AT Motherboard question

[hiredgoonz]

Ok, got most of a computer from a friend for free...and here's the dilemma:

It's an AT mobo and the thing that connects to the mobo and then mounts in the back to provide the serial ports is missing...

I'm not familair with AT stuff, so I don't know if they're all like this or not, but this one has ribbon cables that connect to the mobo and then attach in the back of the case the same way as a pci/isa card...

There's a built in sound card and a printer port connected in this manner and there used to be a mouse/serial port attachment (I know cause there's a little sticker next to one of the slots on the back that says mouse and serial)

So my questions are: whether these cable port things are standard, what are they called and where can I get one?

It's not a big deal, I have a usb mouse and I don't need any serial ports, but the usb mouse doesn't work in safe mode or until windows is done installing...

Thanks for the help...

[Reid]

Here is a DB-9 port at Cablesnmor (http://www.cablesnmor.com/f27200.html). I think many boards use the same pinout, but there can be differences. Computer shops usually sell these too.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 03-19-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

Yes, two different types were made, I don't know how to tell the difference, had both in my hand a few weeks ago, only difference I saw was one had a longer cable. The shorter one worked on the problem machine. Longer one didn't. The only numbers I saw were on the cable itself, both were the same number, which only means it was the same type cable, and has nothing to do with the pinout. The pinout is the difference, and I can't find any way to tell which is which. Except with a multimeter...

Computer shops have them, usually $5 or less, ordering online would cost more than that for just the shipping...Radio Shack should have them, and other retail computer/electronics related outlets. Computer shoops should have the slot covers, and check the back of the case, you might have breakaway slots for these connectors. That would eliminate the need for the slot cover with a hole for the connector.

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[hiredgoonz]

Thanks...guess I'll be heading to the computer shop...

One more question: do AT boards have ps2 mouse ports or just the serial ports?

The board is strange, it has AT and ATX power connectors on it and an onboard usb controller, but I have no idea what any of the jumpers do and there's not even a name on it anywhere...

[tjaymadison]

If you can pause your BIOS screen and get the ID string, go to Wim's BIOS Page at www.ping.be (http://www.ping.be) for a lot of help in identifying mobo's and manufacturers. Or there's always the FCC ID number thing -- sorry, don't know the procedure for that.

[Paleo Pete]

More often than not the FCC ID routine is useless. It will give you the name of some mom & pop company in China you'll never be able to pronounce, much less find a website for...they make the board then sell it to the big company, who puts their name on it.

Some AT boards have PS/2 ports, some do not. Depends on the board. Many do have PS/2 mouse support, and you have to get an adapter to use it, enable PS/2 mouse support in BIOS and it works quite nicely. Using one of that sort right now. The onboard COM port works too, but LPT1 got fried by lightning, and rather than fight the jumpres on the old I/O card, I disabled the onboard COM1 and used the card for LPT1 and COM1, went with PS/2 mouse as an experiment. The cable plugs into a port on the motherboard and attaches to the back of the case, same as the serial port cable we're dealing with here. Computer shops have them, and should have the slot covers to attach them with too.

I like it actually, since it frees up COM1 for other uses and the IRQ as well, if I don't need the COM port.

Hope you can find a manual though, you'll need it...

------------------
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[hiredgoonz]

I guess I don't REALLY need the manual...I got the system up and running...using a usb mouse and I don't need the serial ports...

Thanks for all the info, I'm gonna try to find a manual anyway...I've tried the FCC thing before and it was exactly what Pete said "useless"