Breathe new life into an older din 5 computer keyboard

Step 5 Buttoning it up and testing

Once everything is properly soldered into place its time to button everything up. Reassembling the keyboard is pretty much self explanatory but be sure to place the newly soldered wire back into the grooves where the old wire once sat so the keyboard screws back together easily.

If your Din 5 keyboard was working before you tinkered with it everything should be working fine but just to be sure everything is we need to download a program call Keyhook. It is a small program that tells you what keys are pressed in a small onscreen window. You can download the program here http://www.arcadecontrols.speedhost.com/KEYHOOK.ZIP. I would recommend you test your new keyboard on a computer that you are willing to ruin. Although it is very unlikely it would be a shame if you somehow got a wire wrong and messed up your $1000+ gaming pc.

So when you find a computer you are willing to test it on plug it in and fire up the computer. If any of the led's on the keyboard are lighting then thats a good sign. Once you've booted up download keyhook and unzip it. Once you've done that double click on the program icon and then press a key on the keyboard and it if everything is well then it will show up on screen. Test every key until you are satisfied. When your done know that you saved something from the crushing jaws of a garbage truck and an eternity in the land fill.

Comments

[xetero]

My keyboard messed up. When I tested it on my old computer, the keyboard lights just turned on but I can't type anything... I've followed all your instruction but still I can't make it work. everytime I test the keyboard for continuity, all of the pins are beeping, I can't figure out which pin should I connect to the other pin.. sorry for my bad English...

[Redgerr]

make sure you wrap each wire individually, if the wires are touching there is a good possibility that it will short itsself out... wrap each wire on its own then wrap them all together... duno if that will solve it but it may be the culprit

[Computothought]

You can get an adapter for a few bucks and save all the hassle.

[MasamuneX]

I mentioned that in my intro but my intent was making use of something that one would considered worthless and unsalvagable.

[Computothought]

Your right. Been there where you use what you have.

[P1h3r1e3d13]

I have a couple of DIN-PS/2 adapters that I consider worthless enough to throw away when I clean out next week, in case somebody wants them. That said, thanks for the Instructable; it's good to know how that works.

[opusfocus1968]

Way to go MasamuneX good idea. It's creative, educated and environmentally relevant. So much very usable stuff ends up in landfills that could be repurposed. I like it thanks for taking the time to post the instructable.

[kloopk]

Just to give you a heads up, the link for keyhook has an extra . on the end gives a 404 error, just delete the unwanted fullstop and all is good.