Keyboard isn't responding...

My keyboard just stopped working on another computer in our house. The mouse works, everything works in fact, except the keyboard. I have tried 3 keyboards, even got a USB keyboard and no go for any of them.

I am able to use the keyboard to get to the BIOS, and I checked for USB keyboard support, but there's nothing to enable.

Back in windows:

I tried using my norton windoctor to find and fix any registry errors but check this out: it won't run unless I am logged into the admin account, which I have password protected, so I can't login!!! I can only login as guest or on my kids' screens. I tried installing the software for the USB keyboard, but it wont install except in admin mode. It does give me the option to switch to admin when installing, and I tried doing this with the on screen KB, but it says directory cannot be created, cannot install.

It's a Celeron 1.1gig in an Intel board, windows XP, all updates installed up to probably about 4-5 weeks ago. My norton anti virus defs are nearly 2 months old, didn't realize it wasn't on auto update. There's not some new virus is there?

Again: I can use the onscreen keyboard, but there is no way to use it at login, I have tried using device manager to fix driver or troubleshoot the problem, but since I can't login to admin, those options aren't available.

HELP!!

 

Hi hotrod4x5...

For the USB, in the BIOS you need to enable "USB Legacy Support ". It's usually found under "Advanced" or "Periferial Configuration" menus. Your BIOS may be different so you might need to look around. Once "Enabled" try the USB Keybaord again.

Do these keyboards all work on another computer? If they do then there is a good chance that the Keyboard PS\2 port may be bad.

One thing to remember never Unplug or plug PS\2 devices while the power is on...this is one way you can blow a port.

If you get the USB keyboard to run...try running System File Checker...
- Start => Run => type sfc /scannow (note the space right after sfc). You will need to have your XP CD handy.

 

I have legacy support enabled, still no go with USB keyboard. Yes, all keyboards work on other comps, rember, they work to access and navigate bios. I will try the system file checker by using the on screen keyboard, thanks.

 

Login as admin! When one installs XP and enables the Administrator account with a password you should remember that password. At the same time you should create YOUR account with Administrator rights. Not sure you're going to be able to do much without it. It's called security.

 

LD,
His kb doesn't work, remember?

Forget WinDr- it won't restore the keyboard. See if you can boot into safe mode, and we'll go from there.

Johanna

 

Thanks for the help so far, here's more info:

Yes, I can boot into safe mode, by hitting the reset button after I am running windows. Tried f8 and that didn't work, maybe that requires windows to be partially loaded to work??? (and maybe this is a windows problem, since I can use the keyboard with the bios program)

Anyway, in safe mode, I did a system restore, I went back 30 days. Still no keyboard functions.

Thanks again...

 

Go back into safe mode, and check your keyboard and its drivers in Device Manager. Does the kb work in safe mode?

Buy a $2 P2P adapter, and plug the kb in that way. If it works, you have a USB problem?

Trying to help...
Johanna

 

Try F5 instead of F8 to get into Safe Mode.

 

Thanks again, keyboard does not work in safe mode, in fact keyboard does not show at all in device manager in safe mode. When I load windows normally, and select a user that is not password protected, I see the keyboard in device manager with a ! mark. The error says:

"Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information in the registry is incomplete or damaged. Code 19 "

I cannot change the driver or do anything because I amnot signed on as the admin, which to reiterate, I can't do because I cannot enter the password.

Thanks so much for all the help, maybe we'll get this figured out!

BTW What's a p2p? Is that what allows the USB keybaord to plug into the ps/2 port? Cus I have that and no go, the key board will not work in usb or ps/2, nor will two other known to be good ps/2 keyboards.


Rodney

 

HotRod- sorry, I typed P2P instead of PS2 (Blame it on not enough coffee this AM!) Something happened to your kb driver- that explains the exclamation point and error message. I would log in on one of the kids' accounts, download the latest driver from the net, and try installing it. If you can't from their account, try it in safe mode. You may have to uninstall the kb and let XP find it again, during a reboot. Sorry for the confusion with the "P "s!

Johanna

 

Ok, but I am pretty sure that since the kids accounts are non admin, I cannot install a driver. I also cannot do anything from within device manager on their accounts except look at the keyboard's properties and read the error message, all functions are limited. In Safe mode, the keyboard doesn't show up in device manager at all, it is just blank.

I'll see what else I cando this weekend and post again. Thanks for your help!

Rodney

 

If you install the driver in safe mode, XP will have it when you reboot, and ought to recognize your keyboard.

I am mystified why other keyboards aren't working, either, too. XP carries a lot of generic drivers on board. Do you have an unusual kb? Most will work automatically until you can install the correct driver. So, if 3 other kbs didn't work either, perhaps you better ask the Mods to move this to hardware.

Johanna

 

Have you tried uninstalling the keyboard from device manager and rebooting yet?

 

I can't uninstall anything, because I can't login to the admin account, because it is password protected, no keyboard, no password. The keyboard works in bios, so I don't think it is a hardware issue. The keyboard does not show up at all in safe mode in device manager, so I can't uninstall it there.

The keyboard is a generic, nothing fancy, it uses the standard microsoft driver just fine, usually...

As a last resort, I guess I will reinstall windows, it's been almost 2 years since I built this machine anyway, time to clean house.

 

The reason why your kb isn't working (and my sound card right now too ) is probably a bad registry entry - the registry got messed when something was installed/unisntalled. This explains the reason why the kb was working in BIOS. There are 2 solutions i know:
1. Repair the registry manualy (there is a way but i realy don't know much about the registry so i won't recomend this)
2. Reinstalling windows (just the thing u said u would do)

 

Did you try uninstalling the keyboard and the drivers. Then reinstalling both. OOOPS sorry I just reread your posts and realized your OS isn't allowing you to do so.

 

I did uninstall in safe mode. Then rebooted, keyboard showed up, but same error message in device manager.