derekn Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I'm cleaning out my parents' house and found my old TI-99/4A buried in a closet. Everything looks in pretty good condition, so I decided to try powering it up. It boots fine, but the keyboard doesn't work at all -- I can't get past the "press any key" screen. Actually, I got to the BASIC prompt once, but couldn't type anything past that. I remember I replaced the keyboard with one of the Radio Shack surplus models back when I was a kid. It turns out I even bought a spare and stashed it away, still in the original RS packaging. Swapping that in didn't help at all :-( Given that I got a key to work once, I was guessing it's some sort of mechanical issue -- loose connector or whatever. But replacing the keyboard didn't help, so I don't know. Does anyone have a suggestion on what to try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) I'm cleaning out my parents' house and found my old TI-99/4A buried in a closet. Everything looks in pretty good condition, so I decided to try powering it up. It boots fine, but the keyboard doesn't work at all -- I can't get past the "press any key" screen. Actually, I got to the BASIC prompt once, but couldn't type anything past that. I remember I replaced the keyboard with one of the Radio Shack surplus models back when I was a kid. It turns out I even bought a spare and stashed it away, still in the original RS packaging. Swapping that in didn't help at all :-( Given that I got a key to work once, I was guessing it's some sort of mechanical issue -- loose connector or whatever. But replacing the keyboard didn't help, so I don't know. Does anyone have a suggestion on what to try? If it's one of the membrane type keyboards, even the new one never used could have failed just over time. If it's the solder type i would try some contact cleaner to see if that will work on the keyboard and the connector pins at the motherboard. If that does not work, then you could always upgrade it to a the USB keyboard adapter. HERE Disclaimer: should work unless there is some other issue. Edited August 18, 2016 by Shift838 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekn Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 If it's one of the membrane type keyboards, even the new one never used could have failed just over time. Good call. I swapped in the original black keyboard, and now at least some of the keys work. I don't have any contact cleaner on hand, but I guess that might help. So... anyone in the Ithaca, NY area looking for a mostly working TI-99/4A system? I have a PEB, various floppy drives, speech synthesizer, several cartridges. (And a 12" Zenith green-screen monitor, which was all I could afford back then, but I'm kind of guessing no one wants that.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 So... anyone in the Ithaca, NY area looking for a mostly working TI-99/4A system? I have a PEB, various floppy drives, speech synthesizer, several cartridges. (And a 12" Zenith green-screen monitor, which was all I could afford back then, but I'm kind of guessing no one wants that.) What are you asking plus PA 18326 shipping? For be it would have to be the deal of the century but I figured I'd ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Yea, what price did you have in mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekn Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 I'd be happy to give this system to someone for the cost of shipping. I'm not going to use it, but it's pretty cool that there are still folks out there with running 99/4A systems. (I have way too many hobbies already...) Here's what I have: TI-99/4A (black & silver) original black keyboard (about half the keys work) two tan keyboards from Radio Shack (not working at all) speech synthesizer Zenith 12" green monitor PEB TI disk controller card TI memory expansion card full height 5.25" floppy drive two half-height 5.25" floppy drives GE cassette deck ("Computer Program Data Recorder") pair of TI joysticks Spectravision QuickShot joystick cartridges: Parsec, Mini Memory, Extened BASIC, Music Maker, Pole Position, Star Trek, Editor/Assembler, Disk Manager 2 disks: Editor/Assembler, TI Forth cassettes: Line-by-line assembler, Republic Software Utilities I manuals for pretty much everything, including TI service manuals with schematics This stuff is mostly untested. I loaded up Parsec -- which is a little hard to play with half a keyboard, but the machine boots and the monitor works. I haven't even unboxed the PEB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I pm'ed you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Thank you Derekn - Now I get to go start my "I have all this stuff and I don't know what to do with it" topic. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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