Apple Extended Keyboard II Issues

This page is a wiki. Please login or create an account to begin editing.

8 posts / 0 new

Last post

2020, October 13 - 4:52am

cbone

Offline

Joined: 2011 Sep 17

Apple Extended Keyboard II Issues

I know I've had and used this keyboard for quite some time now, so to see it all of a sudden stop working has been shocking! Here are the details on when and what happened to it:

As I worked on the Beige G3, I plugged my very nice Apple Extended Keyboard II with detachable ADB cable when I semi-dropped it about two feet onto carpet, from where it dangled by its cord. It continued working for a good 25 minutes more without any indication of any damage, after which I used the keyboard's power button to restart or power the Mac off.

That when the keyboard went from fully-working to only powering any Mac it connect to with it's detachable ADB cord plugged onto either side of it. After powering on any Mac, the keyboard refuses to transmit any keystrokes nor moving either of the two ADB mice I have connected to either side of the keyboard. The power key also refuses to display the shut-off dialog.

Either of my mice directly my Macs and Powerbooks work fine by themselves. I'm at a total loss what happened to the keyboard, or ADB cable, after that light and short fall. I don't have a second keyboard to test it, but I have enoughs old Macs to know that the ABD ports aren't the issue.

Comments

2020, October 13 - 6:59am

fillbus

Offline

Joined: 2014 Aug 13

I agree with you that the fall is unlikely to have caused much damage. But have you looked at the connecting pins? When the keyboard dangled, a lot of pressure would have been exerted on the ADB connection.

2020, October 13 - 1:38pm

cbone

Offline

Joined: 2011 Sep 17

Thanks, Fillbus good observation! I too was thinking something in the wires or pins may have snapped someplace (not inside the one of the holes, thankfully!) but at least from physical inspection, I haven't noticed anything broken or loose, not yet anyway.

2020, October 13 - 6:09pm

24bit

Offline

Joined: 2010 Nov 19

Did you try a second ADB cable already?
Never had to open these keyboards while I owned them, Apple did a good job on these.
If replacing the cable does nothing, maybe look at the ribbon cable connectors inside the keyboard to check whether they are well connected. I doubt that the inside connectors can be displaced by pulling at the ADB though.
https://de.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+Extended+Keyboard+II+Teardown/42138

2020, October 14 - 12:03am

cbone

Offline

Joined: 2011 Sep 17

Thanks 24bit!

That's the rub: I only had the one that came with it so many years back.. at least I ruled out all but the cord and keyboard. It was hardly a thump, which makes me think the cord's the issue since it did get a good tug, and I know which end was attached to the keyboard. I'll try to inspect it carefully later this evening to see if I see anything visibly awry.

I sure hope it's just the cord! I'd want a cheap but good one I may have to get me a second working keyboard and borrow its cord, lol, this way I cover both bases and isolate the damaged goods!

So if anyone sees a good deal on one, let me know! the wallet's too stretched

2020, October 14 - 12:47am

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

You can safely interchange and use S-Video (Mini-DIN-4) cables with Apple Desktop Bus ports, such as the connection ports used in the Apple Keyboard II. S-Video cables are inexpensive if you can't find an old Apple cable for less $$$.

You can get 4-pin S-Video cables with gold plated male to male connectors, from $3 and up from Amazon.

2020, October 14 - 6:53am

cbone

Offline

Joined: 2011 Sep 17

well color me gone, mike! I plum forgot about s-video cables and apple adb cords.. somewhere I have a 25-foot cable squirreled away that I can use to test/use the keyboard's connections (watch me take forever to find it, lol) hey it could be a poor-man's (almost) wireless adb keyboard, lol (I'm hoping the keyboard's not the issue, which I'm praying hard it's not)

2020, October 20 - 5:49am

(Reply to #7) #8

Captain_Obvious

Offline

Joined: 2013 Aug 25

If you have a multimeter, you can test the cable for continuity.

Another possibility is that hanging by the cable may have over-stressed and cracked the solder joint of the connector inside the keyboard. That could be a simple fix of just reflowing the solder to restore the joint.