Losing keyboard, mouse. Where to start troubleshooting?

[Ed from AZ]

My apologies for the double-post. I forgot to include the other NG,
and thought it best to go this way so both groups could have the info.

Subject: Losing keyboard, mouse. Where to start troubleshooting?
To: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics

I use a Dell 600 laptop with an external keyboard and trackball. The
keyboard and trackball are both PS2; the laptop does not have any PS2
ports, so I have a "joiner" cable (similar to http://sewelldirect.com/usbtops2.asp)
that puts both into a single USB port.

In this configuration, I run a VB6 (Classic) application that only
looks up files on the hard drive and opens them - the program does
not
(as far as I know) communicate in any way with the keyboard or
trackball processes (Logitech).

Occasionally, though, I "lose" the keyboard and trackball - that is,
the computer will no longer accept their input. The USB and PS2
connections are physically secure. If I restart the connection is
restored.

Where can I start to look for what is causing the drop-out? How do I
troubleshoot this problem?

Ed

 

[Gerry]

Ed

What is the keyboard make and model?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[smlunatick]

My apologies for the double-post.  I forgot to include the other NG,
and thought it best to go this way so both groups could have the info.

Subject: Losing keyboard, mouse. Where to start troubleshooting?
To: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics

I use a Dell 600 laptop with an external keyboard and trackball.  The
keyboard and trackball are both PS2; the laptop does not have any PS2
ports, so I have a "joiner" cable (similar tohttp://sewelldirect.com/usbtops2.asp)
that puts both into a single USB port.

In this configuration, I run a VB6 (Classic) application that only
looks up files on the hard drive and opens them - the program does
not
(as far as I know) communicate in any way with the keyboard or
trackball processes (Logitech).

Occasionally, though, I "lose" the keyboard and trackball - that is,
the computer will no longer accept their input.  The USB and PS2
connections are physically secure.  If I restart the connection is
restored.

Where can I start to look for what is causing the drop-out?  How do I
troubleshoot this problem?

Ed

You can check in the USB port configuration and turn off "Allow
Windows to turn power off to this device..."

 

[Ed from AZ]

You can check in the USB port configuration and turn off "Allow
Windows to turn power off to this device..."- Hide quoted text -

Never knew this existed!! I assume this is through the control
panel? This sounds like exactly what's happening - though maybe not.
But it's a good thing to check.

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

Ed

What is the keyboard make and model?

Both the keyboard and trackball are Logitech. Drivers are up to
date. The trackball is an older thumb-ball Trackman Marble; the
keyboard is a newer pretty basic model, but still PS2.

Ed

 

[Lem]

Never knew this existed!! I assume this is through the control
panel? This sounds like exactly what's happening - though maybe not.
But it's a good thing to check.

Ed

Device Manager. Expand the entry for "Universal Serial Bus controllers"
and then check Power Management tabs for each "USB Root hub".

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Ed from AZ]

Device Manager. Expand the entry for "Universal Serial Bus controllers"
and then check Power Management tabs for each "USB Root hub".

Got it!! Thanks to all who responded.

Ed