Mouse/keyboard works in BIOS but not Windows

Question

Dimension 5150

As a suggested fix to another problem I was advised to delete all USB ports to refresh them. After 2 ports I lost my mouse and keyboard, so rebooted. I got the following messages:

"Found USB controller (x2)Found PS/2 USB mouse"

"Found new hardware wizard-Windows will search for updated software by looking on your computer, on a CD or on Windows update website....Can I connect to windows update to search for new software?....

.Yes this time only
.Yes and every time I connect a device
.No

Click next to continue...."

And of course I can't click on anything because my keyboard and mouse arn't working.

I can get into BIOS, but starting in Safe Mode is no good, because the first command is "To begin click your username"

Mouse and keyboard work in BIOS. USB controller confirmed on.

Please help! How on earth do I get control back?!

RoHe · Answer

Reboot and press F8. Select 'last known good'. If that does it, just shutdown normally and reboot normally. If not, you can try booting from XP CD and running a Repair/Reinstall of XP. Personal files will be ok, but you will have to reinstall all XP updates and hotfixes again, asap. If that doesn't fix it, you may need to run PCRestore (Ctrl-F11) to reset the hard drive to exactly the way Dell shipped it. Personal files and any software you installed will be LOST forever, so this is probably a last resort, unless you're fully backed up on external media (eg, CD). If you're not backed up, you may want to install this hard drive as a second drive in another PC and copy off the files before running PCRestore. After PCRestore, you have to reinstall all updates for every Microsoft product again (XP, IE, MS Office, etc). Unless somebody has a better idea :o Ron Message Edited by RoHe on 01-03-2008 05:51 PM

Cluelessone · Answer

Rohe. Thanks for your reply. Tried 'last known good' but no change. Have just perloined a WinXP cd. Tried repair using the command 'Fixboot' but again no joy. Any recommendations?

RoHe · Answer

Fixboot isn't going to fix this kind of problem. And you need to be careful using these commands. You could mess up your drive and prevent it from booting again unless you do a full reformat.

If you didn't get the XP CD from Dell when you purchased your system, start here:
http://snipurl.com/1wl15

You need to boot from the XP CD* and press Enter at first screen (not R). Accept the User License and select your installation of XP on the next screen (should only be one). Then press R for repair/reinstall. When that's done, and assuming keyboard works again, get all the XP updates and hotfixes reinstalled asap.

*Note: XP CD has to have exactly the same version of XP that's on the hard drive otherwise the repair/reinstall won't run.

If that still doesn't work, you may have to put this hard drive into another system as a second drive so you can rescue your files. Then put it back in original PC and run PCRestore (Ctrl-F11) to reset it to the way Dell shipped it.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 01-04-2008 10:31 AM

Clulessone · Answer

'You need to boot from the XP CD* and press Enter at first screen (not R). Accept the User License and select your installation of XP on the next screen (should only be one). Then press R for repair/reinstall. When that's done, and assuming keyboard works again, get all the XP updates and hotfixes reinstalled asap'   Ron, not running as you suggest above..... I follow your steps exactly, but after accepting the User Licence I get the following:   'The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer......   To set up windows on the selected item, press enter To create a partition......press C To delete the sel partition press D........   -:   Partition1 (FAT)    63mb..... C:  Partition2 (NTFS) 147762mb....     Unpartitioned space  8mb..... I:  Partition3 (FAT32)    4754mb   Sorry if I'm being dumb, but I'm being careful after your last warning.....

Clulessone · Answer

Ron,   Continuing:   If I select 'C' (partition2) and enter, the next message is:   'You chose to install XP on a partition that contains another operating system.......... to continue press C'   I then get 3 options:   Format the partition using NTFS (quick) Format the partition using NTFS Leave the current file system intact. No options to repair......Am I off-track??

Clulessone · Answer

Just had a thought. Could it be that it won't repair because my OS is an XP Media Centre, whereas the borrowed disk is Xp Home??

RoHe · Answer

Yes, that's probably what's wrong. Media Center is based on XPpro. Where's the original Dell Media Center CD? And a 'borrowed' CD may be a violation of Microsoft's EULA.

If you didn't get the CD when you received your system from Dell, start here:
http://snipurl.com/1wobu

Ron

Cluelessone · Answer

Ron Thanks again for your reply. With my PC I received I piece of paper (cunningly designed to look like a CD) Stating 'Your new computer does not require an operating system CD or Drivers CDs Instead if you ever need to reinstal your software use one of the following methods.... System restore........Dell PC restore. I shall belatedly chase for a real CD!!

Cluelessone · Answer

Got hold of an XP pro disk and the repairinstallation WORKS!.............................. The Mouse WORKS.........  right upto the point where the Regional and Language Options screen comes up. Which requires a mouseclick which......................I can't give it!!!!!!!   Would an XP MCE do any better do you think?

RoHe · Answer

Got hold of an XP pro disk Doesn't sound legal to me... Can you try a different mouse? Ron

RoHe · Answer

Try that link to order the CD. If that doesn't help, there's got to be a UK office that may assist. I'll see what I can find out.

I'm sure the mouse is fine. But I wonder if it needs a driver or has some special features that aren't supported by Repair/Reinstall and that's why you can't click at the language setup screen. See if you can borrow a really basic 2 button mouse that should use generic drivers built into XP.

XP is dedicated to a specific PC so it's not normally legal to use a CD that has been used to install the OS on one PC on a different PC.

Ron

Cluelessone · Answer

Ron   The link you gave me to get the Dell System disks is Dell USA. I live in the UK and there doesn't seem to be any such arrangement here.   If Dell wont send me a reinstallation disk, what do I do, just clean boot it???? If I can borrow a disk to get my legally purchased system up and running before returning it, it that such a crime??   The mouse is absolutely fine, I've tested it on my laptop.

Cluelessone · Answer

Ron, thanks again for your advice   The US link insists that I enter a State & Zip code, which is er.....tricky.   Lets assume that the mouse is unsupported.......... Surely I'd still be able to cycle through the options and use 'Enter' with the keyboard? I can't, so does that make the keyboard unsupported too?   Just running the extended/full tests on Dell Diagnostics via the utility partition if you/re interested. I did the USB tests first and they all passed.

RoHe · Answer

I've asked the forum moderators for info to obtain the CDs in the UK, and the forum gurus for help on this hardware issue. Stay tuned. Ron

Cluelessone · Answer

Ron   Tried a different angle on 'Live Chat' Came straight out with a request for the CDs and that I did'nt want to do a PC restore. It worked, although I was warned that post/shipping could take 4-5 days. Hopefully it will be a bit sooner.   Lets hope that they fix it...............

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Mouse/keyboard works in BIOS but not Windows

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