pc wont work with keyboard xp pro wont boot

[Fred]

Hi, I have a friends pc here it has xp pro on it.He installed it ran
fine the first time (never ran twice) now when it starts it goes to
boot selections screen safe mode safe mode with networking ect.Its
defaulted to start from hd and has a timer when timer runs out attempts
to load but just get blank screen.I cant navagate to any of the other
options keyboard is unresponsive cant pick another option.When I put a
operating system in it detects it and asks boot from hd or boot from cd
again I cant navagate to cd to re install operating system try to boot
from hd and then blank screen.Any ideas on what to try besides
different keyboard(tried a few)?Thanks in advance

 

[Fred]

Also cant seem to get into bios to change boot order.Hit delete to try
to get in bios didnt work its a american megatrends bios usualy there
is instructions on what key to hit but didnt see them.Thanks for any

 

[smlunatick]

This sounds like a USB keyboard is not allowing you to select any boot options
prior to the time the USB drivers are loaded (towards the final steps of the
boot."


If you can, get a standard PS/2 style keyboard, and access the BIOS/CMOS setup
screen. Look at turning on any options that may state "Use USB keyboard..."
or "Legacy USB support...."

 

[Fred]

Hi, this is a older pc with amd athlon 650 20 gig hd 128 memory it does
not have a usb keyboard just the older type and I have tried 2 diferent
ones.Any other ideas?Thanks in advance

 

[Michael Walraven]

Can he get into the BIOS setup? During power up keep holding down the Del
key (or if you know the correct one do that, sometimes it is the F8). You
should get one of two responses, it goes into the BIOS setup, or it reports
a keyboard failure (stuck key). Either way the keyboard is at least
connected.

Point of information: is this a USB keyboard or a PS-2 (round connector)
keyboard. If USB try different connectors.

 

[Fred]

Unable to get in bios tried both F8 and delete no go looked on start up
screen for key to hit it flashes by pretty quik but I didnt see any
other key to hit and its a older style hook up on keyboard not usb.Any
more ideas?Thanks in advance

 

[smlunatick]

The next step I could suggest is very tricky! I encountered this very
same problem on my PC. I shut it down and un-plugged the power cable.
Then, I opened the case up and popped out the CMOS/BIOS coin cell
battery. This cause the CMOS/BIOS to be flushed back to defaults. I
replaced everything back and started up my PC. I got my keyboard to
work again.


But first, I would try a different keyboard, maybe one with a USB
connection?

 

[Michael Walraven]

Your might try one more thing before trying to clear the CMOS.
Check to make sure that you have plugged the keyboard into the keyboard not
the mouse plug.
(please, I am NOT trying to be insulting, I have done and seen much worse
than plugged in wrong problems)
Also as they are both PS-2 devices I suppose that the mouse might be the
problem and stopping the keyboard from working.
Try without the mouse. Actually try unplugging everything you can.

If you have the manual for the computer there should be a jumper plug
somewhere on your motherboard that resets the CMOS, it usually is a three
pin item with a jumper on two, you move it to the other end then restore it
to reset the CMOS. Taking the battery out will work but give it some time
before you put it back it.