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From: binder@fizbin.DEC.COM ("When you do something well, repeat it often.")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: IIe Problem
Message-ID: <8701231528.AA23970@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: Fri, 23-Jan-87 13:12:00 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.8701231528.AA23970
Posted: Fri Jan 23 13:12:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Jan-87 00:27:36 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 43

Wes Miller (wesm@mitre-bedford.arpa) asks:

> 	I just recently had a problem with my IIe that I can't figure out,
> maybe someone out there can. Last night, as I was using the system, the
> keyboard started working improperly. Instead of typing the normal charaters,
> it would type a space or a random charater (either upper or lower case)...
> ...[Booted with 80 cols]...Everything worked fine. I rebooted again with the
> Master. Everything worked fine, so the 80 column card obviously cleared up
> the problem. 
> 
> 	Anyone out there have any idea what's going on? Was this a fluke, or
> should I bring in my system for a checkup? Thanks in advance.

Wes, I don't think the 80-column card fixed anything - using slightly
different software cannot repair broken hardware.  Your problem just went away
for a while.  The real trouble sounds like a dirty keyboard or an oxidized 
connector.  My old ][+ had that problem; it was usually in very humid weather
that it would appear.  It'd work fine until it got warm enough, and then
zowie!  Power down, reboot, any number of things might or might not make it
work right for a while.  After I'd clean it, it would take about a year to get
dirty enough to go nuts again.  Every time I ever opened the machine I would 
reseat all the cable and cardslot connectors as a precaution.  

Open your //e up and look inside.  If there's more than a speck or three of 
dust in there, try cleaning things.  Carefully, with a soft brush - if you 
have a can of compressed air for your camera or stereo, use that, too.  Don't
use any liquids.  The whole machine comes apart when you unscrew the right
screws - you really need to get in at the top surface of the keyboard.  Reseat
all the connectors - loosen them slightly, wiggle them gently and then push
them back into position.  Don't *force* anything - if it doesn't go, you're
doing it wrong. 

Then give it a try.

If you aren't confident of your own ability to clean the computer properly,
take it in for service.  Good luck.

Cheers,
Dick Binder   (The Stainless Steel Rat)

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