Resolved Keyboard (PS2) no longer recognized

A friend has asked me for help with a ~4 yr-old eMachines desktop (using WinXP SP3 Home) that doesn't recognize the keyboard, an older, split ergonomic style with a PS-2 connector. He needs to use this type of keyboard because of a partial disability due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

He just bought a new Logitech USB mouse (which works fine), and now he now can't get the keyboard to be recognized, even if he switches to a wireless mouse or uses the original PS-2 mouse. It doesn't seem to be a connector problem, and nothing other than the new mouse has changed.

Is there anything that can be done, other than go out and spend more $$$ on a new USB keyboard? Thanks!

Frank D

 

Is their any chance your friend removed the PS/2 mouse whilst the computer was on?

USB devices are hot swappable PS/2 ones aren't.

 

Wildfire, that's probable, but in my own experience just rebooting a PC with the PS-2 mouse inserted always has set everything back to normal. In this case, no amount of rebooting restores the keyboard back to working order, regardless of mouse type used.

I'll follow up and get back.

Frank

 

No problem,

But if any PS/2 device was removed/added whilst the system was powered there is a chance of damage to the motherboard, test with another PS/2 keyboard and if that's also faulty then chances are a USB keyboard is neccessary.

The only other thing I can think of is if your friend disabled PS/2 ports in the BIOS settings.

 

Wildfire, thanks. I'll follow up on your suggestion.

Frank

P.S. While checking out the "Similar Threads" at the bottom of the screen, I found this list of items to be run through (edited by me), which should give us something to try before laying out the cash for a new keyboard:

http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/90765-keyboard-ps2-no-longer-recognized.html#post498866
Do you still have the "old" hardware? Does it work on another machine? Does the new mouse and keyboard work on another machine? . . . What other devices do you have connected to this machine and how are they connected (port-wise)?

First thing you want to do is disconnect any and all peripherals. Then try booting again with your . . . keyboard and USB mouse having been connected beforehand from a power off state. If you are prompted for driver installation with the three options, then you may have to simplify things and buy the cheapest wired USB mouse and wired USB keyboard you can find. Then try this again.

If still no joy, boot up with no mouse or keyboard connected and then connect them (one at a time with mouse being first) after your successful boot or in the case of a multi-user system, when you hit the log on screen. You should also try using different USB ports (eight options to test with the mouse and if successful, seven for the keyboard unless your new rig is wireless).

 

Preliminary findings: a different PS/2 keyboard (straight, not ergonomic) works on this PC! So we know we didn't damage the motherboard.

Next, we'll try the ergonomic keyboard on a different computer, to see if either its connector or the keyboard itself is flaky.

Frank

 

I could see it being a driver problem or if software was installed for the keyboard, more likely a problem with that. (If software was also installed for the mouse, the mouse and keyboard software may be clashing.)

You could (or get him to) see if it will go into the BIOS /startup configuration settings. Another would be to try going to the Startup Options menu (F8), but it is harder to catch. If it can go to those menus it means the problem is when Windows is loaded.

The software disks that come keyboards and mice do not need to be installed, they only add extra functionality like special keys/buttons. I don't install them, they cause more trouble than they are worth.

Matt

 

Matt,

It's pretty certain that software was never installed for the keyboard, a ~15 y.o. relic, though software could have been installed for the new mouse. I'll check on that and which options are set for a keyboard and/or mouse in the BIOS.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Frank

 

New info from my friend:

"I tried plugging a straight keyboard from another computer into my eMachines computer, turned it on, and the keyboard was recognized. So far so good. I then unplugged the straight keyboard, without restarting, and plugged in the ergonomic keyboard and, eureka, it's working!

"This says to me that there's nothing wrong with the ergonomic keyboard or its connector, but with my computer's failure to recognize the ergonomic keyboard during boot-up. "

So, to sum up: there's apparently nothing wrong with the eMachines computer or the ergonomic keyboard, because they are both capable of operating normally, as shown by simple the test above. The computer won't recognize the ergonomic keyboard during bootup, but will recognize it (or see it as the OEM keyboard) if it is substituted after bootup for the OEM keyboard. Does this provide a clue as to what's wrong and how to fix it? Or should we just continue to substitute the ergonomic keyboard for the OEM keyboard after bootup?

Frank D

 

Frank,

I will stress again PS/2 devices are not hot swappable, your friend risks damaging the motherboard if he continues with this practice.

 

Wildfire,

Thanks, I'll recommend not doing that again.

In the interim I've done some Googling and have found this: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PS2-USB&cat=KYB. It's a PS/2 to USB adapter. Would this solve the problem of (a) getting the ergonomic keyboard to work, or (b) enabling hot-swapping?

Frank

 

a) I don't know try it and see

b) Yes, to be safe though disconnect the USB adapter swap the keyboard then reconnect USB adapter.

 

Wildfire,

Sounds good! For US$11 ($2+$9 S+H) I think it's well worth a try. I'll report back.

Frank

 

Don't you have a local store? You could probably pick one up for $0.99

 

If you haven't tried going into the startup configuration or options menu, I think you should still check that. When you talk about a "standard keyboard" and Windows bootup as opposed to the computer startup, that would make me check.

If something is going wrong during Windows bootup, I think you will find no change using a USB adapter.

At the computer startup, standard drivers are used and no software is loaded for the keyboard or mouse. If the keyboard works there, that says it will run as a standard keyboard and something being loaded during Windows boot/loading that is causing it. If so, as I said, I would look for and uninstall any software for the keyboard or mouse.
Something you could try is booting into Safe Mode and if the keyboard works there.

Matt

 

Matt,

All good advice that I would love to be trying right now if I could! We could probably make short work of this. Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to try any BIOS/Device Manager/Safe Mode variations because I'm located inconveniently far away and my friend is tied up with important non-computer things at the moment. However, as soon as I can make phone contact of reasonable duration again I will work with him and put his computer through the scrutiny and tests you and Wildfire and others (on the other thread) have recommended.

Many thanks for your suggestions!

Frank

 

Other thread?

The link you posted earlier pointed back to this one

 

Wildfire,

The link and text I'm referring to are in message #5 above:

"Keyboard (PS2) no longer recognized
"Do you still have the "old" hardware? Does it work on another machine? Does the new mouse and keyboard work on another machine? . . . What other devices do you have connected to this machine and how are they connected (port-wise)?

"First thing you want to do is disconnect any and all peripherals. Then try booting again with your . . . keyboard and USB mouse having been connected beforehand from a power off state. If you are prompted for driver installation with the three options, then you may have to simplify things and buy the cheapest wired USB mouse and wired USB keyboard you can find. Then try this again.

"If still no joy, boot up with no mouse or keyboard connected and then connect them (one at a time with mouse being first) after your successful boot or in the case of a multi-user system, when you hit the log on screen. You should also try using different USB ports (eight options to test with the mouse and if successful, seven for the keyboard unless your new rig is wireless). "

 

Which points back to this thread (post 5), or am I missing something?

Link to post 5 (hxxp) :hxxp://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/90765-keyboard-ps2-no-longer-recognized.html#post498866

Link you posted:hxxp://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/90765-keyboard-ps2-no-longer-recognized.html#post498866

 

My apologies for being dim!

The real link is: http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/26568-keyboard-not-recognised.html

You can spot the difference in the spelling of "recognised" vs. "recognized. "

Frank