I have a ANK2502 keyboard that plugs into a M240 PC. The computers seem to be more or less from the same era, with the M290 being slightly newer possibly, and the connector is the same shape so it's possible the keyboards are compatible. However, looking at the keyboard controller chip on both they could be slightly different. On the M240 it's a Olivetti chip marked with 8748K5, while on the M290 it's 8801K5 (from one teardown video I found on YouTube). There's a strong possibility that these numbers on the chip are just the manufacturing date codes, which would put them very close to each other and possibly the same chip, but I just don't have definitive information either way. I would say it's worth the risk, but offer no money back guarantee 😁

devius wrote on 2025-06-15, 10:23:

I have a ANK2502 keyboard that plugs into a M240 PC. The computers seem to be more or less from the same era, with the M290 being slightly newer possibly, and the connector is the same shape so it's possible the keyboards are compatible. However, looking at the keyboard controller chip on both they could be slightly different. On the M240 it's a Olivetti chip marked with 8748K5, while on the M290 it's 8801K5 (from one teardown video I found on YouTube). There's a strong possibility that these numbers on the chip are just the manufacturing date codes, which would put them very close to each other and possibly the same chip, but I just don't have definitive information either way. I would say it's worth the risk, but offer no money back guarantee 😁

Hi, thanks for the answer. I still didn't buy this 2502 (100€), but there is no way i will give 350€ for 25-102!!! 100€ is insane for old keyboard, but 350..... So You think it is worth the risk to buy 2502 for 100€ and try?
Thanks

I would never pay 100€ for a keyboard, but you're the one that needs to decide since I don't know enough about this. Maybe try researching a bit more, or wait for someone that potentially has both PCs to provide an answer.

The only help I can provide is more info about the M240 and its 2502 keyboard.

Maybe reach out to this person, they have a substantial Olivetti collection and might be able to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TiBosRetroComputers

Well... if m240 keyboard is compatible, then m24 keyboard could also be compatible.
I managed to build this adapter and get it somewhat working with my m24.

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/oli … emulator.67339/

So that could be the cheapest option.

devius wrote on 2025-06-15, 21:39:

I would never pay 100€ for a keyboard, but you're the one that needs to decide since I don't know enough about this. Maybe try researching a bit more, or wait for someone that potentially has both PCs to provide an answer.

The only help I can provide is more info about the M240 and its 2502 keyboard.

Hehe, thanks a lot, i was in doubt, wanted to have whole set in my collection, but as You said, maybe is better to wait for better opportunity....

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-15, 22:10:

Maybe reach out to this person, they have a substantial Olivetti collection and might be able to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TiBosRetroComputers

Thanks, i will, good idea 😀

Kekkula wrote on 2025-06-16, 05:38:

Well... if m240 keyboard is compatible, then m24 keyboard could also be compatible. I managed to build this adapter and get it s […]
Show full quote

Well... if m240 keyboard is compatible, then m24 keyboard could also be compatible.
I managed to build this adapter and get it somewhat working with my m24.

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/oli … emulator.67339/

So that could be the cheapest option.

I have found pinout of those olivetti keyboard, so i will maybe make adapter for normal ps2 keyboard to work on olivetti, but i wanted to have original with that PC 😀

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-15, 22:10:

Maybe reach out to this person, they have a substantial Olivetti collection and might be able to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TiBosRetroComputers

I have sent him an e-mail, but he didn't answer nor Yesterday, nor today 🙁

butjer1010 wrote on 2025-06-17, 19:06:

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-15, 22:10:

Maybe reach out to this person, they have a substantial Olivetti collection and might be able to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TiBosRetroComputers

I have sent him an e-mail, but he didn't answer nor Yesterday, nor today 🙁

This person isn't tech support. Give it some time. 😀

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-17, 22:57:

butjer1010 wrote on 2025-06-17, 19:06:

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-15, 22:10:

Maybe reach out to this person, they have a substantial Olivetti collection and might be able to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TiBosRetroComputers

I have sent him an e-mail, but he didn't answer nor Yesterday, nor today 🙁

This person isn't tech support. Give it some time. 😀

Hehehehe, ok, i will.... but i doubt he'll answer....

Hi to all,
i managed to find pinout for the M290 keyboard, so i made PS2/M290 adapter, and now i have keyboard for my new machine 😀
Now the problems are bigger 🙁
I don't have setup disk for M290, and i have found thread here about those setup disks, but none of the link doesn't work no more.
Does anybody maybe have setup disk for this lovely machine?
Thanks in advance

EDIT : I HAVE OPEN ANOTHER THREAD FOR THIS MATTER!!!

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:34:

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

It's not required to boot into DOS, but to clear the errors he needs the "customer test" floppy. It works similar to IBM PS/2 which needed the reference disk for doing changes. That key combo does not apply to these early machines.

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:34:

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

Hi,
no, it restarts with this combo

vetz wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:42:

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:34:

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

It's not required to boot into DOS, but to clear the errors he needs the "customer test" floppy. It works similar to IBM PS/2 which needed the reference disk for doing changes. That key combo does not apply to these early machines.

Yes, i need that floppy to set hard disk and other bios options.

vetz wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:42:

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:34:

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

It's not required to boot into DOS, but to clear the errors he needs the "customer test" floppy. It works similar to IBM PS/2 which needed the reference disk for doing changes. That key combo does not apply to these early machines.

You're referring to the Clock Calendar error "RUN SETUP"? I mostly convinced that with "SETUP" they mean to go into the BIOS setup. And the reason that there might be a clock error is because the "BATTERY LOW" error. Those "NON-SYSTEM DISK" errors seem to me like there is no bootable disk in the drive or the drive faulty.

@butjer1010. Even with the clock error you should be able to boot. Can you boot the machine? I had a number of Olivetti's back in the day and I don't remember dedicated setup disks, just a non-standard way of accessing the BIOS setup, i.e. the SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL key combo, or something along those lines.

A quick google search brought me here: Olivetti M290 how to go into bios?

Edit: Having a read myself through that thread, there indeed seems to be a setup disk for this machine. Back in the day I had 3 Oli's over the span of a couple of years (including an M24) and I have no memory of setup disks...

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 21:08:

You're referring to the Clock Calendar error "RUN SETUP"? I mostly convinced that with "SETUP" they mean to go into the BIOS set […]
Show full quote

vetz wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:42:

pan069 wrote on 2025-06-26, 19:34:

Do you need a setup disk? To me it looks like it's just trying to boot DOS. To get into the BIOS I think the key combo was SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL for Olivetti machines.

It's not required to boot into DOS, but to clear the errors he needs the "customer test" floppy. It works similar to IBM PS/2 which needed the reference disk for doing changes. That key combo does not apply to these early machines.

You're referring to the Clock Calendar error "RUN SETUP"? I mostly convinced that with "SETUP" they mean to go into the BIOS setup. And the reason that there might be a clock error is because the "BATTERY LOW" error. Those "NON-SYSTEM DISK" errors seem to me like there is no bootable disk in the drive or the drive faulty.

@butjer1010. Even with the clock error you should be able to boot. Can you boot the machine? I had a number of Olivetti's back in the day and I don't remember dedicated setup disks, just a non-standard way of accessing the BIOS setup, i.e. the SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + DEL key combo, or something along those lines.

A quick google search brought me here: Olivetti M290 how to go into bios?

Edit: Having a read myself through that thread, there indeed seems to be a setup disk for this machine. Back in the day I had 3 Oli's over the span of a couple of years (including an M24) and I have no memory of setup disks...

There is no need of setup disk if there is no battery problem, or if You clear CMOS data. I don't know if disks (2 of them inside) are ok, but the battery is dead for sure. Now i need this setup disk to try to set bios settings, and see if the MFM disks are working. I will be very happy if they do.