🚀 go-pugleaf

I've discovered a problem with a Wang PC which has got me completely stumped:

The Alt-240 key combination (which should give me the ascii "equivalence"
symbol) doesn't print any character on the screen, but instead partially
freezes the keyboard - i.e. pressing most keys has no effect (except to
give me the keyboard buffer full beep after several repeats). However, I
can still do a warm reboot with Ctrl-Alt-Del, or call Sidekick with Ctrl-Alt.
The problem occurs from the MS-DOS (v5.0) prompt, in the DOS editor, in the
DOSSHELL, and in Microsoft Word (for DOS), but NOT when using some other
programs, such as Lotus Freelance 3.01, or Sidekick text editor (both of which
echo the normal symbol), or Windows 3.1 applications. I've also found if I
call Sidekick after the problem occurs, when I return to DOS or Word the
keyboard has unfrozen. The mouse cursor in Word or the DOSSHELL is not
affected by the problem. No other Alt key combination in the 1-256 range
causes the problem. Re-installing DOS, not installing Sidekick, removing
the mouse, or booting from a floppy have no effect on the problem.

The machine is a Wang PC 321/20S (a 386sx20 model) with a Phoenix 80386 ROM
BIOS PLUS (1.10.01) / Wang ROMBIOS 1.04.00 . The keyboard is a Wang model 724
(Wang's version of an enhanced  UK keyboard with some extra function keys
and a slightly nonstandard layout). The OS is MS-DOS 5.0 (which came
bundled with the system). Wang supply a proprietary international keyboard
driver which can be used instead of the DOS 5 driver - Again, it makes no
difference to the Alt key problem whether this is installed or not.

Any suggestions/hints/wild ideas/insults for missing the obvious will be
gratefully received...

Richard.
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Richard Williams     lsrgd@csv.warwick.ac.uk
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