My adb keyboard doesn't recieve input. I can't daisy chain devices either. The power button turns on the pc but doesn't turn it off. My adb connector has a splitter that does let me daisy chain my mouse to it. Please help! I really want to use the keyboard with my Quadra 630!
This page is a wiki. Please login or create an account to begin editing.
2014, October 16 - 6:58pm
#1
ADB keyboard isn't working right
Comments
2014, October 16 - 9:28pm
#2
Plug the mouse directly into the keyboard (either at the end or underneath in the middle depending on the model) and the keyboard directly into the computer. If you still have problems the keyboard is probably bad.
2014, October 16 - 10:44pm
#3
I said that I can't daisy chain, but the power button works... And I can't type...
2014, October 17 - 10:52pm
#4
Do you know one other person with an old working Mac with ADB ports? If so you could try your keyboard on their Mac to see if the same problem occurs. - Or their working keyboard in your Mac.
Check the ADB keyboard cable plug for bent or broken pins.
Check the cable itself for any signs of breaks. Replace if necessary.
If the mouse works when its plugged into the only ADB port at the rear of this Mac, Apple's advice in the "Service Source" PDF manual for this Mac is:
If mouse was connected to keyboard, connect mouse to rear ADB port and disconnect keyboard. If mouse works, replace keyboard.
Myself at this point; I would first take the keyboard apart and check for broken wiring, dry joints etc, especially around area where cable comes into the keyboard's logic board.
2014, October 20 - 7:55pm
#5
I inserted a cable that fell out. Still didn't work. Mouse works on rear port. I'm asking my mom if I can sell some stuff or do chores for a USB diskette drive and another adb keyboard. If you're wondering, I'm a kid that is really nerdy and into computers old and new.
2014, October 20 - 10:20pm
#6
Approach someone who works at your school and tell them about your interests. Ask if there are any obsolete things like old cables & keyboards etc, that are no longer used and are taking up space in a storeroom somewhere.
You never know, you might hit it lucky and get the parts you need for free. Especially if the school had used Macs in the past. - It costs nothing to ask around.
2014, October 22 - 6:29pm
#7
I stay after school til 4 on Mondays. Might ask the computer teacher if she has some old equipment. After all, I did see an eMac sitting in the library, so they did use macs.
2014, October 17 - 3:58am
#8
Sounds like it's time to get a new keyboard.
About $20 on ebay.
2014, October 18 - 1:11am
#9
Myself at this point; I would first take the keyboard apart and check for broken wiring, dry joints etc, especially around area where cable comes into the keyboard's logic board.
It's unlikely since it probably wouldn't affect all the keys, but it could be dirt build-up under the rubber mat which sit above the circuit board. Be careful cleaning that though.
2014, October 21 - 8:45pm
#10
ok, so the mouse works when connected directly to the mac, this is good, as it means the ADB controller in the mac is not damaged.
I can think of a few possible causes
the cable might have a break in it, the power on line is separate from the keyboard data line, so you may well find that you can power up the computer with the keyboard but not actually type with it. If your keyboard has a removable cable (as most adb keyboards do) you can replace it with a plain old S-Video cable
You could have bad capacitors in the keyboard, this is a bit unusual but i have heard of it, but normally it would make the keyboard behave erratically. But bad caps cause all sorts of strange problems
It is also possible that you have bad caps on the 630's logicboard (if your good at soldering it's worth recapping the logicboard even if the caps are still good)
Or it's possible you just have a dead keyboard.
2014, October 22 - 1:02am
#11
If your keyboard has a removable cable (as most adb keyboards do)
I don't know about most, but my Apple Design Keyboard is certainly hard-wired at the keyboard end of the ADB cable.
2014, October 22 - 2:13am
#12
When the OP's 630 class of Mac was new, I saw lots of these at the time, all had the "AppleDesign Keyboard" model. Which as you say, is hard-wired at the keyboard end of the ADB cable. If the OP has the original period keyboard its a good chance that it will be the AppleDesign Keyboard.
Where the cable enters into this keyboard is a shallow groove running lengthwise across the rear of the keyboard, the lower edge of the groove is sharp and is an easy place in which to break this cable, if this keyboard was ever stored or handled carelessly.
Its also an easy keyboard to disassemble if you need to inspect the internal connection, with eight small screws on the underside.
2014, October 22 - 5:24am
#13
Yep, that's the same keyboard I've got (Model Number: M2980) and use every day on my beige G3 PowerMac. The groove has small teeth and allows you to push the cable into it to keep it tuck out of the way so that it comes out either the left or right hand side rather than in the middle where it goes inside the keyboard, although I've never really seen a point in doing that.
Never had any problem with the keyboard, which I've had from brand new. I've taken it apart a few times over the years for a thorough cleaning, including pulling alll the key caps off for a "bath". 
2014, October 22 - 12:22pm
#14
I've had MANY ADB keyboards in the past. All but one of the Apple keyboards had a removable cable.
Most of the 3rd-party keyboards were hard wired.
Gary
2014, October 22 - 6:36pm
#15
My keyboard has a removable cable, and we have a lot of old things, so I will look for an s-video cable. I thought adb cables were modded s-video cables. I did at first think that it was the cable, so I will look for that. I Can see that my keyboard randomly inputs "a", so its probably the cable.
2014, October 22 - 7:00am
#16
Yeah the later adb keyoards don't have removable cables, both of the ones i use do (1 is a AEKII and i can't remember which one the other is) But the one i got with my 630 didn't
2014, October 25 - 12:08am
#17
Thanks guys! It was the cable.