USB keyboard failure

Question

I have an XPS 400 that is 2 years old. Last week when booting up, it displayed a keyboard failure. It continued to boot up to to the Windows XP desktop, however, the keyboard did not work and the USB optical mouse, even though it was powered up and lit, did not 'move'. I have tried all the recommendations posted here, and it still does not work. There are no PS2 connections, so a PS2 keyboard is not an option. I have tried two other usb keyboards and they did not work either. My keyboard works on my wife's laptop, so I know it is good. Any clues as to what the problem is? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

cjacobs66,

Make sure your using the USB ports on the rear of the PC. List all the software and/or hardware changes made to the system BEFORE this issue arose. Remove all UPS and surge protectors from the equation. Plug the PC and monitor power cords directly into the wall socket.
* Power the monitor on
* Power the PC on
* What color is the PC power button?
* Is it flashing?
* What color are the four 1234 Diagnostic Lights on the front of the PC?
-or-
* What color are the four ABCD Diagnostic Lights on the back of the PC?

cjacobs66 · Answer

Chris,   There have been no hardware or software changes to the computer in quite some time. This happened intermittently last week, but would eventually boot up correctly. After following some of the suggestions posted on the forum, it seems I've made the problem worse. It would boot up to Windows before, but after clearing the CMOS, it now shows a keyboard failure, and it is trying to bbot from a non-existant floppy. When it gets to that point, the power light is green and steady. The diagnostic lights on the front show 1-2-3. I don't see any diagnostic lights on the back. Is this a motherboard failure or just a driver issue? Thanks.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

cjacobs66, Contact the XPS Hardware Support team (1-800-232-8544) so they can walk you through some troubleshooting.

cjacobs66 · Answer

I will call them. Thanks for your help.

cjacobs66 · Answer

Chris,   Apparently my thanks to you for the phone number was a bit premature, as I was told that before they could 'help' me, I would have to pay $39.95. And even then, they could not insure that they could fix it. So now I have an expensive and bulky paperweight, that is my XPS 400. If I were a cynical man, I might think that the fact that this happened so soon after the expiration of the warranty, it  might actually be a calculated thing on the part of Dell. Regardless, my two year old Dell is still broke, and my eight year old Gateway is still chugging right along. Rest assured, that will play a factor in all future computer purchases. Thanks anyway....

DELL-Chris M · Answer

cjacobs66,

123 mean another failure has occured.

* Click Start- Turn Off Computer- Turn Off
* Unplug the monitor cord from the video card
* Unplug the power cord from the back of the PC
* Remove the Cover
* Reseat and reseat every card, cable, plug, and ram
* Close the case cover
* Reconnect the PC power cord
* Reconnect the monitor cord to the video card
* Power the PC on

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USB keyboard failure

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