Keyb Failure on XP Reinstall

Question

Ok, I have been beating my head against the wall for two days on this issue and I can't figure it out. My company has a Dell Dimension DXP051. It got a bad case of a virus, so I chose to back up the required data and do a clean install of XP Home. The computer boots to the CD just fine, and begins to load all the drivers necessary for installation. The keyboard works fine at this point. While it's loading, I check to make sure it's working by occasionally hitting the NUM LOCK or CAPS LOCK keys on and off. Right when the installer gets to the point where the status bar says, 'Loading Windows,' the keyboard stops working. The system continues, and the next screen says to hit enter to install Windows fresh, R for repair, or F3 to exit. The keyboard does nothing at this point. With this motherboard (Dell 0YC523 Socket 775), there are only USB A ports, no PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports. Unfortunately, the Microsoft Knowledge Base solves this problem by saying simply, 'Use a PS/2 keyboard.' Obviously, this is not an option. I know what you're thinking, use an unattended install. I thought the same thing. However, when you get to the point where you must choose your partition to install on, you have to make keyboard inputs. I need the drive formatted in NTFS, incidentally, and only want one partition. I sure hope someone has a workaround for this. I've been on the internet for two days trying to find a solution. Thanks in advance!!

mombodog · Answer

Be sure the mouse and keyboard are plugged into the upper most usb ports on the back, also try reversing them in those upper two ports if necessary.

jmwills · Answer

An unintended install can install to a predfined partition with no user input whatsoever.

chitlin · Answer

Ok, I actually found a different installation disc for Windows XP SP2, and used it, and the keyboard worked! Then I installed the SATA drivers in the beginning of the setup process, and now as soon as I get out of that screen, I get a BSOD with Stop Code 0X0000007B. I think there may be something wrong with the hard drive?

mombodog · Answer

Enter the bios and change the Sata operation to ATA, then you will need no sata drivers and should install without bsod.

chitlin · Answer

Thanks a lot for the help. I changed the BIOS settings for the drive, and it works fine now. Now all I have to do is put on the necessary drivers, and I'm in business. I appreciate everyone's help.

Windows General

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