New Hard Drive and Old Registry

I was having a problem with my Keyboard locking up on bootup and not being able to get into my computer so I could try and fix it, so the only solution I could come up with was to install a new HD. However, I have a number of programs on my second HD ( "D" Drive) and I really don't want to have to try and find all the disks to have to RELOAD them all so that they will be in the New Registry.

Can I Import the OLD Registry into the NEW one W/O loosing the info in the New One? or can I Import parts of the Old Registry?

Also, has anyone heard of someone else having a problem with their keyboard locking up on boot-up?

 

You cannot import the registry continue to use installed applications that now reside on your second drive.

As for the keyboard, if it is a USB keyboard you can have issues if your BIOS settings for USB get changed. For most you need to enable USB 1.1 at a minimum in order for the keyboard to be recognized at boot.

Remember too that keyboard failures are very common.

 

I have a Microsoft PS2 keyboard and it works just fine since I installed the new HD. Apparently it's a Program issue and not a Hardware one.

I tried swapping out the PS2 with another and I even used a USB board as well and they all died on the Windows Boot-up.

 

XP is not really involved with your keyboard until essentially the logon screen appears.

Anything prior is either:

. a bad port
. a BIOS issue

P/S2 ports are prone to intermittent and outright failure, mostly from previous mouse use, but the constant tension from the keyboard cable is reason enough for the failure. They have only two small solder contacts that hold them to the motherboard. You will see a lot of older computers using USB keyboards for this reason.

Make sure the keyboard supports USB 1.1