keyboard fails to respond during fdisk

I have been given a 5 year old computer w/out a HD, and have installed an old 3.2 G HD of my own. Before installing W98, I wanted to fdisk and reformat it.
When I got to the point of asking for disk information, the keyboard failed to respond (none of the letter keys would work) although up until this point I had only used the arrow keys, so I don't know if it was working OK before that.
So, I then switched keyboards, rebooted and tried again, but got the same thing, only this time I couldn't get as far as fdisk, I only managed to select 3 using the arrows and after that, nothing.
Has anybody got any idea what I might have done wrong, or what else I should be trying?

 

Go to your device manager and verify the status of the keyboard and harddrive. It may indicate a driver or connectivity problem.

Also, you may be able to do your pre-installation routines from the DOS command prompt.

 

Try another keyboard.

 

Only dis/connect kyb with pwr OFF!

Note: Older systems had a kyb fuse on the mbd, and connecting or disconnecting the kyb can blow it. (note: it won't look like a fuse... but I lucked in to more "dead" systems due to this.)

Newer systems have a "Self Healing fuse" - but if it has been abused it may not be healing completely, and therefore not able to cope with the load current very long before cutting out.

Hopefully its just the kyb - also be sure its connected to the correct port - many mbd don't care which PS/2 port - several are very picky about this.

 

re kbd question

thanks everyone, I think Profgab101 might be on the money though. I did a little switcheroo with the keyboards while the computer was still turned on ... maybe I've blown it eh?

 

UInless it is a USB(apparently not in your case) connection, a hot swap could cause a problem and that may very well be your situation.

 

USB KYB

Hey - Check your BIOS for legacy USB support. - If it is there, then even if the Ps/2 or Din kyb port many be out, you can still use a USB keyboard and it should also work in DOS.

Hope this could work as a cheap work around.