000 keyboard, a working switch can be removed and popped back in.

[ChaosLord]

Your options are:
1. Replace the switch for the Z key with a matching switch.  I don't think these switches have been made for a long time tho.   If u have 2 or more different A1000 keyboards and u check to make sure they each use the same switches then you can rob a switch from one of them.

2. Buy a PS/2 keyboard adapter.  They make them for all the other Amiga models... not sure if there is one for A1000 tho.

3. For the mouse, this is an easy fix, buy a PS/2 mouse adapter.  It works on ALL Amiga models and lets u use a modern laser mouse which there are many models to choose from for $10.00 and less.  The adapter will cost around $50.00 tho, but it is worth every penny to use a perfect, fast, accurate optical mouse.  If ur A1000 ever dies, u still get to use the mouse adapter on your next Amiga.