Mouse/keyboard vs. powered usb port

I have a powered usb port from radio shack that works perfectly well with my cell phone, and all the other things I plug into it.

But both my usb keyboard and mouse will not work connected through the powered port. They will work whenever connected directly to the computer.

Any ideas?

 

The keyboard is something that is loaded at startup, not just in Windows. It needs to be connected directly to the computer.

I haven't heard that the mouse is the same. Maybe if you have special software or drivers installed for the mouse, that might be the reason. Try starting up without the mouse connected. After Windows has loaded, try connecting it then. Maybe it will work after that.

I have seen different computers do different things regarding the mouse.

Matt

 

I appreciate the info.

Maybe my understanding is wrong. I thought that a powered usb port, which I plug into a port on the computer, was essentially an extension cord with multiple plugs. So whether the mouse or keyboard are plugged into a usb port on the machine or plugged in via the daisy chain effect wouldn't make a difference.


Isn't one of the main purposes of a usb connection is that you can daisy chain the connections, but would not alter the connection in terms of the way it's perceived by the computer......

 

The BIOS will only have simple drivers for the keyboard. The hub will be a device that the BIOS cannot "see" past. It may be a simple device, but it is still a device.

Windows can daisy-chain USB devices, not the BIOS.

If the BIOS cannot load a keyboard, usually there is an error message or beeps. Your BIOS is probably set not to stop on errors.

I think you might have success with the mouse, but not the keyboard.

Matt

 

Thanks so much. What you said makes perfect sense. Since I was using the hub for these two devices as an "extension cord ", I'll just get USB cables.

Thanks again.

rudy

 

That's OK When the computer starts up, it needs a "Human Interface Device" otherwise you cannot communicate with it. It looks for a keyboard. You can boot to different operating systems, what they all have in common is a keyboard. What the BIOS needs to load is a keyboard.

No keyboard...the system won't work

If you would like a test, boot to the Windows CD with the k/b connected to the hub. See if things work there.

Matt

 

don't forget to enable USB Keyboard and Mouse in the BIOS.