Keyboard failure

I have a question.  Since the computer boots up and since the mouse and keyboard only work when connected to a USB extender (which is connected to one of the USB connections on the computer) and since the other USB ports are not operational, are you saying that there has been a motherboard failure that's limited to just all but one of the USB connections?  Is short,  do we have a failure of some USB connections that can only be corrected by a new motherboard?  I ask these questions because I am hoping that there is some other solution to USB ports becoming invisible.

I think it could be multiple faults, maybe it is a software, hardware, or firmware issue. When I last worked on the XPS400 none of the USB ports recognized the keyboard or mouse. After installing a PCI usb card, none of those were recognized (probably because the computer never got to the OS to recognize the card). Add to that, even Dell's techs don't have a solution, so I think that the mobo replacement could solve the issue. I suppose the only way to eliminate the USB failure and other hardware would be to try and install a fresh copy of XP on the machine, but I don't know how that would be done given that the computer only goes as far as the bios post then freezes from the keyboard error.

At the shop I also use PC Doctor (I know not a great program, but not my choice either I'm bound by protocol) and PC Doctor has a USB fob used in conjunction with the CD. When the fob is inserted, the lights illuminate so there is at least power at the USB ports, but data won't transfer.

At this point I am fed up with this problem, especially since Dell can not offer a decent solution. Keyboard and mouse can be ruled out as the fault, there is power to the ports but no data transfer so power at the USB ports can also be eliminated. Also, when using USB mouse/keyboard, any other computer will still boot to the OS and keyboard and mouse can be plugged in after startup. With all of this, I think the bios recognizes the ports but blocks data transfer which could be anywhere between the ports and the processor.

Has anyone pulled their mobo and closely inspected it for cracks or flaws? I'm not going that far because for me, the more time I spend trying to fix one machine, takes time from fixing others than can be fixed.

Isn't anyone listening?? I gave you the common fix for the problem in my previous post. But all I see is ranting and no indication that anyone even tried my suggestion.

And when that suggestion doesn't work, either a repair/reinstall or a reformat/reinstall of XP will.  And when all else fails, a new motherboard.

Guess I'm wasting my time in this thread.

Ron

So the general consensus is that: (1) pulling the battery and (2) changing the jumper will not work.  What about uninstalling and re-installing the USB drivers?  Is there a logical reason that shouldn't be tried?  Is there any reason why one USB port should still work and the others not work? Does the fact that one works and the others don't suggest a hardware problem?  Or not?  Are the only options (1) reinstall XP or (2) install a new motherboard?

That would be a fine idea if anyone could get past the "keyboard error press F1 to continue" screen, but with the keyboard being non-functional there is no way to proceed.

In my case none of the USB ports recognize the keyboard

It seems that restoring the computer might work, but that's only if the media boots on startup instead of the same error. If the error is still produced then the drive would have to be formatted on another PC then restored. I would imagine the same would go for installing a fresh copy of XP.

So the general consensus is that: (1) pulling the battery and (2) changing the jumper will not work.  What about uninstalling and re-installing the USB drivers?  Is there a logical reason that shouldn't be tried?  Is there any reason why one USB port should still work and the others not work? Does the fact that one works and the others don't suggest a hardware problem?  Or not?  Are the only options (1) reinstall XP or (2) install a new motherboard?

Isn't anyone listening?? I gave you the common fix for the problem in my previous post. But all I see is ranting and no indication that anyone even tried my suggestion.   And when that suggestion doesn't work, either a repair/reinstall or a reformat/reinstall of XP will.  And when all else fails, a new motherboard.   Guess I'm wasting my time in this thread.   Ron

That common fix doesn't work. Pulling the CMOS battery only results in the floppy error (I don't care that it's because the BIOS is reset, it still adds to the headache that is Dell), but still leaves the keyboard/mouse non-functional. 

The ranting and raving is because whoever designed a computer without PS/2 connection is only hurting Dell and making USB failures that much harder to deal with. I know as well as anyone that all computer brands have bad systems, bad designs, ad nauseum... But it just seems to me that more and more Dell's have been showing up for repair.

You've totally missed the point. You can't just pull the battery and put it right back. You have to leave the system unplugged and without the battery for at least SEVERAL HOURS or OVERNIGHT.

And if it's an old  battery (> ~2 yrs old) replace it with a new one, too.

BTW: No recent PC, Dell or otherwise, comes with PS/2 (or serial) ports any more. Old technology, gone the way of the doodoo bird.

Ron

TomJones75, Well, I guess you didn't listen to my warning about using stars to replace bad words. Your last post was deleted from this thread.   And I've been around this forum long enough to know that my suggestion about leaving the PC unplugged and without the battery for several hours or overnight has a fairly high rate of success in fixing the USB problem that's the topic of this thread. But if you choose not to listen, then it's entirely your own decision.   I'm outta here... Ron

And again I will say this, I DID NOT use asterisks to mask any words, the community site does that. Plus the use of the correct spelling of an extinct bird is neither offensive, harrassment, or unlawful. Bottom line is Dell is opposed to any negative statements about their poor products. I see it everyday.

TomJones75,

Well, I guess you didn't listen to my warning about using stars to replace bad words. Your last post was deleted from this thread.

And I've been around this forum long enough to know that my suggestion about leaving the PC unplugged and without the battery for several hours or overnight has a fairly high rate of success in fixing the USB problem that's the topic of this thread. But if you choose not to listen, then it's entirely your own decision.

I'm outta here...

Ron

CMOS RESET

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

procedure for your system.

Unfortunatly there are numerous others who have experienced the loss of USB ports on the 400/9150. The only fix has been a motherboard replacement.

In my case, I got past the error message because one USB port is working and I have a port extender plugged into it  (although I haven't tried plugging anything else into that port just to see if something else--like a camera--would also work).  So I have the computer working (hoping that it will keep working).  But I'd like to get the USB ports functional.  I just got a message--it popped up--that one of my USB ports is malfunctioning.  So my question still remains--is there a way to get the USB ports functional?

Therre are still a few other responses to my message that I haven't read yet, so I'll see if there is something that comes out of this.  Because, ultimately, my one remaining USB port may fail and I may be in the same boat at you--no way to interact with the computer.

OK, that's something I haven't done yet.  That goes on the list.

Although I haven't read all the post yet that are subsequent to this one, in my mind two other options need to be considered:

1. remove and reinstall the jumper

2. restore computer to an earlier time (before I did my defrag which happened just before this error occurred).

Any opinion on those options?

Thanks.

I don't think a restore would work, especially if it's a hardware malfunction. You can try it though if you have your data backed up. I still think it's a motherboard failure.

Restore didn't work--that was the easiest thing to try, so I tried it first.  Next will be the jumpers.  Then, the battery.

I removed the jumper and took the lithuim battery out of the motherboard for 48 hours.

I still get a Keyboard error and Floppy Disk seek error.

New PC should be in my office this afternoon.