Broke my IPAC. :(

[skorpi0wn]

I was working on reconfiguring my cabinet yesterday so I opened up my control panel and hooked a keyboard to the IPAC.  Well, all the configuring made me thirsty so I got up and walked to the kitchen, accidently tripping over the keyboard.  I ended up pulling the front part of the keyboard connector off the green board.

As you can tell, I'm not that good with circuitry (I don't even know what that green board thing is called), but obviously the keyboard pass-thru doesn't work anymore.  I tried snapping that piece back down and if I pushed hard enough, I would get some life out of the keyboard.  

Anywho, my question is, how do I go about fixing this?  Should I pull the IPAC off my control panel and resolder that piece back down?  Or should I whine and complain to my neighbors who I hate anyway?

Thanks in advance.

[RetroJames]

Be sure to check with Andy at Ultimarc.  He is GREAT about providing support.  

[Tiger-Heli]

Four options:

1) Andy at www.ultimarc.com has previously offered to repair similar problems on I-PAC's, but that involves removing your I-PAC and sending it back to England.

2) Find a local electronics repair shop (or preferably, friend into soldering and electronics - maybe amateur radio) and get them to solder it back on.

3) Get a USB keyboard for configuration changes (or a PS/2 - USB adapter for your current keyboard) if your mobo supports USB.

4) Unplug the I-PAC and plug in the keyboard for config changes, then plug the I-PAC back in when you are done.

[skorpi0wn]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I emailed Andy and he gave me an address to send the IPAC to.  Of course, like Tiger-Heli said, I'll have to unscrew all the wires and screw them back in when it comes back.

I removed the back panel of my cabinet and plugged a keyboard in directly with a long extension cable using the USB ports, but I had to disconnect my spinner (only 2 USB ports on the board).

Once I get the chance and want to be without vids for up to a month, I'll take it out and ship it.

Thanks again!

Ryan

[Tiger-Heli]

Other option -

Wireless keyboard

I removed the back panel of my cabinet and plugged a keyboard in directly with a long extension cable using the USB ports, but I had to disconnect my spinner (only 2 USB ports on the board).

Two words - USB Hub! (or your board probably has a pin header that you could attach additional USB ports to.

Ok, was more than two words.

What are the 2 usb ports used for:  If spinner and trackball, then see options above.  If Spinner and I-PAC, then plug the I-PAC into the PS/2 keyboard port and use the USB keyboard (or plug the KB into the motherboard PS/2 port with an extension cable).

Alright, we're up to about 7 options!

[paigeoliver]

Has the I-Pac changed? I don't remember mine looking like that.

[Apollo]

Indeed it has changed.