Keyboard Locks Up!

[Fred S *****]

Hi,

I am running WinXP Home and have had no problems of any serious nature
for a few years now using WinXP.

On occasion, I encounter a lack of response by the keyboard when I
attempt to Log In. This only occurs after the computer has been running,
it has never happened at initial start up and log in.

I might do some work then log off, later, about an hour or so, I log
back on to check email, or my wife checks her email, and 95% of the time
all is well. However, every once in a while, I move the mouse to
highlight my user account icon on the log in screen, the cursor starts
flashing in the password box and then keyboard entry does nothing! It's
as if the keyboard is sleeping.

I can use the tab keys to hit the Guest account, which is NOT password
protected and that opens and runs, the keyboard works fine. I
immediately log out, and then the log in on my account is fine, that is,
I'm able to enter my PW and go on.

There has never been any KB lockup during a session, the KB works fine
but as I noted before, once in a while, the Log In behaves as if the
system is in Standby or whatever.

The system does NOT have hibernation nor standby enabled on any account,
so that's not it. There is no screensaver in any of the accounts.

I have no idea of what could be causing this, can anyone offer any
assistance?

Thanks,

Fred S

 

[Elmo]

Hi,

I am running WinXP Home and have had no problems of any serious nature
for a few years now using WinXP.

On occasion, I encounter a lack of response by the keyboard when I
attempt to Log In. This only occurs after the computer has been running,
it has never happened at initial start up and log in.

I might do some work then log off, later, about an hour or so, I log
back on to check email, or my wife checks her email, and 95% of the time
all is well. However, every once in a while, I move the mouse to
highlight my user account icon on the log in screen, the cursor starts
flashing in the password box and then keyboard entry does nothing! It's
as if the keyboard is sleeping.

I can use the tab keys to hit the Guest account, which is NOT password
protected and that opens and runs, the keyboard works fine. I
immediately log out, and then the log in on my account is fine, that is,
I'm able to enter my PW and go on.

There has never been any KB lockup during a session, the KB works fine
but as I noted before, once in a while, the Log In behaves as if the
system is in Standby or whatever.

The system does NOT have hibernation nor standby enabled on any account,
so that's not it. There is no screensaver in any of the accounts.

I have no idea of what could be causing this, can anyone offer any
assistance?

Since the tab keys work, and no power options are set, I doubt this is
the answer, but:

Is it a USB KB? If so, in Device Manager, set the USB ports Properties
to not "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Have you checked to see whether you have any scheduled scans
or other activities going on. What are your anti-virus and
anti-spyware arrangements?

Check the Error Reports in the System / Application logs in Event
Viewer. Please post copies.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools,
Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error, information
regarding Event ID, Source and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&Product=winxp

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event
Viewer. Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. This will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report
complete with links into the message. Make sure this is the first paste
after exiting from Event Viewer.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Fred S *****]

Elmo,

Thanks but the KB is not a USB KB, regular pin connector and it does
allow entries during the "problem" period.

The cursor just sits in the login box flashing as if it is waiting for
input. Entering the PW does nothing at all.

Fred S

 

[Fred S *****]

Gerry,

I have up to date Virus software and regularly check for spyware with no
incidents for quite some time. There are no events scheduled or underway
when this happens.

I will check the Event viewer the next time this happens, Thanks

Fred S

 

[Rock]

"Fred S wrote

Hi,

I am running WinXP Home and have had no problems of any serious nature
for a few years now using WinXP.

On occasion, I encounter a lack of response by the keyboard when I
attempt to Log In. This only occurs after the computer has been running,
it has never happened at initial start up and log in.

I might do some work then log off, later, about an hour or so, I log
back on to check email, or my wife checks her email, and 95% of the time
all is well. However, every once in a while, I move the mouse to
highlight my user account icon on the log in screen, the cursor starts
flashing in the password box and then keyboard entry does nothing! It's
as if the keyboard is sleeping.

I can use the tab keys to hit the Guest account, which is NOT password
protected and that opens and runs, the keyboard works fine. I
immediately log out, and then the log in on my account is fine, that is,
I'm able to enter my PW and go on.

There has never been any KB lockup during a session, the KB works fine
but as I noted before, once in a while, the Log In behaves as if the
system is in Standby or whatever.

The system does NOT have hibernation nor standby enabled on any account,
so that's not it. There is no screensaver in any of the accounts.

I have no idea of what could be causing this, can anyone offer any
assistance?

Have you tried a different keyboard?

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Fred

The Event Viewer log most likely still has the Errors / Warnings
recorded.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[John]

Hi,

I am running WinXP Home and have had no problems of any serious nature
for a few years now using WinXP.

On occasion, I encounter a lack of response by the keyboard when I
attempt to Log In. This only occurs after the computer has been running,
it has never happened at initial start up and log in.

I might do some work then log off, later, about an hour or so, I log
back on to check email, or my wife checks her email, and 95% of the time
all is well. However, every once in a while, I move the mouse to
highlight my user account icon on the log in screen, the cursor starts
flashing in the password box and then keyboard entry does nothing! It's
as if the keyboard is sleeping.

I can use the tab keys to hit the Guest account, which is NOT password
protected and that opens and runs, the keyboard works fine. I
immediately log out, and then the log in on my account is fine, that is,
I'm able to enter my PW and go on.

There has never been any KB lockup during a session, the KB works fine
but as I noted before, once in a while, the Log In behaves as if the
system is in Standby or whatever.

The system does NOT have hibernation nor standby enabled on any account,
so that's not it. There is no screensaver in any of the accounts.

I have no idea of what could be causing this, can anyone offer any
assistance?

Thanks,

Fred S

No answers for you but you are not alone. I also have the same problem
but it is so intermittent (maybe once a week or once every two weeks)
that I doubt a resolution will be found. I have two accounts on the
login screen that exhibit this problem and like you I use a guest type
non-password protected account as a work around. Basically the mouse
works on the login screen except that it fails to gain focus in the
login box with the result that nothing can be typed into the password
input field.


Good luck and if you find an answer let us know,
John

 

[Gerry Cornell]

John

Is this a wired or wireless keyboard. Make and model?

Do the same problems arise with another keyboard in place?


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[John]

John

Is this a wired or wireless keyboard. Make and model?

Do the same problems arise with another keyboard in place?

In my case ...

Its not the keyboard (PS2). When it happens there is *no* blinking
cursor in the password input box which means that the window's input box
does not have focus and so is incapable of receiving keyboard input.
Clicking on the box with the mouse to try and get its attention causes a
brief flash the first time but nothing thereafter. Its a software
problem and I think you know who's software I am talking about.

John

 

[Rock]

In my case ...

Its not the keyboard (PS2). When it happens there is *no* blinking
cursor in the password input box which means that the window's input box
does not have focus and so is incapable of receiving keyboard input.
Clicking on the box with the mouse to try and get its attention causes a
brief flash the first time but nothing thereafter. Its a software
problem and I think you know who's software I am talking about.

Whose?

 

[John]

Whose?

LOL ... take a wild guess.

John

 

[Gerry Cornell]

John

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right
click on the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select
Properties. Hardware, Device Manager. If yes what is the
Device Error code?

On my computer in System Information, Components, Input,
the driver for keyboard and for pointing device are i8042prt.sys,
52 kb and dated 3.8.04

You could try Start, Run, type "sfc /scannow" without quotes
and hit Enter.

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System
File Checker (Sfc.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310747



--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Rock]

LOL ... take a wild guess.

John

I don't think you have any where near enough information to make an
assessment of what's causing this problem.

 

[Bob I]

LOL ... take a wild guess.

John

Symantec Go Back?

 

[John]

John

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right
click on the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select
Properties. Hardware, Device Manager. If yes what is the
Device Error code?

There are no hardware errors.

On my computer in System Information, Components, Input,
the driver for keyboard and for pointing device are i8042prt.sys,
52 kb and dated 3.8.04

PS2 Keyboard driver version is: MS 5.1.2600.1106 (dated 7/1/2001)

PS2 Mouse driver version is: MS 5.1.2600.0 (dated
7/1/2001)

Note that both mouse and keyboard are USB capable but both have PS2
adapters which is my preference.

You could try Start, Run, type "sfc /scannow" without quotes
and hit Enter.

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System
File Checker (Sfc.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310747

I'll try that when I have the time but I have my doubts.

Thanks,
John

 

[Gerry Cornell]

John

The errors you are checking for in Device Manager are
problematic drivers i.e. software not hardware errors.
However, leave it that as you were looking for yellow
question marks.

What is the status of your computer with regards to
Windows updates?

If you have Windows XP SP2 installed you should
have updated drivers.

You should try Start, Run, type "sfc /scannow" without
quotes and hit Enter. The process is easy to do and
takes little time. Of course if you have not installed
the Windows XP SP2 update it cannot solve the
problem.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[diviney]

Fred:

Me too... This began happening to me a couple of months ago. It seems
very consistant - every time I log off, the keyboard is hung. With the
mouse, I can shut down, or re-start. Re-starting doesn't clear the
problem, only shutting down. I never had it hang during a login, it's
very stable.

It is my opinion that this began with one of the various Windows
Updates which I generally run whenever they become available. It was a
while before I discovered the pattern however, so I can't pin it on a
particular update.

I have tried another keyboard, no luck... It is a regular old PS2
interface

Have you had any luck solving this yet?

Very frustrating !!!

-Tom

 

[John]

John

The errors you are checking for in Device Manager are
problematic drivers i.e. software not hardware errors.
However, leave it that as you were looking for yellow
question marks.

What is the status of your computer with regards to
Windows updates?

If you have Windows XP SP2 installed you should
have updated drivers.

You should try Start, Run, type "sfc /scannow" without
quotes and hit Enter. The process is easy to do and
takes little time. Of course if you have not installed
the Windows XP SP2 update it cannot solve the
problem.

Did an sfc yesterday. If it replaced anything it didn't mention it. Comp
is up to date, in fact four XP updates were installed just a few minutes
ago. Perhaps one of them will silently fix the problem. Not that the
problem is a big deal in that it only happens very occasionally and I
have an easy work around. I only mentioned the problem here because it
is so odd and I had hoped that someone had a quick fix.

Well I thought you said hardware errors unless I misread your post, but
anyway ...

The software errors you requested are as follows:

1. Zone Alarm's well known 'true vector service' error. Other than
spurious entries in the log its of no consequence.
2. One 'rundll.exe' error with event ID 1000 which is explained here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837115
3. A common (for me) 'Nero' error. I have only V5.0 and seldom use it as
its a bit buggy. These errors are just reporting an application hang.

Only one software warning:
'Userenv' where registry memory is not freed when switching users, well
known and very common.

There are numerous 'Information' entries of various types but I don't
see anything suspicious there.

Thanks,
John

 

[John]

Symantec Go Back?

Never used the stuff on any computer I have owned.

John