Problems with USB Keyboard & Mouse

Question

Dear All,   I have recently purchased a nice new Dimension E520 desktop complete with Windows XP media centre.   Everything was OK until I installed a USB modem which upset all of the USB devices on the machine.   The PC wants to reinstall the all the devices BUT needs you to acknowedge the message, however as the keyboard & mouse are USB you can't!!   I have tried booting into safe mode, I have tried using repair console & now I have given up and tried to reinstall using the Microsoft XP recovery disk to reinstall. I always get stuck at the same point. When windows needs to prompt for an input I can't use the keyboard or mouse. I've even had 4 keyboards and 4 mice in just incase.   Has anyone come across this issue - Does anyone know of a PCI card I could install with PS2 ports on it, that natively supported by XP without needing to install any software ?   Very frustrated   Regards and thanks

RoHe · Answer

Typically there's only 1 rear USB port that's active before XP loads the drivers. That's the one where your keyboard should be connected. You may have to try all of them to find the one that's active.

Assuming you find an active USB port, can you get to the desktop with keyboard function? If so try a System Restore to latest available date before you installed the modem. You'll only have to reinstall any XP updates originally installed after that date.

If System Restore doesn't do it, reboot and press F8. Select Last Known Good. If not, and you've backed up your files but haven't already reformatted the hard drive, press ctrl-F11 before XP starts to load. That'll reset the system to exactly the way Dell shipped it and you'll have to reinstall the XP updates and fixes, plus any additional software you need.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 12-13-200605:14 PM

afr_999 · Answer

Thankyou for the information.   I tried every port with just a keyboard in - It worked in every port right up till Windows started then I lost it just as windows ask me to press return to install the USB keyboard it had just found!!   I gave up. I took the HDD out backed it up on another machine then went for your last option of CTRL F11 & factory defaulted it.   Thank you for your help, at least I know I was trying the right things & thank fully I was able to backup my data before wiping.   Regards   Andy

RoHe · Answer

Glad you were able to back up your files and restore the HD. Don't forget you need to reinstall all XP updates and fixes again. So get your filewall and antiviral software running and go directly to the MS update site. Don't surf or read email until you've installed all the updates.

Ron

Windows General

Problems with USB Keyboard & Mouse

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