[comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc] Extended Keyboards

huisjes@cs.vu.nl (Michiel Huisjes) (07/23/90)

I am currently writing a keyboard macro program in assembly (grunt, snort)
and will have to discriminate between XT-type and AT-type keyboards (101 keys). 
Could somebody please answer the following questions:

- Is there any way to check whether an AT-type keyboard is used in a 
  certain configuration?
- Is there any need to check this, or can you just always use INT16 AH=10h
  (Extended Keyboard Read) to read a key?

Any help would greatly be appreciated,

Michiel Huisjes.
--

			Michiel Huisjes.  (huisjes@cs.vu.nl)
			       ..!uunet!cs.vu.nl!huisjes

cliffhanger@cup.portal.com (Cliff C Heyer) (07/30/90)

Thomas Dwyer III writes...
>The byte at 40:96 will tell you if a 101/102 key keyboard is present.
>If bit 4 (0 base) is set, the keyboard is the extended type.

If this is true, why does not the PHOENIX Technical Reference Series
"SYSTEM BIOS" book say so? On page 138 they suggest a method 
using int 16h Fcn 10h. Unfortunately, I find some XT BIOSs *crash* when
this Fcn is used.

The book lists the BIOS data area bit at 40:96 you mention,
but nowhere do they suggest if it can be used to determine the 
keyboard type.


Cliff Heyer
cliffhanger@cup.portal.com