VOGONS


First post, by Nexxen

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I powered on my 233MMX AT pc and I had no keyboard. Board is M530 https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/pcchip … -m530#downloads (pics following)

I took everything out and found the following:

when I have keyboard plugged off // in:

- clk +5V // varies from 0.** to 2.27

- data +5V // varies around 2.27

- Vcc 0V (zero) // varies from 1.54 to 3.68V (usually stabilizes around 1.98)

Like this the keyboard works from power on (reset makes it dead) to "media not found press enter"

If I take a wire from +5V to Vcc, everything works perfectly fine.

Before I just solder a wire from +5V to Keyboard Vcc, is there anything I should look for?
I looked around to find where the Vcc comes from but I can't find it.

Not direct from PSU or any other +5V around it (LPT/COM/USB/IDE/FLP)

Last edited by Nexxen on 2022-10-24, 17:44. Edited 1 time in total.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 1 of 7, by Repo Man11

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I have an M520 that had a bad solder joint on one end of the keyboard fuse. Likely it was never a good solder connection, but it probably worked until it was put in storage and years of dampness caused corrosion. The AT port itself also had cracked solder joints, but the fuse's connection was the real culprit.

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 2 of 7, by Nexxen

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Repo Man11 wrote on 2022-10-24, 14:00:

I have an M520 that had a bad solder joint on one end of the keyboard fuse. Likely it was never a good solder connection, but it probably worked until it was put in storage and years of dampness caused corrosion. The AT port itself also had cracked solder joints, but the fuse's connection was the real culprit.

Thanks!

To do:
1) solder joints
2) fuse joints

I have to look for the fuse 😀

Edit: Vcc goes under the connector, will have to desolder it. Ok, nice Necroware wave here.
I'll look out for bridges though 😀

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 3 of 7, by Nexxen

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Ok, I did a Necroware, i.e. I skipped the most obvious thing to realize it was the first thing to do. 😀

If you are in the chess world, "motherboard speaks for itself".

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PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 4 of 7, by Nexxen

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100% back to normal.
Forgot to take a picture, but it's just some copper wires and solder mask.

PCChips is a source for entertainment.
No idea how this could have happened. There was some grime underneath.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 5 of 7, by adalbert

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Nexxen wrote on 2022-10-24, 17:42:

No idea how this could have happened. There was some grime underneath.

Was there even a fuse in that trace? Looks like there was a short circuit and that trace literally turned into an electric heater, that soldermask looks cooked.

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Reply 6 of 7, by Nexxen

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adalbert wrote on 2022-10-24, 19:51:
Nexxen wrote on 2022-10-24, 17:42:

No idea how this could have happened. There was some grime underneath.

Was there even a fuse in that trace? Looks like there was a short circuit and that trace literally turned into an electric heater, that soldermask looks cooked.

No fuse.
I thought about it and my best explanation is this,
some days ago I did some soldering, I had the case open because I removed the Voodoo 2 that was inside.
Some solder scrap actually got on the board and I thought I had cleaned it, probably some got stuck and may have caused some sort of "something". There's enough space as the pins have a round stop mark and can't go in more than a certain spot.
The something I guess is the same that happens when you have some metallic object that makes a trace burn. I had that with a hard drive and a pci card.
The copper trace wasn't thin at all, quite sturdy. The bottom of the AT connector showed signs of heat. I got freakin' lucky.

Can't go further down the guessing game.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K