There is no keyboard controller. The keyboard connects to the computer via USB. Do you have another USB keyboard that you can try?

No I can't get into bios. The screen is black with white writing and at the top is the bios version info, below that is the keyboard error message.

Well I know this keyboard works for sure but do you think it isn't being recognized for some reason?

When I boot it I get 2 beeps then keyboard failure shows on a black screen as well as the bios info.

Have you tried plugging the keyboard into one of the two front USB ports? They're hidden under the panel with the Dell logo on it.

You're able to get into the BIOS? So the keyboard works and it's just that there's an error message?

 

Check in the BIOS for a field to ignore keyboard errors. I think it's in there.

Could all 8 USB ports be dead? That's kind of unlikely, but do you have a PS2 keyboard and a PS2 to USB adapter? Try that and see if it is any different.

Yes I tried the front panel usb but that didn't work either.

What code does it give you? The GX280's diagnostic LED codes don't mention a "keyboard controller"...

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx280/en/ug/tools02.htm#wp1114558

The 4 lights on the back A,B,C,D give me the code that the keyboard controller is bad

You're not using a really old CRT monitor, are you?

I get three green lights(abc) and one yellow(d)

I've checked that already, I searched the beep codes and the light codes, but I'm stuck here now. I started reading in the forum and saw that this model has a keyboard controller and there have been problems with them before.

I do have it hooked to a crt monitor. A customer brought it in because it wouldn't turn on. One of the RAM sticks is bad so I removed it. It turns on now but before it boots it brings up a black screen with white letters. That displays the version of the bios and gives me an error for no floppy drive and the keyboard failure. There is no floppy drive installed so I'm not worried about that but the keyboard problem is keeping me from getting into bios.

I don't know what the monitor has to do with the problem, but I suppose trying it with a LCD won't hurt...

 

I think you just might have a bad motherboard. Check the capacitors on it. If there are any that are bulging or leaking, then there's definately a motherboard problem. Bad capacitors are common in the GX270 and GX280.

That's not an error with the USB ports. This what Dell recommends:

 

• Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the system board from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive.
• Check the computer message that appears on your monitor screen.
• If the problem persists, contact Dell.