Computer Help and Support

Girard442

(6,498 posts)

1. Bad news on the keyboard:

Tue Sep 17, 2019, 03:20 PM

Sep 2019

The IBM PC and XT had a fairly simple keyboard protocol. The AT and PS/2 series had a much more complicated one (which, as far as I can tell delivered exactly zero extra value to the end user beyond lighting up the caps lock, num lock, and scroll lock lights).

USB and the PC & XT are from such different geologic eras I doubt that there's anything that would work there.

I've had good luck pulling drives out of dead PCs and laptops and putting them in external chassis with USB connections, even the dirt cheap ones.

On edit: There may be issues pulling files off your kids's college PCs that are....errrrmmmmm...nontechnological.

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Questions for vintage computer geeks, and a question for more current geeks. [View all] matt819 Sep 2019 OP

Bad news on the keyboard: Girard442 Sep 2019 #1

So. . . matt819 Sep 2019 #2

Sorry Matt, these are junk RainCaster Sep 2019 #3

I have a lot of old stuff too. to get rid of it, I do a Craigslist curb alert and mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2019 #5

With all the old stuff, it may be a bit more than just getting the connectors to fit... TreasonousBastard Sep 2019 #4

The Applewriter was so ubiquitous, I suspect that there will be a driver for that. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2019 #6

Try pinouts.ru if you're making your own adapters. eppur_se_muova Sep 2019 #7

I have maybe five IBM XT keyboards in a box buried under other crap in my garage. hunter Sep 2019 #8