My cab crashed on the wknd - Kidproofing Needed

[Richardgregory]

Ok, this weekend my cab went through a stress test with kids around - it would have been fine, but there was a 3 year old around that did it this time.

In the past I learned to disable Windows Sticky Keys so that was good this time around, but yesterday the following happened:

1. I left a wireless keyboard close by that the 3 year old found. She started to press a billiion keys I'm told and combination, and so that resulted in the system going into "Sleep mode" - there was a hibernation/sleep button on the keyboard.  Not sure what had happened, the power was cut, so now the computer is stuck on a Windows prompt expecting me to choose between trying to restore from last state, or attempt normal startup. 

Well, the system is not recognizing my USB keyboard and I've tried everything (discharging the power, changing USB ports, etc....)  Anyhow, I have a PS/2 connector to USB connector dongle...hope it works and if not, I will need to find and purchase a PS/2 keyboard.

I think in Windows there's a way to disable hibernation/sleep mode such that any button press of the keyboard/or power button will prevent this yes?

2.  With all the player 1 button, joystick combination and fire button pressing by the kids, it's bound to happen that they would get a correct IPAC key combination that will bring up the MAME in game menu. Ie.  TAB.  Which by default on IPAC is pressing Player 1 button, Player 1 Joystick move to right. 

How can I best prevent such joystick/button press combinations that can happen, which eventually hits a proper IPAC keycode that will interrupt the game, etc?

Thanks

[Titchgamer]

1) Hide the keyboard or put it out of reach
2) Disable the Ipac hot keys in the IPAC config.

[BadMouth]

Change the default keys in MAME for the first four player one action buttons.
Reprogram the Ipac to use V B N M instead.

[pbj]

Only way I could make an Ultimarc product guest proof was to use default key mapping and avoid wiring the shift function button. 

[keilmillerjr]

Mame has 3rd and or 4th player dafault key mapping to modifier keys. Don’t even worry about it if your cabinet is single or duel player.

My cabinet has a power switch on a panel above the bottom portion of he happ over under. Make a spot if you do not. Easy and locked access. Wire it to computer motherboards power pins. Google power settings for your operating system.

You shouldn’t ever need a keyboard unless changing/updating your computer. Disconnect it and leave it in closet, leave it inside cabinet, or get a wireless micro keyboard for $20 off Newegg (best option).

[bperkins01]

I had kids blowing up my machine its first big weekend - disabling the ipac shift key did the trick...
After that - other issues popped in - like mame not exiting right before starting a new one..
I plan to add a kill all mame exit routine to my autohotkey script..

[JDFan]

  Not sure what had happened, the power was cut, so now the computer is stuck on a Windows prompt expecting me to choose between trying to restore from last state, or attempt normal startup. 

Well, the system is not recognizing my USB keyboard and I've tried everything (discharging the power, changing USB ports, etc....) 

That prompt is because of the loss of power and possible corruption of the system files -- Usually it is on a countdown timer and after the timer reaches zero it will use the selected option which IIRC is to boot normally ( so even if the keyboard is not being recognized it should try to boot after about a minute or so - and if nothing was corrupted should then work fine)

As for the keyboard not being recognized - once it boots it should then work (after the USB drivers are loaded ) - Once it works again (or using a ps2 keyboard ( Remember for PS2 devices they need to be plugged in before turning on power ! )) as it boots again press the key to go into your BIOS setup and look through there for an option to enable USB keyboard support ( usually under integrated  peripherals - depending on the system) or on some systems it will require turning off the Fast Boot Option ( since under that option it states :

"If Enabled, USB devices (keyboards and drives) will not be available until after OS boot, but BIOS will boot faster. If Disabled, USB devices will be available before OS boot, but BIOS will boot slower.