Bootable Keyboard Diagnostics Disk

[CheshireNoir]

Hey Folks,
Before I dig into the intricacies of setting up a CP/M image with a suitable bootstrap, has anyone made a bootable Keyboard Diagnostics image?
I'm chasing something that'll boot straight into the keyboard test, so I can work out exactly which keys need TLC.

I have the diagnostics disks, but they don't boot straight to the test I need, so if that key is b0rked, I'm dead in the water for working out which keys are gone.
(I also have an app from a different forum that does keypress checking, but that's a standalone, so I'll need to build a CP/M image to run it, so if that's the way to go I can see myself having to learn a bit more about CP/M)

Cheers and TIA

John

[ChickenMan]

Send me the file and I'll put it on a bootable disk for you I presume a 3.5" disk ?

[CheshireNoir]

Thanks very much ChickenMan,

I was actually after an image file I could use with my Gotek, if that's not too inconvenient?

I've done some reading up on CP/M and I can probably manage the procedure if I can work out how to get the file into a CP/M emulator.

I'll e-mail you the file.

Thanks again!

John

[MbeeTech]

You could just boot into the machine language monitor (reset-M) and see which keys work, of course that means you need the M key to work.

[CheshireNoir]

...and the Reset key!
:-)
Saving for a couple of Keyboard kits, but in the meantime, lets see what I can do :-D

John

[Ernest]

Hi John,
With the monitor, you only need to short the M key out during boot up to get into the monitor, then remove your short, from there you can check your other keys out.
As you are taking CP/M I assume the Microbee in question is a 128k, if so just burn yourself a t128 rom (2764/128) from the repository and replace your boot rom with that (ROM1). power up and it takes you straight into a specifically designed test program.
As long as your "K" key is working you can launch the Keyboard test portion of the program which takes you through each of the keys in sequence, the only down side it will stop at the first none functioning key preventing you from progressing to the next key.
The way around it is to use a shorting lead to short out that key so you can progress to the next.
the advantage over this compared with using the "Monitor" is the wonderful built in memory test.

There is a memory test PROM image ut212 for the older Microbee's however they don't have the keyboard test.

Ernest

[CheshireNoir]

Thanks Ernest,
Yes a 128k. I think I now have what I need in a bootable image. I prefer to do my initial pass before stripping down the machines as there's less chance of my fat fingers doing anything Bad™ to a live system. :-D

John