Commodore Pet 2001

That's pretty good, some have been searching alot longer for one of the originals. This is VERY common (better add this to my PET FAQ!) the chips tend to loosen themselves out of thier sockets. and a push-down is a common troubleshooting procedure. In later computers like the Atari ST and Amiga it was drop the computer from a hight of a few inches (they didn't want you to open the case). :/ Now when it powers up if it reads: *** COMMODORE BASIC *** you have the original classic (read 'bug-ridden') ROMs. if it reads: ### COMMODORE BASIC ### you have the 'upgrade' (mostly bug fixed) ROMs. This is due to deterioration of the cunductive surface on the key-bottoms, mashing them sometimes scrapes enough crud to get them to work. Unplug the keyboard cable from the computer (careful on this those old pet keyboard wires are more brittle then most) remove the keyboard assembly from the housing and then carefully remove all the dinky screws from the botton of the keyboard. When you pull apart the bottom PCB from the keyboard assembly you may have some of the rubber key-cups still stuck to the PCB, just put them back in thier proper place in the assembly half. With a clean pink-pearl erase erase all the 'fingers' on the PCB (not too hard), wipe off the eraser crumbs then wipe the keyboard with a paper towel moistened with isopropyl alcohol (you can use rubbing alcohol, but make sure the water/glycerne content is low, otherwise 100% isopropyl is found in the paint section. Make sure the pcb is dry and free of dust or lint. Cleaning the little conductive 'feet' in the cups is another matter, I usually to a quick (light) wipe with a clean eraser (you will note it picks up some of the carbon, make sure you 'erase' on some paper to re-clean the eraser as you go.) Some use scotch tape to lift off any particles (sometimes works, less descructive). The worst thing I saw was someone who gold-leafed all the feet (which probably worked for a champ until sometime before I got the machine.) Reassemble the keyboard (carefully tighten those dinky screws, they strip easily) and test. If every other (or every third or fourth) key is not printing, most likely one of the keyboard wires probably broke during the cleaning, check the wires. The earlier units used butchered SANYO cassette players (you can tell if the unit has white control buttons and a lift-lid. Later units were a clean commodore design in all-black with eject button. For more information check out my PET FAQ: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/petfaq.html And my Commodore PET tribute Page: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/pet.html nopt to mention the PET related links on my main commodore page (see signature line)