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AST Premium 286 Model 140 keyboard failure

D

Den2016

Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2016
Messages
44
Location
Toronto, Canada
Hi all,

I'm getting 2 short beeps when starting up my AST 286.

http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/astbeep.htm says it's "The keyboard controller has failed"

whereas http://www.textfiles.com/computers/ASTRESEARCH/0366.tb says that it's LOCKED UP
and I should call AST Research for assistance. ;-)

I'm guessing they probably won't answer the call, even if I could find a number.

Hoping someone can help.

Thanks,
Dennis

P.s. Initially I tried my IBM PC keyboard (XT) which I believe resulted in the LOCK UP.
I'm now trying another keyboard with AT+XT modes and trying it as an AT keyboard.
No result.
 
When you use the keyboard set in AT mode, do any of the lights on it come on, when you turn the system on?

If not you may have a problem somewhere between the keyboard controller and the keyboard. Is there any battery damage on the motherboard near the keyboard connector?

On AMI bios (well at least the MB i just fixed), there are separate error messages for "Keyboard controller failure" and "keyboard error". Not sure if the AST does this also, but if it does then it means there is a problem with the CPU talking to the keyboard controller its self. This can again be caused by battery damage on the motherboard, or a faulty k/b controller chip.

Check to see if the keyboard controller has power going to it. Pin 1 should be +5V. It's usually a 40-pin DIP chip located near the keyboard port. Usually labeled "8042" or "keyboard bios" or something.
 
There is power going to the keyboard as the LED stay on for 2-3 seconds, then off, and then flash on/off quickly before beeping twice.

I'll check for any damage to the keyboard connector and the surrounding components in the morning.

Thanks for your advice.
 
Hi mR_Slug,

No damage near the connector, nor any component near the connector.
In fact, maybe there is no issue with the keyboard. CRTL-ALT-DEL still works.
It restarts, and then I get to two very short beeps.

FYI, I don't have a monochrome monitor to check for any output.
I tried using a CGA video card I got recently, but it produces one long beep and 2 short beeps.
According to the AST Research beep codes that signifies a "Video vertical retrace failure".

Thanks for your help.

P.s. there is an external battery (like a cordless phone battery) wrapped in a yellow plastic
with leads going to some pins. It looks fine. No leaks or anything.
 
Ok, if the keyboard works then maybe the beeps pertains to the lack of video.

So suppose it's a problem with video. I believe AST Premium 286/140 had a AST-3G video card (EGA, CGA, MDA) installed.
Mine doesn't come with the AST-3G. I got a Everex EV231D monochrome video card.
I read that the AST-3G had dip switches to change the mode of the video card between EGA, CGA, MDA.
See http://th99.classic-computing.de/src/v/A-B/50526.htm

As mentioned, I plugged my one and only CGA card into the 8-bit ISA slot, but it gave me a long beep and two short ones.
Would there be other switches I would need to change on the motherboard to successfully configure the AST to accept my CGA card?

Maybe there's a reference to the board online. 202143-004 Rev J
I'll go check.


Thanks for any help/input.
 
Hi,
Do you have any other ISA video cards you can plug into it? That would at least rule out the lack of video as the problem. That tech bulletin was in reference to the Keytronics 3270 keyboard, which is a terminal type keyboard. Are you using the Keytronics 3270 keyboard? If so couldn't you get a cheap AT keyboard, or buy one of those PS/2 to AT adapters and use a PS/2 keyboard? It might be easier then trying to track down a keyboard BIOS chip.
 
I've got 2x MDA video cards and 1x CGA video card. Only one CGA monitor.
So I only have one option at the moment.

Ok, it may not be a Keytronic 3270, but it is a Keytronic keyboard.
It's the only AT keyboard I own. I guess I'll need an adapter and
test it out further.

Thanks.
 
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