keyboard doesn't work until windows loads

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@Majestic wrote:

Try switching the USB port that your USB - wireless keyboard in plugged into.  On most of the newer Dell systems there will be one USB port that is active during boot up.  Otherwise the USB ports are inactive until Windows loads the necessary drivers.  On most Dells that have one active port, that port is located on the rear of the tower.

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Where is this documented?

Q.

Thanks so much for your reply.  That clarifies it for me.  I have the keyboard plugged into the port that dell told me to in my set up instructions, so I wonder if that port is bad.  Of course, with Dell, there is no way to just replace the ports, I think I have to replace the entire motherboard.  ouch!  But at least I know I am going down the right path in thinking.  Thanks!

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@qwerty1357 wrote:

Where is this documented?

Q.

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Unfortunately Dell chooses not to document the active port on the models that support it and that's the problem.  Then again if you consider forum posting as documentation then do a search on this forum.  You will find a minimum of a half dozen postings where I recommended switching the port and they reported back that it worked.

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@sufan wrote:
Thanks so much for your reply.  That clarifies it for me.  I have the keyboard plugged into the port that dell told me to in my set up instructions, so I wonder if that port is bad.  Of course, with Dell, there is no way to just replace the ports, I think I have to replace the entire motherboard.  ouch!  But at least I know I am going down the right path in thinking.  Thanks!

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Have you tried plugging your keyboard into all the ports ? 

Not yet, but I think I have bigger problems.  I thought, if the keyboard usb port doesn't load the driver, I wonder if I will still "blue screen" if I don't even have the keyboard plugged in at all when I start up, and sure enough it did.  Windows loads, then when i try to sign on - with the mouse, I get a blue screen :hardware malfunction, nmi channel check/IOCHK.   I think IO is input/output, but I'm not sure. And I don't even know what input/output refers to.  I'm wondering if it is between the keyboard and tower, don't have a clue.  The bottom line is, my 6 month old computer doesn't work at all and I'm not happy.

Hello Majestic,

Do you know if a Dell Dimension 8100 (3 years 4 months old) is likely to have one USB port that  is active during boot up ?  How can I chcek - do the lights change color ? 

Thank you

Kveinxxrachel@kevinxxrachel.plus.com

I have the same problem. All my lights are green except the last one which is yellow. I get Keyboad failure when I start up my computer. Keys don't work until loaded up. I have a USB connection and all my ports work. I tryed using a USB to PS/2 adapter and it does'nt work at all.

 

Pat

 

 

I have a DELL Demension 4300 that is 4 years old. I put my old one on with the PS/2 connection and it works fine. The problem is with the USB connection.

It comes up with Keyboard failure. It works fine once the system is booted up. I can't get into my BIOS unless I hook up my other keyboard.

I think I have to get a PS/2 keyboard to have it work.

 

Thanks!

Pat

 

 

Hi,

Thanks!

I plugged in my keyboard with the PS/2 adapter in the same port as my other PS/2 keyboard and it does'nt work. I know that is active. Also, in my BIOS those things are checked.

My printer and scanner work in those USB ports so they are working. I checked on the internet and found out that if the keyboard is not PS/2 compatible, you can't use an adapter. The keyboard has to have a PS/2 cord on it. They have one of those adapters that you plug into the USB port which is one of those big square ones like the powered ones but not hooked up to an AC outlet. Just in the USB port. I thought I would try one of those. What do you think?

Thanks again.

Pat