I have a client that has a Emachines computer.
Over the past 5 days their computer has killed 3 keyboards.
The 2nd dead keyboard worked for a day, then the next day input 2 characters
for each key pressed then died on the 3rd day.

I have never seen anything like this. I do not recieve any errors from bios
or windows.

Should I just swap the motherboard?

Thanks

It is possible the keyboard is being zapped with static electricity, but this usually is more of a problem during the winter.
Maybe the PS2 port is flaky; try a USB keyboard.

Z wrote:
--
Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.

On Tue, 22 May 2007 11:14:06 -0400, "Z" <no (AT) way (DOT) com> wrote:


Insufficient info. When there are two characters it is most
often a keyboard contact problem (like liquid in it). Is
the environment very very humid or it is possible they keep
dumping liquid in? Have these keyboards been tried on other
systems to confirm they are bad? Are they the same
keyboard, perhaps you have a (Manufacturing run) lot of them
with a particular problem?

What about other devices on same (PS2 or USB?) port, do
those work?

Yes if you can rule out environment and the keyboards
themselves, the motherboard remains a prime suspect.

"kony" <spam (AT) spam (DOT) com> wrote

The business is a muffler/auto repair shop and these computers get Real
Nasty with a black dust. I try to keep them clean and isolated, but parts
fail on them pretty regularly.

I did try the keyboards(all different) on the other computer and yes they
are dead. I cleaned the port(didn't really see anything wrong with it as
this is the cleaner of their 2 pc's being in the office and the furthest
from the shop) and checked the pins. I've never seen anything like this
before.

Everything else seems to be in good working order(for now).

Thanks for the info. I think I'll try Mike's suggestion of a USB keyboard
as this would be cheaper than a motherboard.

Thanks,
Chris

Z wrote:
Does the Emachine have a BIOS page that lists measured power supply
voltages ? The keyboard could be powered by +5V or +5VSB, and it is
a pretty easy thing to check with a multimeter as well. You can probe
the inside of each connector pin on the main power connector, while
the machine is running. Clipping the black (-) lead to an I/O
connector, makes it easier to take readings with the (+) probe.

If the supply in the Emachine is a standard ATX, it will be covered
by one of these specs:

http://web.archive.org/web/200304240...12V_PS_1_1.pdf
http://www.formfactors.org/developer...X12V_1_3dg.pdf

http://www.formfactors.org/developer...public_br2.pdf

Paul

On Tue, 22 May 2007 12:18:51 -0400, "Z" <no (AT) way (DOT) com> wrote:


This is most likely the problem. You need keyboard covers
at the very least or if that is insufficient, industrial
sealed keyboards. You might also recommend to the shop that
they may be in violation of health standards and should
consider an air cleaner if it isn't solely being deposited
by dirty hands (but if it is, employees washing their hands
would help too).

Since most factors are not directly under your control, I
suggest buying a bulk pack of keyboards with a config you
can find a keyboard cover for, so the keyboards last a bit
longer then if it acts up the cover is washed and the next
keyboard is installed.

The system might be in sad shape from this as well, given
enough metallic dust it could theoretically short out the
USB port but since the keyboards appear to work otherwise
(when first plugged in, new), it tends to suggest only
keyboard failure at this point.



I don't expect that to matter, unless the particular
keyboard just happened to be sealed better or designed
different. Note that waterproof types might help but
spillproof/leak-resistant may not, as the latter can mean
they only molded some channeling and put drain holes in
which is not sufficient but for some kinds of small water
spills.