Joystick and buttons not working

[namedos]

I'm helping a friend, really, troubleshot his cocktail Mame machine.  The issue is that neither one of the joystick or any of the buttons are working.  It is a custom machine that is running windows 98, has an old Dell PC for the computer, an older IPAC 2 for the keyboard controller.

Things I tried to fix it:
I checked all the wiring and nothing is loose.
I tried moving the ground wire from one side of the IPAC to the other, just in case.
I rewired all the ground on player one side (the side that controls the input to the front end).  Thinking that if the ground was messed up none of the controllers would work.
I disconnected everything from the IPAC except the ground and the joystick wires.

I unplugged the IPAC and plugged in a keyboard everything worked fine. 

Since the front end works when it is plugged directly into the keyboard it would lead me to believe that it is either the IPAC or the cable that runs from the IPAC to the PS2 connection that is the culprit.

When first started up the green light on the IPAC flashes about seven times and then stays lit.

Before I have him order a new IPAC and cable does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks for your help.

[postalp123]

Sometimes I-Pac's tend to go rogue and the PC doesn't recognize it anymore.

It's a shot in the dark, but try this:

1) Go into Device Manager in windows, and Uninstall ALL of your USB ports (Do not worry, they will all re-install on their own on next boot)

2) After doing the above step, then download this and double click on it.

When my I-pac4 would give out, I would do that procedure.

Goodluck.

[namedos]

Postal,
Thanks for the thought but this is not USB.  It is connected through the PS2 port.  Because it is an older pc it is running windows 98 without USB support.  In fact there are no USB ports.

[Flip_Willie]

    If the I-Pac is working correctly, the LED should quickly blink once and then stay lit (USB mode), or quickly blink twice then stay lit (If PS/2 mode).  I think that is right...  If your I-Pac is flashing anymore than that, it means that you have a short in your wiring.

   Here is a link to I-Pac info on the ultimarc website: http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html.  Near the bottom of a the page, there is a chart that indicates what button is wired improperly according to the number of flashes the I-Pac shows.

   I hope that helps.

Just as it is,
Flip Willie

[destructor]

    If the I-Pac is working correctly, the LED should quickly blink once and then stay lit (USB mode)

I have USB I-PAC working perfectly and my LED quicly blink and stay dark after some time (fwe hours?) stay lit

[SirPeale]

Try disconnecting everything except the ground and one button.  Does that register?