No keyboard in DOS

[Guest]

For some time now, I've been unable to use the keyboard when running DOS
programs under my XP Pro SP2 (assuming they start at all, certain programs
(which worked in the past) now seriously affect the stability of the entire
system).

At first I thought it was because I use a USB keyboard. I checked my BIOS
settings, and switched on legacy USB support. This made no difference (in
Windows, at least).

I then dusted off an old PS/2 keyboard, only to find that that didn't work
either! Both boards otherwise function perfectly; I can (for eg) Alt+Tab when
a DOS program is active, but I can't send keystrokes to the programs
themselves.

If I start a command prompt window, either keyboard works fine. If I load a
DOS program within that window, either keyboard will immediately drop out.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Guest]

I would try the "VDD" fix:

314452 - 16-Bit MS-DOS Subsystem Error Message When You Install a Program:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314452

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, but the registry tweak didn't make a difference. I
located command.com in my system32 folder and ran that directly: I got a
command prompt with no keyboard (as opposed to cmd.exe, where the keyboard
works).

Also tried running it after deleting the MSV and not recreating it, got an
error message though it still ran (still with no keyboard).

Checked the filesize against that listed in the linked article and it
matches. Date on my file is 19/08/2004 (same as many of my other system
files, could well be the date I installed Windows).

Incedently, my USB mouse works fine.

 

[Guest]

There are several ways to attack the dos keyboard driver problem.

Rightclick your desk, and New/Shortcut, and browse to command.com.
Rightclick the "MS-Dos Prompt" shortcut it creates. Properties, Program Tab,
Advanced button. Here you will see the path to config.NT that might have a
'device=???.sys' line added for a dos keyboard driver. Another possibility is
the checkbox there for timer hardware.

 

[Guest]

Config.Nt has these active lines:

dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40

I'm fairly certain this is how it read back when things were still working.
Assuming the time stamps can be trusted, it hasn't been modified since '05.

I'm afraid that checkbox didn't work either.