SHUTDOWN

  • Thread starter Thread starter foster tompkins
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foster tompkins

I have a problem: I have a key board with a "Power" key
and if I accidentally hit the key - which I have done a
few times - then Win2K immediately shuts down and gives me
the message "It is now safe to turn off the power". This
is a real drag when I am in the middle of several programs.
There must be a way to disable this "feature" but I have
not been able to find it. I don't want to be able to turn
the power off to my machine by hitting a key on the
keyboard - especially accidentally.

Any ideas?
 
Thoughts, but just speculation:
1. does this kybd have a special driver? A manual? Any driver settings
you might have overlooked?
2. have you been in touch with the manufacturer's tech support?
3. can you make some mechanical change? Most keyboards are pretty
simple, if you're able to take some screws out and take them apart. You
might be able to find a mechanical or even a wirecutter solution.
4. ugly, but remove the keycap?
5. figure a way to render the key immovable. Epoxy? Toothpick-wedge?
6. any chance BIOS (or some motherboard driver) can control this (did
this kybd come with this machine, as a manufactured package?) Is some
"shutdown from kybd" option buried somewhere?
 
Thanks for the suggests. But now the rest of the story...
the keyboard is a flexible sealed keyboard used on a PC on
a dusty shop floor. The mechanical solutions are a no-go
as the kybd is totally sealed. The keyboard was bought at
radio shack. No manual, no disk, no settings. Just plug it
in - and go ... (or hit the power key and stop!)
 
Aha. That does change the picture!
- is the machine a fairly standard PC? Visible POST etc?
- have you looked at BIOS? (pls let us know)
- if no joy anywhere is a replacement hardened kybd an option?
- what's the Radio Shack part #? Is there by chance any clue on the part
about who really made the kybd?
- this is really vague, but I have seen (some time ago) kybd covers for
standard kybds deployed in very dirty environments. I'll look around.
 
A quick google for "industrial keyboard" yields many hits, manufacturers
of kybds for all sorts of environments, even waterproof for medical,
with and without trackball, just about as many # of key options as the
standard variety, fully compatible with the usual PCs, etc. Some are
quite inexpensive, relatively.
 
Thanks. I tried this. The computer is a Compaq Desk Pro En
and it has a Power Button option which can be set to
either "Suspend/Wakeup" or "Normal (on/off)". Either way I
set it, Win 2K immediately goes into shut down mode and
comes back and tells me that I can not turn off my power
(and then that is ALL I can do).

Any other ideas?
 
Thanks.
Yes, I have a very standard plain vanilla PC (Compaq
DeskPro En) with a visible POST. At someone else's suggest
I went into the BIOS and there is a Power Button option
where I can either select "Suspend/Standby" or "Normal
(on/off)". I have tried both options and both still put
Windows into shutdown and result in and irrevocable "You
can now turn your power off".

If there is no other joy I am going to take a scaple and
do surgery and cut the trace in the keyboard but I would
rather not violate the sealed, dust barrier of the
keyboard if I don't have to. (Tks for your other comm re
industrial kybds but if no other joy I will just do
surgery.)

Any other suggest?
 
Nothing else comes to mind that would be easy. A special keyboard map
just for that key might be do-able, but it would be a bit tricky
discovering the key's code without a manual if using the key instantly
kills the system.

You could take that kybd home or somewhere else, maybe, and connect it
to some other system and see what the key really does and what its code
is. If you attach it to another W2k, you might even discover it doesn't
always kill W2k - there's some obscure W2k setting involved.
 
Dan, thanks.

I handled it. I used a raizor blade and cut off the
button! Terminatedly handled.
 
Andy, thanks for your help but I handled it. I took a
razor blade and cut off the button. Sometimes, the direct
approach works best.
 
!! :-)
Dan, thanks.

I handled it. I used a raizor blade and cut off the
button! Terminatedly handled.



keyboard map


key instantly


and connect it


what its code


discover it doesn't


irrevocable "You
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