GX280 Unable to Use USB Mouse or Keyboard Once Booted Into Windows

Steve

 

I’m assuming USB mouse/keyboard devices worked on that computer before?

 

Have you checked System Setup (BIOS) settings (press F2 key during boot)?

 

Under Onboard Devices, is USB set to ON?

There may be another USB onboard device entry for controlling the front USB hub ports (if applicable)?

If the setting are OK then:

 

Ensure devices are connected to USB Root hub ports, normally on rear panel, before powering on computer

 

If not already done, you may need to:

Shutdown, isolate power supply, press computer power off button for 10 seconds, try different ports then wait about 10 minutes before powering back up

Hi Bell Boy,

Thanks so much for your response. Sorry I am a little slow on this end. We just had our first baby and it really throws a wrench into the schedule.

Yes, the computer is several years old and the mouse and keyboard have been working fine up until last week.

In the BIOS, USB Controller is set to on.

There don't appear to be any other USB entries other than to specify a USB Diskette Drive

I verified that the devices were connected to the rear panel before booting.

The last suggestion sounds promising. By "isolate the power supply" do you mean just unplug it from the wall then hold the power button down for 10 seconds (I tried that with no success).

Thanks again for your help,

Steve

Hi again Steve

 

Wow –  :emotion-29:  congratulations :emotion-29:  on your first  :emotion-21::emotion-2:

 

Yes, I did mean unplug & discharge any residual electrical charge by pressing on/off button

Sometimes that clears USB Root hub port power lockout problems (a Windows based issue)

Not sure if you tried “other” rear panel USB ports?

 

When trying the above, make sure that ALL other USB devices are disconnected & any other devices that can be a source of power supply, includes network adapter cable

If still no success you may need to try disconnecting internal USB card reader cable (if applicable)

 

Doesn’t look like a corrupt CMOS problem (requires clearing NVRAM)

That is the USB keyboard device input/output is recognised since keys work & you can navigate in BIOS

But if you do want to try clearing CMOS then click here

Before you do, first take a note of present BIOS settings, just in case the default settings have been changed

 

Reading your first post again

Quotes “Once I boot into Windows XP Pro” & “I have tried booting into safe mode”

 

Assume you mean XP does boot load, but keyboard LEDs go out & devices don’t respond at the Windows Welcome screen?

 

1. You could check to see if the keyboard responds in DOS OS

 

Insert Dell OEM XP CD, shutdown & boot from CD-ROM drive

In Windows Setup screen select Recovery Console by pressing the letter R key

If it responds to keyboard then you should see Recovery Console launch the command prompt

At the command prompt type in the term chkdsk /r

(Note there is a space between chkdsk & the forward slash /)

If the keyboard responds then it’s working in DOS

You may as well press the <Return> key & let CHKDSK run & note if any error results

To exit Recovery Console, at the command prompt type Exit

 

2. If above doesn’t resolve the problem try the XP Repair Install option

 

XP Repair Install should only restore the XP OS files from the Dell OEM XP CD

Unfortunately you will then need to install ALL MS updates (can be a drag)

 

Reply if you need further clarification