We have a damaged F8 key, beyond repair, on an enhanced keyboard (function
keys across the top).  I can swap it for a key that is seldom used.  Which
is the least important key on that keyboard, which goes to F12.  I was
thinking of swapping with F12, or pause, scroll lock (not combined with break
on this board).  Pause and break are together.  Which key could you best
spare?  Please vote.  This is for general use in an IBM clone, 386 486 586,
any AT machines (not Windows keyboard).

34 responses total.

I have an old 286 portable that had a dedicated SysReq key (sysreq is usually
part of PrintScrn).  I have no idea what the SysReq key is supposed to do,
but I had never used it, so it got used to replace the comma when the comma
died.  I still don't know what SysReq is supposed to do, so I've still never
had a need for it, long after I stopped using that computer.  That probably
means it was a good choice.

System request, when it is used as a console keyboard, for a server?
Is there any software that absolutely requires an F12 key, or is there some
alternate key combination?  Does anybody use scroll lock?
Can you live without numlock?  Two sets of arrow keys?  
This keyboard has print screen combined with sysreq.

I find scroll lock useful on my freeBSD machine, since that's what turns on
the scroll back feature on the console.  I couldn't do without num lock very
well, since my system's defualt is usually but not always what I want.  I
suppose it would be possible to deal with it if you had it default to on and
use the other arrow keys, assuming you don't use any software that toggles
it.

If this is a desktop keyboard, I would probably just replace it.  New
keyboards are under $30, and the time of most people I know is worth more than
the time it would take to fix it.  When I needed to do this it was because
it was on a portable that didn't have an easily replacable keyboard.

If I were doing this on a desktop keyboard for some strange reason, the turbo
key on my keyboard at work would be my choice, but most keyboards don't have
that key.  Other than that, I think I use most of my keys at one time or
another.

Can you get by without F11 and F12?  Which software uses them?
The reason to fix it is that at Kiwanis we are setting up lots of used
computers and are short on AT keyboards. You can't invest $30 in a new
keyboard for a machine that sells for that.  I am doing it because I like to
fix things, not replace them.  (We had a discussion like this about a clock
mechanism that would have cost $5, which I fixed, in DIY.  Please visit DIY,
the people there would love to have some new problem to attack.)

  Go to PD. They have some for various prices, and a huge bin of keyboards
for $1 each. I think it's easier to replace the keyboard than to spend time
repairing one key.

Jim is not looking for easier, he is trying to learn!!!!

So don't listen to me. I thought you wanted cheap, and easy.

Cheap yes, easy never.  

So, go to PD, get a $1 keyboard, remove one its keys and use that as a
replacement in your current keyboard :)

My thought exactly.  Then you have a source of parts when it happens again,
right?

Jim may just wait for a dead keyboard to come along at Kiwanis.  He is the
official volunteer there for the next couple of weeks (with Kentn helping?).
BUt I will pass along your suggestions.

I should be there (got to pick up my terminal).  Jim would probably know
the prices on the spare keyboards there (maybe they're marked up too much?).
All he has to do is find one with a bad space bar, and he could probably get
it for $1.  Unfortunately, that'd take a bit of testing.  'Course trekking
to PD takes a while, too.

And they have bad hours.

re #12, the price of the dead keyboard at Kiwanis is totally irrelevant, as
Jim is attempting to repair a Kiwanis keyboard so he can sell a machine for
Kiwanis.  He hopes not to have to buy any spart parts for Kiwanis.  If anyone
else has stuff they would like to get rid of, bring it in (in fact stay and
play, all help will be appreciated.  Boy will the head volunteer be surprised
when he gets back from vacation to find that everything has been repaired,
set up running, and then sold.)

(Often it is the cord on a keyboard that goes bad.  Wires inside break
from excessive flexing or because of trying to save money byE specifying
wire with fewer, larger diameter, strands.)

Usually disassembly and tightening the keys and reassembly fixes the keys,
but a key was broken off on the board this time.  Have never had a cord
problem on a keyboard.  CLeaning the keys also helps when you start seeing
double.

        So the next time i'm drunk, all i need to do is clean the keys?

(Perhaps he's drunk ;-)

oooooooooooooooooo

        I'm not as tunk as you drink i am!

The little elastomer cup (nipple?) that returns the key on an iMac
keyboard failed recently for the letter "c". I fixed this by taking
the cup/nipple from a less used key (/ in the number keypad), but
where are replacement cups/nipples available? 

I'd look for another used iMac keyboard to use for spares.

They seem to be pretty scarce. If one failed it would normally be junked
or recycled. You might only find one for "spares" in a computer flea market
or by other chance. 

I had bought a new replacement keyboard online for $21 (inclusive of s/h),
before I figured out I could shift a nipple from one key to another, but
it isn't as compact as the original. My problem is, it just seems such a
waste to scrap an original for lack of such a trivial part (the plaint of
the inveterate, or obstinate, do-it-yourself-er). 

Yeah, I know.  I end up with a lot of junk in my closet because of that. ;)

I see several iMac keyboards on eBay for under $20, by the way.

I looked at one that is now at $14.50 with 3 hours to go, but with $8 s/h. 
It'll probably go higher when the snipers pounce.  That's more than I paid
for that replacement. The site also gives no condition information - are
keys all OK, or perhaps on the verge of the same failure?

Another with a couple of days to go is starting at $5, but it has a cord
so frayed that the keyboard if inoperable, and is being offered for parts
or dyi repair. They estimate shipping at $10.55. I think I'll put that one
on "watch" to see what a damaged one will go to (the one I have also has a
cord frayed at the same place, but not yet inoperable).

Incidentally, shipping for the new keyboard I bought was $4.89. Could
eBay sellers be trying to make a buck on shipping?

Some no doubt are.  Others may simply be using more expensive shipping
methods (Priority Mail is popular.)

The good eBay keyboard above went for $20.68 + $8 s/h, while the
non-working one went for $17.50 + $10 s/h. I'll stick with $21 for a new
one (s/h incl)  even if it isn't a "Bondi Blue original. 

Kiwanis probably throws out numerous old Macs.  Are there differences between
newer and older keyboards?

There is between ADB (old) and USB (recent) keyboard ports. Otherwise,
I don't know.

What is ABD?  I have never seen a USB anything yet (other than a port, in one
of our computers).  What else can you put into them?

ABD is "All But Dissertation."  ADB is "Apple Desktop Bus", which is how
keyboards and mice were attached to Macintoshes.

Nearly everything for current Macs is available for USB ports: keyboards,
mice, printers, scanners, camera, drives, memeory...you name it.

USB ports are becoming the standard for everything you used to plug into
a keyboard, mouse, parallel, or serial port.

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