usb keyboard installation problems

[Jim Madsen]

Hi --

I just got a new USB keyboard today. (I am currently using a Dell PS/2
keyboard). Plug and play detected new unknown hardware the first time I
started it up with this keyboard plugged in, but didn't know what it was.

The keyboard has both Korean and English characters on the keys (I
assume it is the same as a normal keyboard, except there are a few extra
buttons, such as "sleep", "wakeup", and "power".) FWIW, I have the
Korean language IME installed and running on my PC. I've used clear
sticky overlays in the past, but they slide off after a while.

When I run the add new hardware, now it doesn't detect anything new.

BIOS does not detect the keyboard (probably doesn't know what a USB
device is). BIOS is Dell version A09. Computer is Dell Dimension 4600
running Windows XP, with SP2 and all the updates.

I did a google search, and the first article says that adding a keyboard
should be a difficulty of 1 out of 5. This is turning out to be 7 out
of 5. Please help.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Well which brand did you purchase......Either way,go to its mfg web site,
download the software/drivers for it,it should recognize its own hardware
& install successfully....Also,open device mgr,expand the keyboard,if PS/2 is
listed,R.click select disable.

 

[Jim Madsen]

It is a ACK-260UA from SOLIDTEK USA. When I right click on the PS/2
Keyboard, disable is not an option. Under USB Devices, it shows up as
an unknown device. I told it to look for drivers, including searching
the internet, to no avail. I will check SOLIDTEK's site (if they have
one). If not, I will contact the company I bought it from tomorrow
(unless you have a better suggestion).

Jim

 

[Ian B]

Hi Jim

Does the old Dell keyboard imply a Dell PC?
Did the PC have SP2 pre-installed or did you apply SP2?
If yes to both, check that the USB ports are working

It is still an issue with pre SP2 Inspirons, that when applying SP2 the USB
ports fail with no real indication except that USB Mouse/Keyboard don't
respond.
If your PC came with SP2 then should be OK but if you upgraded to SP2
yourself, check the Dell user group. Search for BIOS upgrade.

HTH

Ian B

 

[Jim Madsen]

Thanks for the reply Ian.

Yes--it was a Dell PC (Dimension 4600). I applied SP2 myself. I was
going to upgrade BIOS (it has version A09 installed and was going to
upgrade to A10 which was available), but read that this was not an issue
on Dells, and that every once in a while, the BIOS upgrade does not go
as it supposed to, and I didn't want to ruin a perfectly good computer.
I still have the A10 install program on a floppy somewhere.

Jim

 

[Jim Madsen]

I just checked on the Dell site, and they're up to A12 now. (It doesn't
say what the change from A09 to A10 will do). Maybe if I don't resolve
this tomorrow, I will contact Dell tech support (I have an extended
warranty), and ask them what they recommend.

The Dell site says:

Fixes and Enhancements

The following changes have been made to BIOS rev A10 to create A12:

1. Fixed Quick Boot menu when no bootable drives are selected in SETUP.
2. Updated microcode for newer CPUs.
3. Eliminated possible hang on next boot when AC power is removed.
4. Fixed intermittent hang in resuming from Standby.
5. Improved keyboard test when booting from Hibernate.
6. Fixed possible hang after unplugging and re-plugging USB hubs.
7. Increased USB keyboard wait time to allow all USB devices being
enumerated.
8. Added to support in PXE boot environments with Spanning Tree enabled.
9. Prevent false MCE errors from causing "bad CPU" error in POST.
10. Fixed floppy access failures when CD floppy emulation is turned of

 

[Ian B]

Hi again Jim.

I believe Dimensions exhibited same issue.
I was perhaps a bit "broad" with my BIOS update reference.

I'll try and find the link I used later today.

Cheers

Ian B

 

[Ian B]

These seem to do the same thing using different techniques.

http://www.mcse.ms/archive61-2004-9-1101836.html

http://www.dylangreene.com/1/292-How-to-fix-USB-not-working-with-Dell-XPS-and-Windows-

It seems SP2 over-rides the Dell provided USB drivers and this re-installs
the Dell USB drivers.

HTH

Ian B

 

[Frank]

Hi --

I just got a new USB keyboard today. (I am currently using a Dell
PS/2 keyboard). Plug and play detected new unknown hardware the first
time I started it up with this keyboard plugged in, but didn't know
what it was.

The keyboard has both Korean and English characters on the keys (I
assume it is the same as a normal keyboard, except there are a few
extra buttons, such as "sleep", "wakeup", and "power".) FWIW, I have
the Korean language IME installed and running on my PC. I've used
clear sticky overlays in the past, but they slide off after a while.

When I run the add new hardware, now it doesn't detect anything new.

BIOS does not detect the keyboard (probably doesn't know what a USB
device is). BIOS is Dell version A09. Computer is Dell Dimension
4600 running Windows XP, with SP2 and all the updates.

I did a google search, and the first article says that adding a
keyboard should be a difficulty of 1 out of 5. This is turning out to
be 7 out of 5. Please help.

Make sure that you have the latest BIOS update. Also the default
setup is not the best to use. (I have not used a parallel or serial
port in years. Why have them enabled?)
The very first place to look (with the ps2) is in the BIOS/CMOS setup
make sure that legacy USB devices is enabled. For your keyboard
it should just be a plug in and use.