Unable to Set Typematic Rate on AT&T Globalyst

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

Under Windows NT 3.5, you are unable to set the typematic rate on a 90 mHz AT&T Globalyst 600 (3356) Pentium ISA/PCI. Changing these settings in the CMOS or in Control Panel has no effect.

NOTE: The AT&T Globalyst 600 (3356) Pentium ISA/PCI in on the December 1994 Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). The NCR H0150-STD1-12-17 and 3299-K440- V003 are the standard keyboards for this computer.

CAUSE

The problem appears to be related to the speed of the machine. Slower machines with the same keyboard work fine, but the 90mhz machines fail consistently.

MORE INFORMATION

The initialization code for i8042prt sends a control byte to the keyboard controller to set the typematic rate and the keyboard indicator lights. It then waits a preset, but arbitrary, amount of time for a return. If no return is received, a message is posted to event viewer and initialization proceeds. The waiting period is not configurable through the user interface or the registry.

The Events posted include:

   Event ID 19:   I8042_SET_TYPEMATIC_FAILED
   Message Text:  Could not set the keyboard typematic rate and delay.
   Status:        0xC0050013

   Event ID 20:   I8042_SET_LED_FAILED
   Message Text:  Could not set the keyboard indicator lights.
   Status:        0xC0050014

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.