Psudo-Newb with Atari 1200XL Problems!

[Grizaptimus]

I reasently found my Atari 1200XL on the closet, and wanting to get back to my computting roots I hooked it Up.

 

Here is where the fun began. Got it all hooked up and turned it on. It seems to boot just fine loads up 4 of my 5 cartriges.

If I try to boot it without anything it just holds at the blue prompt with no "READY" on the screen then it just loads the "Spinning Rainbow Atari Demo thing".

 

Ohh ya and the keyboard does not seem to work. Trying to troubleshoot with my limited knowledge. I opened up the case to check the connections. they looked fine no corosion and still held firm to the pins.

 

I would very much love to get the old girl running agian as I am poor at the moment and it woould be quite difficult to get another 8-bit.

 

Thanks...

[MEtalGuy66]

The 1200XL doesnt have built in BASIC..

 

So unless youve got a cart in it, or a disk-drive to boot software from.. It isnt going to do anything!

 

The READY prompt is ATARI BASIC.. Stick a BASIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE cart in it, and you'll get the READY prompt..

 

Then you can test the keyboard out!

Edited November 2, 2006 by MEtalGuy66

[Grizaptimus]

Opps! forgot to mention that the BASIC cartridge was the one that would not boot. All I would see is a solid green screen

[Grizaptimus]

Well I got the BASIC cartridge to work... I guess I just didnt have it all the way in... Oops!

 

Got the READY prompt and tried to start typing... It appears that only the Q, I, O, P, K, V, N, Space, Delete, TAB, and all Numeric Keys work. All the others dead.

 

Are there any known Issues with the 1200XL keyboard that could cause this type of behavior?

[+Guitarman]

Well I got the BASIC cartridge to work... I guess I just didnt have it all the way in... Oops!

 

Got the READY prompt and tried to start typing... It appears that only the Q, I, O, P, K, V, N, Space, Delete, TAB, and all Numeric Keys work. All the others dead.

 

Are there any known Issues with the 1200XL keyboard that could cause this type of behavior?

 

 

Yes.

 

After setting for a while, the key contacts in the keyboard mylar get oxidized and will not function. I have 3 1200XL's and had to fix the keyboard on 2 of them after they sat for a while. It can be a time consuming task to pull the mylar and clean the connector pads, but it works. Best way to get it working on a budget.

 

For a cost, Best Electronics and B&C Computing both sell 1200XL replacement keyboards. I know Best has them for around $40-$50.

[classics]

Are there any known Issues with the 1200XL keyboard that could cause this type of behavior?

 

Unfortunatly 1200XL keyboards all go bad this way eventually. Trying to fix them by painting the pcb/mylar interface with conductive ink and some of the other solutions I've seen rarely produce lasting results.

 

The easiest way to fix it is to just buy a replacement keyboard from Best or B&C, which will cost you about $40 the last time I checked.

 

Steve

[Gunstar]

Well I got the BASIC cartridge to work... I guess I just didnt have it all the way in... Oops!

 

Got the READY prompt and tried to start typing... It appears that only the Q, I, O, P, K, V, N, Space, Delete, TAB, and all Numeric Keys work. All the others dead.

 

Are there any known Issues with the 1200XL keyboard that could cause this type of behavior?

 

If you are willing to take the keyboard apart, it may just be a matter of some tarnish build-up on the key contacts that need to be cleaned off, rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip should do the trick. But it may be a loose connection in the ribbon cable and where it connects to the motherboard too, as some keys are grouped together. The worse case scenario is that a trace or two on the keyboards circuit are bad which would have the effect of groups of keys not working too, and those traces would have to be repaired. Most likely, since it has been in a closet for years is that it's tarnish build-up.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Gunstar

[Almost Rice]

The oxidized key can come back by just repeated using the keys that do not work.

[Grizaptimus]

Thank you all very much for the advice!!! I will take appart the keyboard and try some of your sugestions.

 

I will let everyone know how it all gows!!

[Grizaptimus]

How visible would the tarnish on the keyboard PCB be? I could not see any tarnish bur cleaned off the contacts with alchohol anyway.

[+Guitarman]

How visible would the tarnish on the keyboard PCB be? I could not see any tarnish bur cleaned off the contacts with alchohol anyway.

 

There are 2 sets of contacts to clean, the ones on the board and the ones on the mylar. If you have tried to remove the mylar, you will probably see that part of the mylar coating will want to stick to the board. This is inevitable. Just try to separate the mylar slowly and this will be minimal. The contacts have a dull gray/black look to them when oxidized. I used both alcohol/q-tip and a pencil eraser. The combination worked very well for me. The contacts will have a slightly shiny gunmetal gray look when they are clean.

[Grizaptimus]

I took apart the keyboard assembly. Cleaned the Mylar sheet and the contacts under it, and put everything back together.

but Alas still only the same keys work.

 

the maylar sheet looked clean, and the contacts underneath looked a shiny golden.

 

So any other sugestions or new Keyboard time?

[JamesD]

There was a thread discussing keyboard repair. If the keys are all on the same line in the keyboard map one of the traces is broken and needs repair. I found this on one of my 130XE's.

[dinosaur]

Somewhat on this subject,

 

I have a nice clean 1200XL with dual OS installed, that some dummy (guess who?)

dropped something onto it and broke off one keycap.

 

Is it possible to replace one keycap,or is this a complete board replacement?

 

Actually,this is for cosmetic reasons,as I can still push the post of the broken key

and type that letter.

 

Thanks.

[Gunstar]

You can replace just the one key, but it may end up being easier to just eventually replace the keyboard, unless you have/find some other 1200 keyboards that are also broken to salvage the key from. But if the break on the key is actually the stem of the plunger that is broken(the most likely case), it may be possible to find replacement parts for the plunger assembly from Best Electronics or B&C Computervisons. They carry a lot of replacement components. Then you can use the same keycap. It all depends on if the stem is part of the keycap, or plunger, or if they join in the middle and I don't recall, since I haven't had to replace any keys on my 1200XL.

 

I just checked my Best E. catalog and they do carry 1200XL Mitsumi keyboard key plunger/contact for $3.50. They do have a $20.00 minimum order though. The full 1200XL keyboard is $30. Plunger part# CB101439 , keyboard part# CA060046. Call them after 1pm Pacific at 408-243-6950 with your credit card in-hand.

 

P.S. If you do replace the keyboard, save the broken one for spare parts or give/sell it to some one who can use it for spare parts, PLEASE don't throw it away!

Edited November 3, 2006 by Gunstar

[Urchlay]

There's a pretty good description of how to repair a 1200XL keyboard here...

 

http://www.retrobits.net/atari/keyboard.shtml

 

I wasn't able to completely fix mine that way, but I didn't try very hard (already had ordered a replacement from B&C). My keyboard had NO working keys, and I was able to get about half of them working. If only a few of yours are dead, you'll probably have better results than I did.

 

If you're going to try this, you might have a hard time finding a circuitwriter pen: Radio Shack has discontinued them. You should be able to substitute the conductive paint from a "Rear window defroster repair kit" from any auto parts store.

[dinosaur]

I have a keyboard from a fried 800XL,I wonder if the keys would be interchangable?

 

To Gunstar: As I don't have a new Best catalog yet,can you tell if the part numbers

are the same for replacement keys for the 800XL and 1200XL?

 

Thanks.

[Gunstar]

I took apart the keyboard assembly. Cleaned the Mylar sheet and the contacts under it, and put everything back together.

but Alas still only the same keys work.

 

the maylar sheet looked clean, and the contacts underneath looked a shiny golden.

 

So any other sugestions or new Keyboard time?

 

Take it apart again and look carefully at the traces (the circuit "lines" running to all the keys), under a good light source, if you have a magnifying glass it can help. If you see any cracks/breaks or burns on the mylar and/or board traces, that's your problem and it can be repaired with a CircuitWriter pen available at RadioShack for a few dollars. It a pen with metallic ink that is conductive, I use it all the time for repairs and prototype circuits. You can just "draw" a new circuit trace over the old cracked/burned trace.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Gunstar

[Gunstar]

There's a pretty good description of how to repair a 1200XL keyboard here...

 

http://www.retrobits.net/atari/keyboard.shtml

 

I wasn't able to completely fix mine that way, but I didn't try very hard (already had ordered a replacement from B&C). My keyboard had NO working keys, and I was able to get about half of them working. If only a few of yours are dead, you'll probably have better results than I did.

 

If you're going to try this, you might have a hard time finding a circuitwriter pen: Radio Shack has discontinued them. You should be able to substitute the conductive paint from a "Rear window defroster repair kit" from any auto parts store.

 

That's a shame, I didn't know the CircuitWriter pens were discontinued. But I'm sure other electronics houses have similiar items, and your alternative should work too.

[Gunstar]

I have a keyboard from a fried 800XL,I wonder if the keys would be interchangable?

 

To Gunstar: As I don't have a new Best catalog yet,can you tell if the part numbers

are the same for replacement keys for the 800XL and 1200XL?

 

Thanks.

 

I'll check, but I doubt they will be interchangable, even the 600/800XL's have different makes of keyboards that aren't interchangable among themselves. Computer companies LOVE to change keyboard manufacturers with nearly every manufacturing run it seems.

 

No luck. The 600/800XL used mechanical switches with unique plungers totally different from 1200XL keyboard plungers, and then three different styles too. Totally different part numbers.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Gunstar

[dinosaur]

That's a shame, I didn't know the CircuitWriter pens were discontinued. But I'm sure other electronics houses have similiar items, and your alternative should work too.

 

I just checked Radio Shack's webpage,and it says that they are in stock.

[Gunstar]

That's a shame, I didn't know the CircuitWriter pens were discontinued. But I'm sure other electronics houses have similiar items, and your alternative should work too.

 

I just checked Radio Shack's webpage,and it says that they are in stock.

 

It may have just been that person's local RadioShack discontinued carrying them then. Many, it not all are privately owned stores and can choose to not carry items.

[Urchlay]

It may have just been that person's local RadioShack discontinued carrying them then. Many, it not all are privately owned stores and can choose to not carry items.

 

Yeah, I was talking about local Radio Shack stores. I wanted the circuitwriter *right then*, so I called about 8 locations until I found one that still had them.

 

I found the tip about the defrost repair kit on an old Usenet archive, where they were talking about repairing old dumb terminal keyboards. I didn't actually try it myself...