Technical Information Database
TI376D.txt Keyboard Problems Using Borland Pascal and TPX
Category :General Programming
Platform :All
Product :Pascal All
Description:
At times, users of Borland Pascal or Turbo Pascal's TPX compilers
find difficulty using their keyboards. Usual symptoms include
the following.
1. The cursor keys persistently highlighting text.
2. The cursor keys randomly producing numeric characters
instead of moving the cursor.
3. Keypresses behaving as if the shift key were stuck.
4. Keystrokes producing apparently random and unrelated
characters.
The problem is usually related to timing issues. In 16-bit
protected mode, the addressing mode used forces all memory
accesses to be directed through a table of selectors rather than
to physical memory directly. Thereby, making each memory access
slightly slower than seen using real mode. On most systems, the
difference in timing is insignificant and no ill effects are
seen. However, some systems in certain configurations may
experience the problems noted above.
To address this problem, most users are able to use the KEYB.COM
program that accompanies MS-DOS. Place the following statement
into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
C:\DOS\KEYB US
Then restart your computer system. It is important to run
KEYB.COM before entering the IDE. It is not appropriate to run
this program from the Dos Shell selection of the IDE's file menu.
Reference:
7/16/98 4:33:42 PM
Last Modified: 01-SEP-99