[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Trick PS/2 to think keyboard & monitor attached

huff@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Steve Huff, University of Kansas, Lawrence) (12/21/90)

We have 10 PCs that do nothing but control LANs, printers, T1s and
all kinds of other fun stuff.  The problem is that these PS/2s will
not boot w/out a monitor and keyboard attached.

Is there a util available to get around this?  How about a cheap
hardware piece?  We prefer purchasable software but I'm willing to
evaluate shareware and public domain.

Please e-mail or followup here.  Thanks for your support.

Steve
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Steve Huff, student, University of Kansas         HomeNet: 913 749 4720
Internet:  HUFF@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu   	          Bitnet: HUFF@Ukanvax.Bitnet
Don't_hold_your_breath_net:  P.O. Box 1225, Lawrence, KS  66044-8225
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archer@stlvm2.iinus1.ibm.com ("Gary D. Archer") (12/22/90)

>> huff@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Steve Huff, University of Kansas, Lawrence)
   writes:
>> We have 10 PCs that do nothing but control LANs, printers, T1s and
>> all kinds of other fun stuff.  The problem is that these PS/2s will
>> not boot w/out a monitor and keyboard attached.
>>
>> Is there a util available to get around this?  How about a cheap
>> hardware piece?  We prefer purchasable software but I'm willing to
>> evaluate shareware and public domain.
>>
This is very simple to do if you're willing to boot from a floppy
(I don't think that it works with the HD).   Consider the configuration
disk.. this disk has to boot the system even if there is a problem with
it (ie keyboard problem)... and the user couldn't press the F1 key..
If you examine the boot record of a standard bootable floopy, and then
compare it with the configuration disk you will notice 1 difference
right after the letters IBM.  The configuration disk has the character
Y and a regular disk has a blank (or null).  You could use Norton to
Edit regular boot disks, or use DISKCOPY and then erase everything off
the new disk (the configuration disk's command.com is different), and
copy over enough files to make them boot.
AUTOEXEC.BAT
You might want to check the boot record on the HD to see if it follows this
pattern too.

Gary