TI-30Xa Solar Easter Egg - The TI-30Xa Solar Test Pattern

You dont need all the # keys. You only need specific combinations of keys. Some can have a non # key in them as well.

I have a TI-30X II solar. Will it work?

No, this does not work with the TI-30X II solar. I assume that it does have a test pattern, but I have not found it yet.

You do not actually have to press all of the buttons. You only have to hold down at least 8 of the grey buttons on the calculator and then press ON/AC. For reference, the grey buttons are: 7 8 9 4 5 6 1 2 3 0 . +/-

However, it is said to work on the TI-36, http://www.eeggs.com/items/2100.html. I don't have one so I don't know if this is true.

All right, once and for all I want to set the record straight on this. To start the test, you have to hold down either: 1. Eight buttons in two vertical rows. or 2. Six buttons in two horizontal rows. or 3. Some combination in which a button from each row is pressed and at least two in each column are pressed. or 4. Some combination in which a button from each column is pressed and at least two in each row are pressed. or 5. Some other combination that defies explanation. Note that it doesn't really matter if you press any other buttons during this code.

I know this isn't a good way to do it, but usually I can get this egg to occur by placing the calculator on a hard surface, and firmly BUT GENTLY smacking my palm against the keypad

That's actually how this was discovered. In pressing all of the keys, you sometimes press all of the number keys and then the ON/AC key. That is just a somewhat more risky way of triggering the egg. I would also like to report that a variant of this egg has also been found: When the top 2 rows of grey keys only (7,8,9,4,5, and 6) are held down and then ON/AC is pressed, the calculator enters into a 'special' test mode. When any key is pressed, o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o ^ oo appears. No key will make the calculator leave this mode, except of course for ON/AC. The RCL, Ab/c and backspace keys have special functions in this mode. If you can imagine backspace representing 4, Ab/c representing 2, and RCL representing 1, if you press any combination of keys that adds up to 8, an error is generated and the calculator tells you so. The other keys on the calculator can also produce an error in certain combinations, but this has not yet been thoroughly documented. This is the first known discovery of this easter egg variant, which is of unknown use on any other calculator. It does, of course, no damage to the calculator whatsoever, unless you press the keys too hard :-)

OK, listen up. just put your hand over the whole keyboard, and press a bunch of various buttons with your palm. Now press the On button. That easy. With another version of this calculator (36?) the changing of the vertical, horizontal, and all characters are timed, so pressing any other key than the on won't change the display.

There are many different combinations you can do this egg with. The one I find the easiest is the fraction button, 1, 2, 3, and on/ac. And yes, it will work with a TI-36X solar. That's what I did it with.

Will it work for a plain TI-30Xa (not solar)?

Might I suggest a slightly easier method to invoke the test pattern(at least on the TI-36X SOLAR): Smash all the keys down with your palm. It doesn't matter if you hit other keys, just make sure you get plenty of gray numeral keys in the mix. Then hit ON/AC. Yep.... lots easier.