Keyboard Freezes on Boot

[Thomas M]

Windows 2000 SP4

I have two computers hooked up to a Belkin KVM switch. The W2K machine
is the primary machine and is on the first KVM button. The other
machine is running XP Pro SP2. The KVM supports 4 computers, but there
is nothing hooked up on the 3rd and 4th buttons. The KVM can also use
it's own power supply, but does not require one and I use it without a
power cord.

This configuration worked fine for a long time. But lately, the W2K
machine has started having a problem on boot where the Num Lock, Caps
Lock, and Scroll Lock lights will all come on and stay on, and the
keyboard will stop responding. Sometimes it will boot to the login
screen, and other times it will freeze somewhere along the way
(sometimes as early as the splash screen). The only way to break out of
this is to cut off the power to the machine and then to power back up
again. Usually it takes 4 or 5 tries before the machine will
successfully boot with a working keyboard. Once logged on, the keyboard
and KVM work flawlessly.

What could be causing this problem? Would running the KVM with its own
power cord help?

--Tom

 

[Sid Knee]

Some (but not all) KVM switches require you to be switched to each
particular computer throughout its bootup period or the keyboard/mouse
will lock.

The KVM on my main systems does *not* work that way (i.e. I can boot any
machine with the switch in any position). However a few months ago it
did start acting that way. What I believe finally cured it was removing
all power from the KVM (i.e unplug all cables) for a few minutes. I
presume this allowed the circuitry to reset. In any event, it hasn't
been a problem since.