Get rid of keyboard/mouse

[aj6500]

I built a stand-alone jukebox that I have networked with my other computer, which I do uploading and editing on.  I would like to remove the keyboard and mouse from the jukebox as I have no real use for them, and don't like the look.  But I don't think windows will let anything load if they are not plugged in, or it will stall on error messages.  Is it possible to wire some kind of dummy plug that will make windows think the keyboard and mouse are still attached?

[u_rebelscum]

I built a stand-alone jukebox that I have networked with my other computer, which I do uploading and editing on.  I would like to remove the keyboard and mouse from the jukebox as I have no real use for them, and don't like the look.  But I don't think windows will let anything load if they are not plugged in, or it will stall on error messages.  Is it possible to wire some kind of dummy plug that will make windows think the keyboard and mouse are still attached?

Windows should boot without either (at least win95/98

* u_rebelscum do).

However, some bios chips don't let you boot without a keyboard at default settings.  Go into the bios setup and disable the "keyboard warning" or "keyboard check".  Save and reboot and it should work.

[_Iz-]

I built a stand-alone jukebox that I have networked with my other computer, which I do uploading and editing on.  I would like to remove the keyboard and mouse from the jukebox as I have no real use for them, and don't like the look.  But I don't think windows will let anything load if they are not plugged in, or it will stall on error messages.  Is it possible to wire some kind of dummy plug that will make windows think the keyboard and mouse are still attached?

So how do you select songs to play on the jukebox?

[rampy]

I built a stand-alone jukebox that I have networked with my other computer, which I do uploading and editing on.  I would like to remove the keyboard and mouse from the jukebox as I have no real use for them, and don't like the look.  But I don't think windows will let anything load if they are not plugged in, or it will stall on error messages.  Is it possible to wire some kind of dummy plug that will make windows think the keyboard and mouse are still attached?

So how do you select songs to play on the jukebox?

clearly by telekenisis...  quiet! I'm trying to bend a spoon over here... =P

rampy

PS actually I'm curious about that myself... touchscreen, perhaps??

PSS I have keyboard and mouse for my cabinet.. but I just chuck them into the cabinet itself outa the way, hidden from view FWIW =P

[_Iz-]

I was thinking that maybe he was using an IPac but had it connected via USB or something. If that was the case, he could connect the IPac to the ps/2 instead and turf the keyboard with no problems.

uRebel_Scum is absolutely right, most bioses have the capability to ignore the lack of keyboard if that's necessary.

I really like the telekinesis method though rampy, I think i'm gonna design my next project using that interface!  

[Amra]

You might see about getting a touch screen addon, that or perhaps using a keyboard encoder and designing a small control panel  for the jukebox.

[aj6500]

Play songs???  Just 'cause I have a jukebox doesn't mean it actually does anything besides look pretty.

Actually I'm in the middle of designing a different control panel.  Right now it's set up with 5 buttons, 1 for each direction and 1 for accept, and hacked into a USB gamepad using keyboard2mouse as an interface.  This worked pretty well for jukebox v.7.  Unfortunately because of the jukebox v.7 display, it's not really usable once you get more than a hundred songs or so.  It only displays like 16 songs at once so by the time you hit 1000 songs, you'll never find the one you want.

Right now I'm using VJ which displays entire albums w/covers at once, and allows you to punch in album and song #'s just like a real jukebox.  So I'm using my orignal buttons to page left/right, control volume, and turn on random play, and a seperate keypad for # input.  When I get the time I'll have a control board with 10 # buttons, a page left/right button, and a couple others.

Thanks for the info on the bios settings.  If I disable the checks and later connect a keyboard for some reason, will the keyboard work or still be disabled?

[_Iz-]

It'll still work. The bios just makes the computer boot whether or not a keyboard is actually attached. If it's set to default then the computer refuses to boot without a keyboard, halts and reports a no keyboard error. You just have to set it to NOT halt on keyboard error.

[Cue-Ball]

I would add to that: Do NOT plug a PS2 keyboard into a machine while it's running.  Make sure to shut down first.  Most machines just ignore the keyboard, but some machines can actually be damaged by plugging in a PS2 keyboard or mouse while the machine is powered up.

If you want to be able to hot swap your keyboard, just pick up a generic USB keyboard at CompUSA for $10 or so.  Then you can plug it in and unplug it as often as you want without having to worry about anything (assuming you found your BIOS setting to turn off keyboard requirements).

[seaner]

It'll still work. The bios just makes the computer boot whether or not a keyboard is actually attached. If it's set to default then the computer refuses to boot without a keyboard, halts and reports a no keyboard error. You just have to set it to NOT halt on keyboard error.

Actually, some bioses don't have that option.  In that case you either need to wire up a microcontroller or pick up an off-the-shelf solution.. I know there are such things as keyboard terminators that you can plug in that will perform a keyboard POST and just acknowledge requests afterwards.

The message "KEYBOARD ERROR.  PRESS F1 TO CONTINUE" comes to mind.

[_Iz-]

Yes, some bioses don't have this option. I believe it was mentioned (or implied) in an eariler post in this thread...

you could also do a keyboard hack minus the hack part...  

basically rip apart a keyboard and keep the chip and cable and scrap the rest. Just like making a keyboard hack but don't bother connecting any controls... (just keep what is required to make the bios pass the keyboard test but scrap the bulk)

[Cue-Ball]

Even though some machines don't have this option, i don't think i've personally seen one in about 10 years or so.  The likelyhood of not having this option in the BIOS is pretty slim, i'd say.

[aj6500]

Cue-Ball, if you want to see another, come on by!

Bios has an option to not search for ps/2 mouse, but nothing for the keyboard.  I tried disconnecting and booting, also a no-go.  I'm using a usb keyboard and mouse.  Windows booted then displayed a no mouse found window.  I like that fact that there is a box to check to disable the window, but without a mouse attached you can't check it.  The genius' at Microsoft strike again.  And once I reboot w/mouse I can't find anywhere that will let me disable it.  

Other options?

[eightbit]

Cue-Ball, if you want to see another, come on by!

Bios has an option to not search for ps/2 mouse, but nothing for the keyboard.  I tried disconnecting and booting, also a no-go.  I'm using a usb keyboard and mouse.  Windows booted then displayed a no mouse found window.  I like that fact that there is a box to check to disable the window, but without a mouse attached you can't check it.  The genius' at Microsoft strike again.  And once I reboot w/mouse I can't find anywhere that will let me disable it.  

Other options?

Boot with a keyboard and no mouse. Use the keyboard to check the box to disable the mouse warning.

[rampy]

Cue-Ball, if you want to see another, come on by!

Bios has an option to not search for ps/2 mouse, but nothing for the keyboard.  I tried disconnecting and booting, also a no-go.  I'm using a usb keyboard and mouse.  Windows booted then displayed a no mouse found window.  I like that fact that there is a box to check to disable the window, but without a mouse attached you can't check it.  The genius' at Microsoft strike again.  And once I reboot w/mouse I can't find anywhere that will let me disable it.  

Other options?

Boot with a keyboard and no mouse. Use the keyboard to check the box to disable the mouse warning.

just to add to that...  in case it isn't obvious... you can use TAB key to change "focus" and hit space to make a check mark and then tab to the OK and hit ENTER

*shrug*

rampy

[aj6500]

Yep, I'm an idiot!  Worked just fine once I pulled my head out.