Fixing Atari 600 XL Keyboard (= key remains on)

[Fixing Atari 600 XL Keyboard (= key remains on)]

 

Out of interest, is the 600XL motherboard branded 'Chelco'?

I'm not sure; I have yet to take it apart. Are there different motherboard brandings depending on the type of computer I have?

[Fixing Atari 600 XL Keyboard (= key remains on)]

First try identifying your keyboard:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/105170-600800xl-keyboard-variants/

 

Some clues without opening the case are the shape of the "o" and the "q", the Control and arrow keys (full or outlined) , and the stairs"ness" of the keys. Then you will know if there are switches involved or if it is a Mylar version.

 

Thanks! This has been extremely helpful. Unfortunately it appears I am stuck with the Mylar keyboard, but at least repairing or replacing the Mylar is easy to do. Thank you!

[Fixing Atari 600 XL Keyboard (= key remains on)]

So today I bought an Atari 600 XL computer from an Exchange store and hooked it all up to my TV. It works, but upon boot-up I get a wall of = signs that will not stop typing. I am able to run the tests upon boot up just fine - memory and sound both passed. But with the keyboard test, the = key remains down and I get a long, drawn-out tone which I cannot stop. Pressing the = key many times does not free it from its permanently activated state.

 

So before I take it apart to fix it, I looked up a repair video on someone fixing an 800XL keyboard -

 

Before I dismantle mine and look at it, I want to know two things -

 

1. Is this repair process in the video identical for a 600 XL, in terms of how things are put together?

2. Has anyone else had this issue, and can it be fixed with just a simple contact cleaning?

 

Thanks!

[5200 Joystick Solution(s) -- What would you do?]

I chose 'other', because I'm a broke college student and can't afford no fancy pants gold build controllers!

 

I currently only have one controller. After taking it apart and cleaning the board, I used a hole-punch to punch out circles of tinfoil and attached them to my buttons with Elmer's glue. They still work!

[No power to Atari 5200 4-port]

So my 5200 has apparently given up the ghost and just refuses to turn on. I recall the last time it functioned (about a month ago was when I played it last) it took a couple of tries to get it to turn on, but eventually it worked perfectly fine and I was able to turn it off and on with ease as I switched out games. Now all of the sudden it doesn't want to turn on at all. I have had this 5200 for a few years, and it has worked great otherwise.

 

At the moment I don't have anything to test the power supply itself. But I'm assuming it's the switchbox. When I was trying to turn it on I examined the switchbox after several attempts and noticed it smelled like burning plastic. It wasn't strong, but you could definitely smell it if you held it up to your nose. I took it apart and everything looks good, except for the part where you plug in the actual power supply. The part where you plug the console in - which was where it smelled like burning plastic the most when I examined it - seems okay.

 

Attached are pics of the switchbox, which I have taken out of its shell to look at. As you can see, the part where you plug the power supply into (the black thing, I don't know the name of it) seems rusty and corroded all over. Would this be my problem? Could I take it off the switchboard and clean it up, or would it be best to just buy a new part?

Also, what can I use to test out my power supply to make sure that's not what's causing the issue?

[No power to Atari 5200 4-port]

So my 5200 has apparently given up the ghost and just refuses to turn on. I recall the last time it functioned (about a month ago was when I played it last) it took a couple of tries to get it to turn on, but eventually it worked perfectly fine and I was able to turn it off and on with ease as I switched out games. Now all of the sudden it doesn't want to turn on at all. I have had this 5200 for a few years, and it has worked great otherwise.

 

At the moment I don't have anything to test the power supply itself. But I'm assuming it's the switchbox. When I was trying to turn it on I examined the switchbox after several attempts and noticed it smelled like burning plastic. It wasn't strong, but you could definitely smell it if you held it up to your nose. I took it apart and everything looks good, except for the part where you plug in the actual power supply. The part where you plug the console in - which was where it smelled like burning plastic the most when I examined it - seems okay.

 

Attached are pics of the switchbox, which I have taken out of its shell to look at. As you can see, the part where you plug the power supply into (the black thing, I don't know the name of it) seems rusty and corroded all over. Would this be my problem? Could I take it off the switchboard and clean it up, or would it be best to just buy a new part?

Also, what can I use to test out my power supply to make sure that's not what's causing the issue?