Looking for a "fake" keyboard connector

[Godfodda]

I don't know if these things exist or if I'd have to make one.

I'm running two other systems networked to main. These are SETI crunchers and I monitor them via VNC. Occasionally as I'm playing with them, I need to reboot. Rather than play keyboard swapping I'd like to find (or make) some sort of "fake" keyboard connector that will make the motherboard think a keyboard is present so that it will go ahead and boot.

Does something like this exist? If not, does anyone understand the keyboard connector well enough to tell me which pins I'd have to short? Or is there a much easier way of doing this that I haven't thought of? TIA

[oc jason]

try to just cut off the connect fromn and old keyboard and see it that will work, although i doubt it will, whatn KVm switch are u using

[el]

are they ps2 or Din5(big old one)?

[Yodums]

My dad has 3 comps downstairs and you can use a DATASWITCH so you can use one of keyboard, mouse etc monitor on 3 systems...

[Godfodda]

Thanks to all for the responses so far.

jason: I might be left with that option, but will save it for last. :D Not using KVM.

el: 1 PS2, 1 "big old one". I do have a few spare keyboards with the old connectors that I could hook into the one machine, but I just cleared my desk and am looking for a clutter-free method.

tsunami: I'm trying to avoid using a KVM. That's why I'm monitoring them via VNC.

[el]

I was just thinking that maybe one of those adapters would work to trick the mobo into thinking that a keyboard was plugged in.

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by el
I was just thinking that maybe one of those adapters would work to trick the mobo into thinking that a keyboard was plugged in.

You mean with no splices or other connections? Hmm... I'll hack off the end of one of these old boards and give it a shot. I'll bet I'm back looking for schematics, though. :D

[el]

that isn't what I said but one of those connectors that go from like 5 to 9 must have some type of loop there that might trick the mobo. I didn't say to hack a keyboard up for the voodoo gods of overclocking.

[WyrmMaster]

Cant you set your bios to halt on no errors, or "all, but keyboard", or something.

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by el
that isn't what I said but one of those connectors that go from like 5 to 9 must have some type of loop there that might trick the mobo. I didn't say to hack a keyboard up for the voodoo gods of overclocking.

LOL Well, I did it anyway for the big connector and it worked. :p I don't think I have any dead PS2 stuff in my pile aside from an old keyboard, but it's missing some pins. One down, one to go. :D

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by WyrmMaster
Cant you set your bios to halt on no errors, or "all, but keyboard", or something.

I didn't think to check on that. That may be the solution I need for the last machine. Thanks.

[Malpine Walis]

If you have the extra keyboards kicking around, why not just plug them in and be done with the whole exercise?

Alternatively, how about just buying a couple of cheap keyboards and doing the same thing? If you never plan on using them, then $10 specials will do just fine. Or find the same keyboards on the net for $5 each.

[el]

"See I TOLD you it would work" :rolleyes:

[pogue1000]

i have an old 486 that i use for "educational purposes" and i just turned it off in the bios... fixed it :)

[Shadow ÒÓ]

didn't read this entire thread, but in the bios you can disable "Halt on all errors" which usually defaults to "All but Keyboard". Make it halt on NO errors.

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by Shadow ÒÓ
didn't read this entire thread, but in the bios you can disable "Halt on all errors" which usually defaults to "All but Keyboard". Make it halt on NO errors.

Thanks to you and pogue. I'll do it that way when I get back home. Much easier than I expected. :)