DEC 3100 model 10e and 3100 vaxstation 76

[parasang]

Hi:
This is my first post to your board. I am having the same problem with both these machines -- the screen displays a backward ? and shows "VT420 keyboard error - 4". (The 10e shows 320 for the keyboard.) I have not had the 76 Vaxstation running but I did load VMS on the 10e but now all I get are the errors. All computers and monitors, etc. were bought on eBay including a VT320 and a VT420 and I have tried both on both machines.

I do have one more problem. About two years ago I signed up for VHS on the 10e and have yet to get it running. I am unable to get any help from Montaher(?), ENCOMPASS either in Canada or the US. I cannot follow enough of the instructions (I have only pdp experience and that was a long time ago), so I am turning to you for help. I need some direction to set up the system and to add such as COBOL, etc.

Hopefully you can shed some light on my problem.

Parasang

[MikeS]

You might also want to check out the Classic Computer list:
http://www.classiccmp.org/cctalk.html

Lots of folks with DEC experience there.

[pontus]

Welcome to the forums.

First of, are you sure that your terminals are working right? Perhaps you should test them out against your PC (or what you use) first.

You could also skip the terminals altogether and connect your vaxen to your PC's serial port.

Then if you want to fix your VT's here is the service manual for the vt420. I checked the error you get (keyboard error - 4) and it indicates a disconnected or faulty keyboard.

http://vt100.net/docs/vt420-ps/