I can only tell, before iam building my systems, i check the parts on working before i go building a whole new system. I cant really trust these old parts. Mostly there is always something wrong with it..
Maybe there might something wrong on the DIN keyboard connector. I had also a board here that had the same sympthomes, but actually the connector was wear out.. Everything in this connector was just loose.

Check the keyboard fuse, usually near the DIN connector and labeled something like F1 or similar.

@133mhz, I know this may sound dumb but I've never had to do this before. Regarding the keyboard fuse that is. If it is burnt out or faulty. How do I replace it or fix it? I'm not with the computer to look at present but at least I'll know what to look for when I am with the computer again tomorrow.

@Robin4, what did you do to fix your connector? Resolder?

borgie83 wrote:

Regarding the keyboard fuse that is. If it is burnt out or faulty. How do I replace it or fix it?

Ideally you should replace it with a fuse of the same current rating (or even better, a modern self-resettable polyswitch).
In practice I don't bother and just jump over it with a piece of wire, like I did with this 486 board:

The fuse was in the spot marked F1 and looked somewhat like a resistor without color bands.
If you have a multimeter you can test continuity across the fuse to tell if it's good. If not (or if you're lazy like me) just hook an alligator clip lead to both sides of the fuse (as a temporary bypass) and see if the keyboard lights up.

@133mhz, thanks for that. I will test it out tomorrow with my multimeter. Looks simple enough to replace. I just hope the fuse is my issue as it's an awesome motherboard so would be pretty annoyed if the motherboard is on its way out.

Ok, so I used the multimeter and tested the fuse. Appears to be fine. Just to confirm though to make sure I tested it correctly, I set the multimeter to sound and then placed the negative+positive probes onto both sides of the fuse to test it's continuity and it beeped and gave a reading.

What's next people?

borgie83 wrote:

@Robin4, what did you do to fix your connector? Resolder?

I had desolderd the old one, and replaced it with one of my dead boards.( that i know it was a working one.)
Some 486 boards came with a very cheap DIN connector. Its just worns out over years. Then it doesnt make good connection with the board. (that because the din connector is falling appart)
I know these DIN connectors are mostly very stressed when putting in an keyboard connector in on the long period (in and out, in and out ect)

Thats why the board is hanging on boot.. I think it cant find the keyboard anymore, so it hangs till it detects the keyboard again.

Ok, so I gave the connector a blow out with some compressed air and tried it again. Keyboard led's light up for a second on boot but then turn off again so there is obviously some communication between the board and the keyboard. Could my issue lay anywhere else besides the actual connector?

I'm going to bump my own thread as I originally gave up on this motherboard after purchasing an Asus PVI-486SP3 as a replacement. I'm now about to purchase another case so I'm wanting to use this board again.

Questions; Did I do the below correctly?

borgie83 wrote:

Ok, so I used the multimeter and tested the fuse. Appears to be fine. Just to confirm though to make sure I tested it correctly, I set the multimeter to sound and then placed the negative+positive probes onto both sides of the fuse to test it's continuity and it beeped and gave a reading.

What's next people?

What does this mean assuming you've read the rest of this thread?

borgie83 wrote:

Ok, so I gave the connector a blow out with some compressed air and tried it again. Keyboard led's light up for a second on boot but then turn off again so there is obviously some communication between the board and the keyboard. Could my issue lay anywhere else besides the actual connector?

1) Sounds fine to me
2) The lights flash when the keyboard receives power. This means that the keyboard is probably okay and that there is connection to power cirquit of the PC. I have done an experiment with Mitsumi Classic as a kid by connecting 2 CR2032 batteries to +5V and GND pins of PS/2 connector. The lights flashed as if I was turning on the computer.

RacoonRider wrote:

1) Sounds fine to me
2) The lights flash when the keyboard receives power. This means that the keyboard is probably okay and that there is connection to power cirquit of the PC. I have done an experiment with Mitsumi Classic as a kid by connecting 2 CR2032 batteries to +5V and GND pins of PS/2 connector. The lights flashed as if I was turning on the computer.

So if the fuse and keyboard are ok then would the issue be the keyboard connector? Anything else that could cause this issue?

Sounds like a leaking battery that ate some traces that routes to the KB connector or oxidized some pins of the MB BIOS chip (if it's really that you should better take care of that battery ASAP and clean that mess). You can check all the KB connector traces with a multimeter and find where it's cut if it is.

darksheer wrote:

Sounds like a leaking battery that ate some traces that routes to the KB connector or oxidized some pins of the MB BIOS chip (if it's really that you should better take care of that battery ASAP and clean that mess). You can check all the KB connector traces with a multimeter and find where it's cut if it is.

Well, I battery was already removed when I purchased this board and the seller said he tested it and that it was working fine. I will definetly test the traces tomorrow but until then, here are a few pics of the board with close ups of the keyboard connector (frontside and backside), fuse and where the battery once laid rest.

Looks like the ghost of the dead and buried CR2032 has attempted to take the motherboard with it... I don't see any damage other than that. btw, if you think the board is helpless, do not throw away the cache!!!

borgie83 wrote:

darksheer wrote:

Sounds like a leaking battery that ate some traces that routes to the KB connector or oxidized some pins of the MB BIOS chip (if it's really that you should better take care of that battery ASAP and clean that mess). You can check all the KB connector traces with a multimeter and find where it's cut if it is.

Well, I battery was already removed when I purchased this board and the seller said he tested it and that it was working fine. I will definetly test the traces tomorrow but until then, here are a few pics of the board with close ups of the keyboard connector (frontside and backside), fuse and where the battery once laid rest.

Apply some white vinegar on the area showed in the last pic and brush (a toothbrush is effective) damaged traces and oxidized BIOS socket contacts (remove the chip and make sure that the pins are not oxidized too) that will remove battery acid, clean the traces and contacts... it will greatly help you to find defects.

RacoonRider wrote:

Looks like the ghost of the dead and buried CR2032 has attempted to take the motherboard with it... I don't see any damage other than that. btw, if you think the board is helpless, do not throw away the cache!!!

Haha yeah, looking at the first pic it looks REALLY bad but as you can see from the last pic, it's just the lighting. The tracks look a bit damaged though where the acid used to be. In your opinion, how do these tracks look to you? Oh, and if I couldn't save this board I definetly would be salvaging the parts.

@Darksheer, will do!

Just checked the tracks around where the battery used to be and all of them are fine. Also checked the fuse again which is fine. Removed the Bios chip and it had no corrosion or any damage to the pins at all. Very clean. The only thing I can think of is the keyboard connector itself. The connector is giving a reading on the multimeter though.

Any suggestions from here?

i have a question about this motherboard..
i cant see a header for ps2 mouse
but the manual mentions an IRQ reserved for PS2 mouse
is there anyone who uses this mobo that has a ps2 mouse working with it?