USB keyboard not working during windows install

Question

I'm trying to reinstall xp pro and I cannot figure out how to get the usb keyboard to work. It works fine in the BIOS, and it obviously works all the way up until I need to hit enter, or R, or F3. At that point computer decides i don't the use of my USB anymore. This case (xps400) doesn't have any ps2 ports. Any ideas? I have the latest bios update and i've tried every usb port.

Majestic · Answer

di9150, the problem maybe related to installation program not finding the hard drive rather than a keyboard problem since you can use the keyboard to access the BIOS.  Click here for additional information on installing Windows XP on a SATA / RAID system from Denny Denham's web site.

deesmygal · Answer

Is it a dell keyboard?

I had a problem with mine when I was using a Hub for some of my
USB devices. The keyboard being one of them. My web cam gave
me trouble thru the Hub. I removed the Hub and went straight thru
to the connector on the back, of course I was getting keyboard
failure during the boot process. You said it works OK during the
boot process.

Time to call Dell.... Good Luck

di9150 · Answer

Majestic,   I tried doing that as well after the first attempt at reinstalling told me that the system couldn't find a hard drive (I have a SATA). So I loaded up my floppy and went through the whole process and then again when I got to the screen where I have the option of pressing 'enter', 'R', or 'F3', the keyboard stops working.  The only time that screen seems to respond is when I turn off the floppy and let the windows install run until I get to that screen,  press enter, and then it tells me that no hard drive could be detected. I will probably get with Dell support, but if anyone has any other ideas in the meantime don't hesitate to post.   Thanks!

di9150 · Answer

After contacting Dell support they suggested this:   'Go into the bios and press the Alt e, Alt d, and Alt B with the caps, num, and scroll lock keys on. The system should recognized the keyboard after that point.'   I'll have to try this when I get home from work. I will report my results after that...

Majestic · Answer

di9150, sounds like tech support is having you clear the NVRAM (CMOS) is order to redetect the hardware.  I doubt it will resolve the problem, but you never know.  I take it that changing the SATA Operation option in the BIOS  to RAID Autodetect/ ATA had no effect?

di9150 · Answer

I never got around to trying what they suggested, but if all that does is clearing the CMOS then I agree, it's not likely to help. The keyboard works fine up until i get to that one screen during windows install. Does the windows install itself disable any USB support?  I noticed that my mouse also stops working when I get to that screen (if I have it plugged in).   The SATA operation was defaulted to RAID Autodetect/ATA. Would changing to Combination have any effect?

Majestic · Answer

I'm not aware of the Windows XP installation disabling the USB ports.  As far as SATA settings try selecting the RAID Autodetect/AHCI option.

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