USB Keyboard

[mikester]

This question may be better off in a hardware only forum but I'll ask
anyway.

I've got a Windows 2000 Server running on a P4 1.8 Ghz with an Iwill
P4ES motherboard.

I just got a USB keyboard and have enabled "USB Keyboard" in the bios
but when I boot without the PS2 keyboard present I get the "no
keyboard" bios error.

I can't find anything specific anywhere that says what to do to get
around this with a USB Keyboard. I've got this USB KVM that I
purchased and I'd love to be able to use it...

Thanks!


-The Mikester

 

[Jetro]

RTFM of this KVM switch and manufacturer's FAQs.

 

[Bob Krieter]

Some BIOS's have an "unattended" mode you can set, to stop
it from complaining when it doesn't see a keyboard. I
wish more of them had this because this problem is fairly
common as standards change.

If your BIOS/Motherboard combo does not support this, then
there is a sophisticated "work-around" approach that I
implemented at my site and will take full credit for.

1. Plug your old PS/2 keyboard into the PS/2 slot.
2. Plug your new USB keyboard into the USB slot also.
3. Boot with both keyboards hooked up
4. Put the PS/2 keyboard on the floor behind the desk, and
stick a bag over it
5. Put your USB keyboard on the desktop
6. Use this configuration every time you boot
7. If someone asks what's under the bag, tell them it
an "aux keyboard. Sometimes you type too fast and a
single keyboard tends to overheat at that speed."

That's why I work for Hi-Tech Solutions.

By the way, having two or 10 mice or keyboards hooked up
to a system at a time is fine, as long as you can deal
with the confusion. I use multi-input configs all the
time.

Having the PS/2 keyboard there is also smart, because
sometimes a BIOS will not be sophisticated enough to
recognize there is a keyboard on the USB port/interface,
in which case that PS/2 lump of plastic under the bag will
suddenly become valuable for a while.

That should allow you to use your USB keyboard.

 

[Bob Krieter]

Some BIOS's have an "unattended" mode you can set, to stop
it from complaining when it doesn't see a keyboard. I
wish more of them had this because this problem is fairly
common as standards change.

If your BIOS/Motherboard combo does not support this, then
there is a sophisticated "work-around" approach that I
implemented at my site and will take full credit for.

1. Plug your old PS/2 keyboard into the PS/2 slot.
2. Plug your new USB keyboard into the USB slot also.
3. Boot with both keyboards hooked up
4. Put the PS/2 keyboard on the floor behind the desk, and
stick a bag over it
5. Put your USB keyboard on the desktop
6. Use this configuration every time you boot
7. If someone asks what's under the bag, tell them it
an "aux keyboard. Sometimes you type too fast and a
single keyboard tends to overheat at that speed."

That's why I work for Hi-Tech Solutions.

By the way, having two or 10 mice or keyboards hooked up
to a system at a time is fine, as long as you can deal
with the confusion. I use multi-input configs all the
time.

Having the PS/2 keyboard there is also smart, because
sometimes a BIOS will not be sophisticated enough to
recognize there is a keyboard on the USB port/interface,
in which case that PS/2 lump of plastic under the bag will
suddenly become valuable for a while.

That should allow you to use your USB keyboard.

 

[mikester]

RTFM of this KVM switch and manufacturer's FAQs.

The manual makes no mention of "incompatibilities" of any kind.

The fact is, I haven't connected it yet I've only connected the USB
Keyboard and mouse.

 

[Jetro]

Two tries:
- boot into DOS with USB keyboard and this would prove your BIOS or the
hardware in general;
- boot into Windows with PS/2 keyboard, then attach the USB one, and this
would prove Windows.