jallen@netxcom.UUCP (John Allen) (09/03/87)
We are having some trouble with our IMS AT compatible PC's,
and I would like to find out if other compatibles have the
same problem, in order to determine whether the trouble is
specific to the IMS PC, the Phoenix BIOS, or some other source.
The problem is this: The damned keyboard locks up during data
entry!
Here are the things we've been able to determine:
1. It can be caused by using software to toggle "numlock"
while typing at the keyboard. The uuencoded archive file
below contains the batch file "num", and some .com files
which allow this to be tested. Running "num", we can produce
a lock-up within 1 to 3 minutes.
2. It would appear that only the keyboard sub-system locks up;
in a mouse driven application, everything else continues to work.
3. It is not an isolated case; we have four IMS PC's, all of
them exhibit the problem.
4. An IBM AT does not exhibit the problem.
5. It happens much more often in 10 MHz turbo mode than in 6 MHz mode.
6. It happens with any of three different clone keyboards or a
"true blue" AT keyboard connected to the machine.
7. It happens under both DOS 3.2 and DOS 3.3.
8. It happens under at least two versions of the Phoenix BIOS.
9. IMS has a *hardware* modification which they claim solves
the problem at 6 MHz, but not at 10 MHz. They want to buy back
our machines instead of taking the time to solve the problem.
Anybody know what the problem is?
If you can, and would care to repeat the test using our test
software, the uuencoded archive file below contains the
following test files.
Name Length Date
============ ======== =========
num.bat 64 2 Sep 87
numlock.com 15 1 Sep 87
numlock.scr 93 1 Sep 87
reply.com 14 1 Sep 87
reply.scr 102 1 Sep 87
==== ========
Total 5 288
run "num", and type away, trying not to fill the type-ahead
buffer completely, as the "buffer full" bell slows down the
whole process. As num runs, you will see the numlock light
toggle on and off. If this toggling stops, you'll find that
the keyboard is locked up, and you'll need to reboot.
If you do run this test on any turbo AT clone, please email
your results to me, whether positive or negative. If we get
any responses I'll publish a summary of the results.
Thanks,
John Allen
=========================================================================
NetExpress Communications, Inc. seismo!{sundc|hadron}!netxcom!jallen
1953 Gallows Road, Suite 300 (703) 749-2238
Vienna, Va., 22180
=========================================================================
----- Don't cut here, just uudecode! -------
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UUCUUC