Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!gatech!mcnc!decvax!tektronix!reed!kamath From: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: //e Keyboard Problem Message-ID: <11241@reed.UUCP> Date: 2 Dec 88 04:52:16 GMT References: <317@orbit.UUCP> Reply-To: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Organization: Reed College, Portland OR Lines: 39 In article <317@orbit.UUCP> shawn@pnet51.cts.com (Shawn Stanley) writes: >DMG4449@RITVAX.BITNET writes: >>I am having a rather irritating problem with my //e at home. ... >> Except >>my E key did not function at all. Built-in diagnostics found no errors >>either. Is this serious? Do I need the keyboard replaced?!?!?! Any >>suggestions would be appreciated. > >The seriousness of the situation is hard to ascertain without looking at it, >I'm sure. Network hardware repair is, at best, difficult. > >UUCP: {rosevax, crash}!orbit!pnet51!shawn >INET: shawn@pnet51.cts.com Your most probably have a bad keyswitch. The Apple //e used both long and short stem Alps keyswitches, where the ][+ used SMK type. They can run you about $6.00 from a dealer. The way to check this is simple. Whip out your keyboard, but plug it back in. THen take a short piece of wire and short the terminals of the 'E' switch. If an 'E' magically appears, you need to replace the switch, or fix it. I suggest replacing it. However, I have succesfully repaired the switches. It is not easy, but you disassemble the switch and reseat the thin metal film that acts as contact. A can of gold endz or whatever comes in handy, as well as tweezers and needle nose pliers to remove the switch. Alternatively, you can solder two wires to the terminals, and when you want an 'E' just touch them together. . . :-) :-) :-) There was an article in a mac-magazine recently on how to fix them. I might also be able to get a keyswitch for you off a dead keyboard if it's the right type. Sean -- UUCP: {decvax allegra ucbcad ucbvax hplabs}!tektronix!reed!kamath CSNET: reed!kamath@Tektronix.CSNET || BITNET: kamath@reed.BITNET ARPA: kamath%reed.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu US Snail: 3934 SE Boise, Portland, OR 97202-3126 (I hate 4 line .sigs!)