I was given a Mac last week and it didn't come with a keyboard or a mouse, but I wanted to check it out so I boot it up and get an error message, "Sorry, a system error occurred ATM error type 119. To temporarily turn off extensions, restart and hold down the shift key." So I didn't have a keyboard and couldn't do much.. Sense then I've acquired a usb keyboard and usb mouse. The mouse works fine, but the keyboard has a problem. (I tested the keyboard on this PC I'm using now, so it definitely works) When I turn the Mac on with the keyboard plugged in, I get a flashing question mark inside a little floppy disc... And it never goes away, how ever if I unplug the keyboard, Mac starts up okay until OS 9's little blue bar reaches the halfway point before I get that ATM error. I have a Compaq keyboard Model # KU-9978 .. Is it possible that this keyboard is not compatible or something more severe? Typically, do Mac keyboard have a usb end or this strange looking port, ----> [__> I'm a newb to Macs so I'm pretty clueless about this, but I'm kinda stuck and am not able to do anything. . . No discs came with it, so... what do I do?

The ATM error is an extension lock-up. ATM is Adobe Type Manager. In OS 9, all the extensions load first during a system boot up. There is either a problem with the ATM extension itself, or it has having a "conflict" with one of the other extension. You'll have to boot with the extensions disabled to resolve the conflict and troubleshoot possible solutions. The port you are describing is a Firewire port, not a keyboard port. Macs use USB for keyboards. The flashing question mark means the machine cannot find a valid startup volume. It's odd it only does this when you have the Compaq keyboard plugged in. I'd try and find a Mac specific keyboard.