Cannot use reboot options screen

[Terry Pinnell]

My son is seeking my help in recovering from a crash situation on his XP
PC and so far I'm stuck.

It's a bizarre sounding scenario which I've never come across before. He
can get to the 'Windows Advanced Options' screen by pressing F8. But he
cannot then use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select anything other
than the default 'Boot Windows normally'.

The PC then starts doing a series of CHKDSK runs (on 4 HDs or partitions)
but these never terminate! The process (eventually) finishes with the 4th
HD and then automatically restarts on the first.

(This CHKDSK run was set up by mo son immediately after the crash (which
BTW occurred when he removed a flash stick) in response to a screen
suggesting possible ways to recover.)

Can anyone suggest how he might proceed please? What can possibly be
causing the KB failure at the point when its use is essential. Yet
physically it's clearly OK because Del gets him to BIOS and F8 gets him to
the reboot options screen.

He doesn't have an XP CD (he inherited the PC from my other son,
apparently minus any CD). Subject to road conditions I can loan him my
MESH Recovery CD, but I'm not sure that will work. I can also try
downloading and burning a Windows XP Bootup CD.

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated please.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Is the keyboard of a USB or the round PS2 port type?

If it's a USB keyboard, it's possible that the BIOS data has been re-set
and a setting often found in the BIOS, called "USB Legacy Support" (or
similar) has been disabled.

This is needed for a USB keyboard to work before the Windows OS loads (i.e.
for being able to control the selection of the F8 options menu).

The solution therefore (if it is indeed a USB keyboard) would be to go into
the BIOS and find this setting and enable it.

Or, swap for a PS2 type keyboard....

If the keyboard you are using is *not* a USB keyboard, then it could be
simply that the PS2 plug has become loose at the back - check the keyboard
is plugged in properly into the back of the PC.

The last explanation is that the PS2 / USB keyboard or it's flex has become
damaged - replace it for another (borrow a known working one) to test this
out.

One other theory (again USB keyboards *only*) is that a recent hardware
addition to a USB-hub is in conflict with the keyboard - remove any
recently added USB devices and try the F8 menu again.


The second point you mentioned, the auto-chkdsk function not completing.

You should be given a default of 5 seconds to press the spacebar to dismiss
the disk check from commencing.

At the point in the OS load, when checkdisk asks if you want to skip the
test..... , the keyboard will be no-longer under the control of the BIOS
anymore, and it's function will be by then, provided by the Window's
drivers and should work no matter if the BIOS setting of USB legacy support
is enabled or not.

As soon as you see the light-blue Checkdisk screen appear, press the
spacebar and checkdisk should be skipped.....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Sorry, I only read half of your post...

As you goon to say that the keyboard functions perfectly well pressing
"del" to get into the BIOS and then works in the BIOS settings but *not* in
the Windows F8 menu.

This would suggest even more that it is my first suggestion about a setting
in the BIOS called "USB legacy support" (or similar).

Go into the BIOS settings and try and locate this setting and make sure it
is enabled....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

My son is seeking my help in recovering from a crash situation on his
XP PC and so far I'm stuck.

It's a bizarre sounding scenario which I've never come across before.
He can get to the 'Windows Advanced Options' screen by pressing F8.
But he cannot then use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select
anything other than the default 'Boot Windows normally'.

The PC then starts doing a series of CHKDSK runs (on 4 HDs or
partitions) but these never terminate! The process (eventually)
finishes with the 4th HD and then automatically restarts on the first.

(This CHKDSK run was set up by mo son immediately after the crash
(which BTW occurred when he removed a flash stick) in response to a
screen suggesting possible ways to recover.)

Can anyone suggest how he might proceed please? What can possibly be
causing the KB failure at the point when its use is essential. Yet
physically it's clearly OK because Del gets him to BIOS and F8 gets
him to the reboot options screen.

He doesn't have an XP CD (he inherited the PC from my other son,
apparently minus any CD). Subject to road conditions I can loan him my
MESH Recovery CD, but I'm not sure that will work. I can also try
downloading and burning a Windows XP Bootup CD.

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated please.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

My son is seeking my hewp in wecowewing fowm a cwash situation on
his XP PC and so faw I'm stuck.

It's a bizawwe sounding scenawio which I'we newew come acowss
befowe. He can get t-t-t-to th-th-the 'Windows Adwanced Options'
scween by pwessing F8. But he cannot th-th-then use th-th-the awoww
keys on th-th-the keyboawd t-t-t-to sewect anyth-th-thing
oth-th-thew th-th-than th-th-the defauwt 'Boot Windows nowmawwy'.

De PC th-th-then stawts doing a sewies of CHKDSK wuns (on 4 HDs ow
pawtitions) but th-th-these newew tewminate! De powcess (ewentuawwy)
finishes wif th-th-the 4f HD and th-th-then automaticawwy westawts
on th-th-the fiwst.

(Dis CHKDSK wun was set up by mo son immediatewy aftew th-th-the
cwash (which BTW occuwwed when he wemowed a fwash stick) in wesponse
t-t-t-to a scween suggesting possibwe ways t-t-t-to wecowew.)

Can anyone suggest how he might powceed pwease? What can possibwy be
causing th-th-the KB faiwuwe at th-th-the point when its use is
essentiaw. Yet physicawwy it's cweawwy OK because Dew gets him
t-t-t-to BIOS and F8 gets him t-t-t-to th-th-the weboot options
scween, uh-hah-hah-hah.

He doesn't hawe an XP CD (he inhewited th-th-the PC fowm my
oth-th-thew son, appawentwy minus any CD). Subject t-t-t-to owad
conditions I can woan him my MESH Wecowewy CD, but I'm not suwe
th-th-that wiww wowk. I can awso twy downwoading and buwning a
Windows XP Bootup CD.

Any oth-th-thew suggestions wouwd be much appweciated pwease.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Sorry, I only read half of your post...

As you goon to say that the keyboard functions perfectly well pressing
"del" to get into the BIOS and then works in the BIOS settings but *not* in
the Windows F8 menu.

This would suggest even more that it is my first suggestion about a setting
in the BIOS called "USB legacy support" (or similar).

Go into the BIOS settings and try and locate this setting and make sure it
is enabled....

Thanks Tim, we'll try that.

Unfortunately he's on his way to my home (to collect my MESH Recovery CD
and a spare KB, although I have low hopes of either of those), or I'd have
got him to try that first.

However, after a lot of googling I have also seen several similar
situations apparently caused by registry corruption. All solutions call
for insertion of 'the Windows XP CD'. Catch 22...

 

[Jim]

Thanks Tim, we'll try that.

Unfortunately he's on his way to my home (to collect my MESH Recovery CD
and a spare KB, although I have low hopes of either of those), or I'd have
got him to try that first.

However, after a lot of googling I have also seen several similar
situations apparently caused by registry corruption. All solutions call
for insertion of 'the Windows XP CD'. Catch 22...

Has he said about cleaning the registry ?

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Thanks Tim, we'll try that.

Unfortunately he's on his way to my home (to collect my MESH Recovery CD
and a spare KB, although I have low hopes of either of those), or I'd have
got him to try that first.

However, after a lot of googling I have also seen several similar
situations apparently caused by registry corruption. All solutions call
for insertion of 'the Windows XP CD'. Catch 22...

After a couple more hours pleased to say he has a working system back.
Very strange though, and still can't say exactly what the cause was.

Couldn't find a 'USB legacy support' setting, but found 'USB Keyboard
Support'. Surprisingly it wasn't enabled (despite fact that KB was
working, at least for Del & F8), so enabled it. No joy.

In desperation I loaned him another KB, this one PS2 instead of USB like
his own. Booted from the Win installation CD and then managed to get him
to the F8 screen (now by-passing that pesky CHKDSK loop). Chose Last Good
Configuration. Reboot then worked. But next reboot (to make sure) got the
desktop but no icons, no taskbar, no Start button!

Then used h/w restart button and next 2 reboots were good. Then powered
down, changed back to his own KB, and rebooted successfully.

Still unclear whether that BIOS setting 'USB Keyboard Support' is relevant
or not. It's currently still 'Enabled'. But I'll settle for what now seems
to be a working system!