Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!mephisto!prism!gt4662b
From: gt4662b@prism.gatech.EDU (BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: How to fix keyboard?
Message-ID: <3874@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 29 Nov 89 03:06:40 GMT
References: <6058@cbnewsh.ATT.COM> <4803@arctic.nprdc.arpa>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 29

> I have a related problem and thought that those who read the original
> article might be able to help.  My son discharged a static charge from
> his hand to the joystick of our Comm 64. after which the machine
> continually echoes spaces after boot up.  Most of the keys do nothing.
> The machine is unuseable, even with cartridges that don't need the
> keyboard.
> 
> There are two possibilties here. One is that the chip which deals with the
joysticks is dead (most likely). The other is that your joystick has died
in some manner and one of the switches is being held down. 

I believe that the chip which drives the joysticks is located directly
next to the keyboard connector. On some C64's it is actually socketed,
and you can pull it and replace it with a new one for about $20.

(Note that there are two chips in line with the keyboard connector which
are the same type of chip. Both handle much of the C64's I/O. As an 
experiment, if both are socketed, you might try switching them. If 
your joystick problem goes away, but you have some problems with your
disk drive....)

Cheers-Frank Branham

 				
-- 
BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
"I know my familiar is a vampire duck, just don't mess with it."
Internet: gt4662b@prism.gatech.edu