BIOS Messed Up? Can't Access Keyboard During Re-boot

[Danno]

Calling all nerds!

For many months now, I've noticed that my keyboard is not available while
the computer is re-booting. If I need to tap the F8 key before the system
kicks in, I'm not able to do it. And now I need to do it. lol

I have Windows XP with service pack 3 on an older Dell Dimension 8200

I've visited Dell's site and have installed something (no doubt something
dangerous) onto a floppy disk as per instructions. When the computer
re-booted, it was supposed to go to the floppy and re-set the BIOS, but it
didn't. At least, that's my understanding about what was supposed to
happen.

I know two things about computers. That I have an incredible ability to
make fatal mistakes. And secondly, that I need to seek help and stop making
fatal mistakes. So here I am!

I'll be patient until some savior answers my plea. This time I'm not gonna
shoot myself in the face. That hasn't worked in the past so I doubt it'll
work now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Danno

 

[noone]

Calling all nerds!

For many months now, I've noticed that my keyboard is not available while
the computer is re-booting. If I need to tap the F8 key before the system
kicks in, I'm not able to do it. And now I need to do it. lol

I have Windows XP with service pack 3 on an older Dell Dimension 8200

I've visited Dell's site and have installed something (no doubt something
dangerous) onto a floppy disk as per instructions. When the computer
re-booted, it was supposed to go to the floppy and re-set the BIOS, but it
didn't. At least, that's my understanding about what was supposed to
happen.

I know two things about computers. That I have an incredible ability to
make fatal mistakes. And secondly, that I need to seek help and stop making
fatal mistakes. So here I am!

I'll be patient until some savior answers my plea. This time I'm not gonna
shoot myself in the face. That hasn't worked in the past so I doubt it'll
work now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Danno

Is the keyboard the one that came with your computer? If you upgraded
to a USB model, that could explain it.

 

[Danno]

Hi Noone,

That could be part of it. Yes, I upgraded (?) to a USB model about a year
ago. But I believe that in the past, the new keyboard was available during
reboot. In all honesty, I can't say for sure. So today I plugged the
keyboard into the PS/2 port using an adaptor and then rebooted. That didn't
work... the keyboard still wasn't available until the computer had finished
booting up. I have another keyboard that's a cheapie, but brand new and
still in the box. It's a USB model and I tried that one today as well. So
far, no luck.

Thanks for the suggestion though. That may be the problem, but if it is, I
still can't see the fix for it.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to get the keyboard available during
reboot? Is the bios possibly messed up, or does it have more to do with the
port? But it doesn't seem to matter which port I have it plugged into!

Any further guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Danno

 

[smlunatick]

Hi Noone,

That could be part of it.  Yes, I upgraded (?) to a USB model about a year
ago.  But I believe that in the past, the new keyboard was available during
reboot.  In all honesty, I can't say for sure.  So today I plugged the
keyboard into the PS/2 port using an adaptor and then rebooted.  That didn't
work... the keyboard still wasn't available until the computer had finished
booting up.  I have another keyboard that's a cheapie, but brand new and
still in the box.  It's a USB model and I tried that one today as well. So
far, no luck.

Thanks for the suggestion though.  That may be the problem, but if it is, I
still can't see the fix for it.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to get the keyboard available during
reboot?  Is the bios possibly messed up, or does it have more to do with the
port?  But it doesn't seem to matter which port I have it plugged into!

Any further guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Danno

Your problem is indicating that the original settings to permit the
use of USB mice / keyboards at "pre-boot" times is no longer turned
on. You need to check to see if you happen to have the older round PS/
2 type connector for a PS/2 keyboard connector. If you do, then
locate a PS/2 based keyboard. Then, power down the PC and connect
this keyboard. Then, turn on the PC and access the PC's BIOS set up
screens. You need to locate the settings to enable the USB keyboard /
mouse before accessing the Windows USB drivers. Such possible
settings are:

Use USB keyboard ....
Enable Legacy USB support...

 

[Danno]

Hi smlunatick,

Yeah, that sounds like the kind of fix I was thinking would work but I just
don't know how to get there. I've already tried a new USB keyboard that I'd
plugged into the PS/2 port (with an adaptor). Is that different than what
you'd suggested? Are you suggesting I find a keyboard specifically with a
PS/2 type connector? If I need to do that, I could probably find one
somewhere.

When I tried it (with the adaptor) and re-booted, the keyboard was still
unavailable. I'm sure you're right but I'm not quite sure what's next.

Hi Noone,

That could be part of it. Yes, I upgraded (?) to a USB model about a year
ago. But I believe that in the past, the new keyboard was available during
reboot. In all honesty, I can't say for sure. So today I plugged the
keyboard into the PS/2 port using an adaptor and then rebooted. That
didn't
work... the keyboard still wasn't available until the computer had
finished
booting up. I have another keyboard that's a cheapie, but brand new and
still in the box. It's a USB model and I tried that one today as well. So
far, no luck.

Thanks for the suggestion though. That may be the problem, but if it is, I
still can't see the fix for it.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to get the keyboard available
during
reboot? Is the bios possibly messed up, or does it have more to do with
the
port? But it doesn't seem to matter which port I have it plugged into!

Any further guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Danno

Your problem is indicating that the original settings to permit the
use of USB mice / keyboards at "pre-boot" times is no longer turned
on. You need to check to see if you happen to have the older round PS/
2 type connector for a PS/2 keyboard connector. If you do, then
locate a PS/2 based keyboard. Then, power down the PC and connect
this keyboard. Then, turn on the PC and access the PC's BIOS set up
screens. You need to locate the settings to enable the USB keyboard /
mouse before accessing the Windows USB drivers. Such possible
settings are:

Use USB keyboard ....
Enable Legacy USB support...

 

[James Silverton]

Danno wrote on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:44:05 -0600:

Yeah, that sounds like the kind of fix I was thinking would
work but I just don't know how to get there. I've already
tried a new USB keyboard that I'd plugged into the PS/2 port
(with an adaptor). Is that different than what you'd
suggested? Are you suggesting I find a keyboard specifically with a
PS/2 type connector? If I need to do that, I could
probably find one somewhere.

When I tried it (with the adaptor) and re-booted, the keyboard
was still unavailable. I'm sure you're right but I'm not
quite sure what's next.

I'm under the impression that a keyboard or mouse has to be indicated as
PS2 compatible if an adapter is to work. Recently, during keyboard
problems, I bought a Kensington USB/PS2 key-board and mouse at Micro
Center for a total of $21. They were both wired not cordless but the
mouse was a laser mouse.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not