Author Topic: How on earth do I connect a Keyboard to this!? (Read 3855 times)

slapaham · « **on:** August 04, 2009, 09:50:07 am »

I got this bomb of a PC free and I want to MAME it as it's no good for anything else!

However, the bloody thing won't boot up, complaining there is no keyboard present... well, it won't accept a USB one on booting up and I can get into the BIOS without having a keyboard connected so that's crap!

I look on the back and these are the only connections it has - no freakin PS/2 connection, of course!

I'm taking it that the deepset socket in the top left hand corner of the photo is where I want to connect both the Keyboard and the Mouse - however, what on earth cable do I need to achieve this!? I've never seen a thing like it! This machine is the pits!

Can anyone suggest anyway around this problem or a place I can get this stupid cable from?

Thanks (in advance) to anyone who can help!

Haterot · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2009, 09:58:59 am »

Thats an OLD keyboard connector. Think original IBM days. 5pin connector.
Some info
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/AT+keyboard+connector

Malenko · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:02:32 am »

that round one is the keyboard hole. you need a big keyboard to PS2 adapter

RyoriNoTetsujin · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:04:10 am »

Dude, really? That's for an old AT keyboard... haven't seen that in a long while. Good luck with that.

Quote from: slapaham on August 04, 2009, 09:50:07 am

I got this bomb of a PC free and I want to MAME it as it's no good for anything else!

It probably won't even be good for that, unless you're running the much older versions of MAME (.36?) You're better off putting a request out on Freecycle if you want a free computer to MAME.

... ninja'd no doubt.

dirkomatic · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:07:00 am »

Wow that's an old machine... Or at least an old case.

For that machine, you'll either have to use a USB mouse or most likely a serial mouse.

You'll need an adapter (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10414&cs_id=1041401&p_id=1127&seq=1&format=2) to hook up a keyboard...

slapaham · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:12:02 am »

It was ---smurfy--- custom PC my brother bought. The guy who built it for him obviously used the cheapest and naffest bits!

However, the PC itself is no older than about 2000-2001 so should be capable of running some sort of MAME but I guess I'll have to wait and see! God knows why it's got such a crappy old case on it though - bloody con artists!

Thanks guys!

slapaham · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:14:58 am »

Just to confirm - this should do the trick, yes? -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PS-2-6-Pin-Mini-DIN-Female-to-5-Pin-DIN-Male-Adapter_W0QQitemZ130306233431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item1e56db5457&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_2397wt_1167

If so, I can live with spending 99p to give it a go!

Thanks again!

dirkomatic · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:16:23 am »

Quote from: slapaham on August 04, 2009, 10:12:02 am

the PC itself is no older than about 2000-2001

In PC terms, that's ancient...

dirkomatic · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:18:19 am »

Quote from: slapaham on August 04, 2009, 10:14:58 am

Just to confirm - this should do the trick, yes? -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PS-2-6-Pin-Mini-DIN-Female-to-5-Pin-DIN-Male-Adapter_W0QQitemZ130306233431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL?hash=item1e56db5457&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_2397wt_1167

If so, I can live with spending 99p to give it a go!

Thanks again!

Looks right...

saint · « **Reply #9 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:19:18 am »

The case doesn't dictate the type of keyboard connector. The motherboard does. When you boot it does the BIOS say anything about what it is? Even without keyboard the POST screen may give you some clues.

polaris · « **Reply #10 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:29:23 am »

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84997.0

ive got something similar, theres info in that thread that may be of use

slapaham · « **Reply #11 on:** August 04, 2009, 10:43:12 am »

Cheers guys!

I'll opt for the adaptor, wait until it arrives then uncover the PC's capabilities then... considering it will only cost 99p to find out it's worth it just to be nosey!

Haterot · « **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2009, 11:24:26 am »

Ii agree with saint the case doesn't dictate what's inside but by looking at the back you can see there is nothing integrated (other than the keyboard). There's not even a mouse port. I would not doubt that this is an old skool terminal. There appears to be a sound card installed which if i remember right (damn I'm old) has a game connector. I don't see a serial port, which the OLD mice use to use.

Do what saint said boot that thing to POST get some info and lookup the mobo. Any idea what OS this is running currently? or what that gfx card is? You m ight be better off dredging up an old Vic-20 than using this.

dirkomatic · « **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2009, 11:52:14 am »

Yes, my brain was on automatic when I posted... MOBO, not case...

In any "case", it's still old...

slapaham · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2009, 12:26:37 pm »

When I find a bit of time I'll boot it up. To be honest, I may just leave it until the adaptor turns up because it's coming anyway! I'm sure this was purchased for my brother's first year at Uni which would have been 1999 or 2000. It would have had the latest OS on it at the time (doubt it would have been legal looking at how crap everyone says the PC is!) - so probably Windows 98 or 2000. As soon as the adaptor arrives I'll post the results!

severdhed · « **Reply #15 on:** August 04, 2009, 12:37:19 pm »

i hate to tell you, but that style of keyboard connector was already outdated in 1999 or 2000. i built my first PC in the spring of 2000, and ps2 keyboards were the standard at that point in time...that has to be a 486 or early pentium class PC, which is not going to do you much good. judging by the pic, i'll guesss under 100mhz and probably 32mb of ram.

CathalDublin · « **Reply #16 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:19:22 pm »

Wow thats old skool
Use to work in a shop selling pc parts in 2000/1.
never sold a motherboard with that connector(before ATX Standard, think its called AT) but used to sell hundreds of the adapters because you could no longer buy those keyboards.
Why not just use a USB keyboard/mouse?
Back when that was alive it was all serial mouses lol
Definitely pentium 2 at best i would imagine

severdhed · « **Reply #17 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:28:04 pm »

i'm sure that an AT system like that will not support usb keyboard and mouse at the bios level. and since it cannot detect the keybaord, it will not boot

bkenobi · « **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2009, 03:42:53 pm »

If you could get into the bios, you could disable halt on keyboard error. BUT, you don't have a keyboard to change the setting. So, you need an AT keyboard to turn off the error so you don't need an AT keyboard. Get it!

daywane · « **Reply #19 on:** August 04, 2009, 05:33:40 pm »

I have about 5 of those style key boards. in my attic.
MAME is not the only EMU out there.
I am trying to think of the Old Arcade EMU I used (Vertical games mostly)
That old PC should run just fine.
Callus is one that comes to mind.
Vantage is the one I was thinking of.
Both use mame roms (56 or less I know work)

Ed_McCarron · « **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:40:54 pm »

Quote from: Haterot on August 04, 2009, 11:24:26 am

I don't see a serial port, which the OLD mice use to use.

The two male connectors on the card below the video card are serial, the female 25 pin on the bottom is most likely parallel.

The round connector in the shadow (bottom right) -may- be a ps2 style mouse connector.

Octo · « **Reply #21 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:54:17 pm »

Why not just take off the side panel and check the model #s on the MB and CPU? You're gonna need to get it dusted out inside anyway, so may as well. It'll be fairly clear when you open it whether or not it is worth working on.

IG-88 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 04, 2009, 07:02:39 pm »

SpyStyles Boot CD will work on that sucker. I've got it to work on several machines that old. If I remember correctly the adapter, AT-PS2, will work to let the bios think there is a keyboard hooked up. Vantage is a great one which is an option to install on the boot cd. The only problem you may run into is finding drivers for the audio card. If it's got an O/S on it already and everything is working I might consider using an old version of Mame. v36 w/game launcher. It will run most of the classics. ArcadeO/S might work too....

bkenobi · « **Reply #23 on:** August 04, 2009, 09:03:12 pm »

Quote from: Ed_McCarron on August 04, 2009, 06:40:54 pm

The round connector in the shadow (bottom right) -may- be a ps2 style mouse connector.

Nope, that's a really old token link network card. I ran coax in my parents house years ago to get a network. At the time, I really had no interest in messing with cat3 with all it's tiny wires and expensive connectors, so I went with cheap coax and twist-on Radio Shack connectors. It worked fine for years despite maxing out at 2mbps.

I could never figure out what the wide female connector was for, but I never used it.

polaris · « **Reply #24 on:** August 05, 2009, 04:46:07 am »

Slapaham
in fannying about with mine ive got mame and roms on there only to discover theres no sound card

give yours the quick once over to see you have everything you need in there, its rather frustrating finding out after youve got it going that its no good for mame.

Ummon · « **Reply #25 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:02:22 am »

Down to the PCI components installed, that looks eerily like two units I found out by the dumpster - each with a 4gig drive - and then, though I knew what I needed, I decided I wasn't really interested in even trying, and put 'em out by the mailboxes.

Dr Zero · « **Reply #26 on:** August 07, 2009, 03:20:52 pm »

Quote from: polaris on August 05, 2009, 04:46:07 am

Slapaham
in fannying about with mine ive got mame and roms on there only to discover theres no sound card

give yours the quick once over to see you have everything you need in there, its rather frustrating finding out after youve got it going that its no good for mame.

You need a sound card? I think I have some older cards from where I scrapped some pc's ISA or PCI?

polaris · « **Reply #27 on:** August 07, 2009, 04:01:00 pm »

Quote from: Dr Zero on August 07, 2009, 03:20:52 pm

Quote from: polaris on August 05, 2009, 04:46:07 am
Slapaham
in fannying about with mine ive got mame and roms on there only to discover theres no sound card

give yours the quick once over to see you have everything you need in there, its rather frustrating finding out after youve got it going that its no good for mame.

You need a sound card? I think I have some older cards from where I scrapped some pc's ISA or PCI?

thanks for the offer but i'm in the uk, i'm sure i can find one for a few quid on the bay.

Rusty Shackelford · « **Reply #28 on:** August 07, 2009, 04:57:58 pm »

Check out your local car boot sale. There is always plenty of outdated pc stuff at them (or at least at my local one!)

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 07, 2009, 05:53:50 pm »

Are you sure that thing even has the capability to boot from a CD? Probably not, that BIOS option (if I recall) was implemented in newer computers. You'll probably need a floppy boot disk in order to gain CD rom access.

~ D

Ummon · « **Reply #30 on:** August 08, 2009, 08:25:08 pm »

Quote from: Rusty Shackelford on August 07, 2009, 04:57:58 pm

Check out your local car boot sale. There is always plenty of outdated pc stuff at them (or at least at my local one!)

Car boot sale. Heheheheh. Over here, people have garage/carport/yard sales. Anyone selling something out of a car trunk is a little suspect (no pun, here), a minority, or selling organic produce.

ark_ader · « **Reply #31 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:07:11 am »

I see USB. Seriously you need to go on ebay or google before posting this kind of question.

I mean we are not talking 50 year old equipment here.

Dr Zero · « **Reply #32 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:14:00 am »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on August 07, 2009, 05:53:50 pm

Are you sure that thing even has the capability to boot from a CD? Probably not, that BIOS option (if I recall) was implemented in newer computers. You'll probably need a floppy boot disk in order to gain CD rom access.

~ D

http://www.bootdisk.com/

polaris · « **Reply #33 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:48:23 am »

Quote from: ark_ader on August 10, 2009, 09:07:11 am

I see USB. Seriously you need to go on ebay or google before posting this kind of question.

I mean we are not talking 50 year old equipment here.

its probably worth reading the posts, you wont come across as so stupid then

SavannahLion · « **Reply #34 on:** August 10, 2009, 11:51:16 am »

Quote from: bkenobi on August 04, 2009, 09:03:12 pm

Quote from: Ed_McCarron on August 04, 2009, 06:40:54 pm
The round connector in the shadow (bottom right) -may- be a ps2 style mouse connector.

Nope, that's a really old token link network card. I ran coax in my parents house years ago to get a network. At the time, I really had no interest in messing with cat3 with all it's tiny wires and expensive connectors, so I went with cheap coax and twist-on Radio Shack connectors. It worked fine for years despite maxing out at 2mbps.

I could never figure out what the wide female connector was for, but I never used it.

Wow, that connector is huge. Is that a 25 pin? I thought that was an AUI, but I just found my big box of 3Com NICs yesterday and the AUI on those is a 15 pin. Maybe it's a proprietary AUI? Get the model and part number of that card and I'm sure it'll be in the manual.

saint · « **Reply #35 on:** August 10, 2009, 12:01:54 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on August 10, 2009, 09:07:11 am

I see USB. Seriously you need to go on ebay or google before posting this kind of question.

I mean we are not talking 50 year old equipment here.

I see USB on an add in card in a PC with a motherboard that looks sufficiently old enough that the BIOS may not support USB keyboards natively, making it unable to boot without at an AT keyboard. There was nothing wrong with his question.

--- saint


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