frustrating keyboard problem

This problem began around Halloween. (I was watching Ghost Hunters. Go figure.)

I had a USB keyboard with a PS/2 adapter and it began losing power at random. If I waited for a moment, the keyboard would typically regain power but then it started switching keys for other characters. Sometimes it would get stuck in capslock, when I hadn't pressed capslock on and I would have to turn the capslock on for it to type in lower case. (But when this would happen, all of my punctuation keys would be stuck--as if I was pressing Shift. So my [.] would only show up with [>] and I would have no way to access it until the keyboard got tired of being in capslock or I unplugged it and let it redetect.) Frequently it would get stuck on a letter. I would be typing and then all of a sudden, [h] would speed across my screen. I wouldn't be able to stop it. I would actually have to unplug the keyboard and then plug it back in, wait for it to redetect and then continue. It did this when I had it plugged into the PS/2 adapter and when I took the adapter off and plugged it into the USB.

So I finally got irritated and got a new keyboard. Now, for about four days, it worked just fine but then it started having the same problems. It gets stuck on letters (or sometimes Delete and will delete everything I've typed unless I unplug it fast enough) which I can't stop unless I unplug the keyboard. It still gets stuck in capslock sometimes, even when capslock isn't on. It still loses power at random. It skips letters I've typed. So if I write "don't you think" it'll show up as "dnink ".

Sometimes the volume buttons work, even when the rest of the keyboard has lost power and vice versus. Though usually when it loses power, nothing works at all.

And now, because I've just been unplugging the keyboard and then plugging it back in---sometimes Windows gives me an error (which is steadily becoming more frequent) that says the USB device has malfunctioned but if I click on the bubble to tell me why, I'm just directed to the Device Manager, where it tells me I have an unknown device. I've attempted to check it out--but updating drivers doesn't work. But if I unplug it and let it detect, Windows finds it again.

I switched USB ports, to see if that would make a difference. I have four in back and two in front. It doesn't matter which one I use.

I checked this website and found someone who had had a similar problem and someone helped them by suggesting they go into Safe Mode and uninstall the keyboard. I tried that but it didn't work.

I checked my computer for viruses and found nothing. It does this whether I'm just in Windows or on the internet. It doesn't matter. My mouse and flash drive both have been working fine. I have no other devices plugged into the USB ports.

Both keyboards are Microsoft products. The first was a Microsoft Digital Media Pro and the second is a Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 V 1.0 The first came with a cd of extras that I never installed and the second did not come with anything extra.

So, any thoughts?

 

To be blunt, buy a PS/2 keyboard. That may sound extreme but they're cheap enough and I've never understood why people buy USB keyboards/mice. Your motherboard was designed with PS/2 input in mind and as far as I know it's only keyboards/mice that use those ports.

I can understand USB printers over LPT printers but other devices can use the LPT port.

Even if you resolve this issue with your keyboard you may well have others in the future (entering BIOS setup is the major one).

I'm sorry I haven't answered your original query but even if you do resolve it keep a spare PS/2 keyboard handy, I'm sure it will be useful at times.

 

It had this problem when I was using the PS/2 adapter. My first keyboard was plugged into the PS/2 adapter when it started. I switched to the USB, thinking that might be different and it wasn't.

 

OK, but it's still a USB keyboard

Let's try and resolve the issue anyway, can you borrow a genuine PS/2 keyboard (without the adapter) and see if the problem still exists?

 

Okay. (Sorry for the doublepost up there. Whoops.)

I'll try and get ahold of one.

 

I would guess most would be an exaggeration, however the original poster did make it clear he/she had PS/2 ports. Obviously if no PS/2 is available USB is the only realistic option.

Edit:
It's suprising what you can do with some wires/connectors/rs232 port and a little bit of programming Realistic? No. Possible Yes

 

I have the same issue with a USB keyboard

I have the exact same shut off issue but mine started differently.

I have a Pentium Dual Core Processor Machine with NO PS2.

I have a Logitech Mouse, An HP Scanner plugged into two USB ports.

About three weeks ago my Keytronic keyboard started acting up.
The SHIFT key wasn't working. Then the space key.

I contacted Keytronic and they offered "a repair ".

I cleaned the keyboard inside and out. It worked great for three days.

So, I went out an bought a Dynex keyboard to use while sending the Keytonic back.

Initially I installed the Dynex with the existing driver.

After about two days, the Dynex SHUT OFF. No power light on Num Lock
Nothing.

So I called Dynex. They suggesting plugging and unplugging which worked temporarily.

When it died again, I "updated the driver." Windows installed an HP Wireless driver. This lasted for a day until the keyboard shut off again.

I have tried 3 different USB ports.

This **** started after a series of XP Security Updates in December.

I found one article that claims that Microsoft is pulling tricks again and
downloading pieces of Win7 with these updates. One effect being that
any keyboard besides Microsoft will have problems. I have not tried backing out these updates. But I have now shut automatic updates off.

Plugging and unplugging is a nuisance. I have no PS2 port.

I'd love to hear a solution because I want my old Keytronic Keyboard back.
I hate this Dynex.

A fellow tech suggested getting a USB card, on the possibility that this is
a bad USB controller or a motherboard going out.

My other devices work just great. Scanner is a little slow but the mouse doesn't miss a beat. I have to agree it is a driver issue or something code elsewhere.

 

Isolating the problem would be the way to go... try the keyboard on a different PC. If it works fine, then try a Linux Live CD in your PC.(I'm in love with this OS now). If that works fine too, Windows is the reason for your headaches. If it doesn't, then there's something wrong with your H/W