Keyboard locks up my computer

[RonAKA]

My XP computer boots up fine, and runs fine using the mouse until I touch any key on the keyboard. It then appears to lock up, or at least the mouse stops working, and the keyboard does not work.

If I look under Control Panel, Keyboard, and Hardware, there are no devices listed. And with no devices listed there is nothing under Device Properties, and the Troubleshoot button does not work (I presume because there is no device to highlight and troubleshoot).

Under Add/Remove Hardware I can't find any way to install the keyboard.

Under Accessories, System Information, View, System History, Components. it shows two entries at the time the problem started:

Added EntDvr51
Removed Logitech Compatible PS/2 Keyboard

I've checked for a virus and found nothing. I tried another working keyboard and mouse and it behaved exactly the same way.

Any suggestions as to how I can get the keyboard working again? Right now I can't even use the Del key to get into the BIOS.

I appreciate any and all suggestions. There is a limit to what you can do with a computer without a keyboard!

Ron

 

[esquared]

Try to use the restore function and go back to an earlier restore point. You should be able to do that with just the mouse.

 

[cprince]

Is it a PS/2 or USB keyboard? Are there any keyboard errors on the BIOS screen?

 

[Roguestar]

Try using a USB keyboard? Perhaps something is banjaxed in your PS/2 port?

 

[imported_Imp]

Try keyboad on a different machine. If it still locks up, ditch it. Unless it's a G51 or something , get a new one. I spent over a year (took this long to confirm/do something about it) dealing with a PS2 mouse that locked up my computer over and over again. Those PS2 devices can rape your machine once they're on their way out.

 

[RonAKA]

As Roguestar suggested, I got a similar suggestion at work today about trying the USB port. That was kind of easy as the cord had a USB to PS/2 Adaptor for the keyboard. I just removed that and plugged it into the USB. Windows found new hardware and installed it. All worked fine -- both keyboard and mouse. It now shows installation of a Logitech HID? mouse and keyboard instead of PS/2.

I then got brave and switched the keyboard back to the PS/2 port thinking it would discover new hardware again and put me back to where I was before all problems started. Amazingly on boot up the keyboard worked but now not the mouse!!! Many 4 letter words! I don't know enough keystrokes to navigate in windows without a mouse, so I could not confirm what was installed.

The potential complication in this is that this is a wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse combination.

In any case none of this is making any sense to me, and any sense you can make of this would be helpful. Thank you for the suggestions made so far,

Ron

 

[RonAKA]

The other complication I have with running on the USB is that I can't get into my BIOS. I push the del key repeatedly until Windows starts booting, but no luck... I'm starting to think something has been changed in my BIOS, but I can't get in to look at it. Perhaps I have to pull the motherboard battery? to reset the BIOS?

Ron

 

[RonAKA]

Originally posted by: esquared
Try to use the restore function and go back to an earlier restore point. You should be able to do that with just the mouse.

I'm a bit concerned about this, but willing to try. I presume I need both my mouse and keyboard working to do this. I can now do this in USB mode. What will happen if I restore my previous setup while in the USB mode? Will Windows not immediately detect the USB devices and install them?

Ron

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: RonAKA

Originally posted by: esquared
Try to use the restore function and go back to an earlier restore point. You should be able to do that with just the mouse.

I'm a bit concerned about this, but willing to try. I presume I need both my mouse and keyboard working to do this. I can now do this in USB mode. What will happen if I restore my previous setup while in the USB mode? Will Windows not immediately detect the USB devices and install them?
Ron

You don't need your keyboard working to get the computer to the restore function. I was only suggesting it because you didn't have keyboard fuction. If it does detect the USB devices (HID for human interface device), it still shouldn't be a problem. If you restore and then it reboots itself and states the restore was successful. Just shut it back down, replace the PS/2 devices and turn the computer on and see if your earlier devices are now working.

 

[RonAKA]

I have done the restore to a date prior to the issue. No luck. It just ended up giving me the original problem again. About all I have not tried is updating the BIOS. Does anyone know if I lose my overclocking settings when I do that? I looked at my ASUS manual and all the BIOS screens. I see one spot where you can disable a PS/2 mouse, but nowhere you can disable a PS/2 or any keyboard. So I'm thinking this is not likely the case either.

I tried the plug in style keyboard and mouse again tonight and noticed that I do not get any lights on the keyboard, suggesting the PS/2 port is dead. The mouse works, but the keyboard does not, with the one advantage that it does not disable the mouse when I use it.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I have a PS/2 hardware problem, which is the motherboard. Any suggestions on how to get a new motherboard on warranty? Asus P5B DX only a few months old.

Ron

 

[RonAKA]

It is getting worse. I returned the cord style keyboard and mouse to my other XP computer which has been fine up until tonight, and now neither the keyboard or mouse works on it. I had the option to switch the mouse to USB. When I did the mouse started working, but the keyboard is still dead. I watched the mouse optical system when it was plugged into the PS/2 and it lights up during boot up, but seems to power down after windows loads.

I can't believe this. Now all I can think of is that both computers downloaded Windows updates over the weekend.

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: RonAKA
I have done the restore to a date prior to the issue. No luck. It just ended up giving me the original problem again. About all I have not tried is updating the BIOS. Does anyone know if I lose my overclocking settings when I do that? I looked at my ASUS manual and all the BIOS screens. I see one spot where you can disable a PS/2 mouse, but nowhere you can disable a PS/2 or any keyboard. So I'm thinking this is not likely the case either.

I tried the plug in style keyboard and mouse again tonight and noticed that I do not get any lights on the keyboard, suggesting the PS/2 port is dead. The mouse works, but the keyboard does not, with the one advantage that it does not disable the mouse when I use it.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I have a PS/2 hardware problem, which is the motherboard. Any suggestions on how to get a new motherboard on warranty? Asus P5B DX only a few months old.

Ron

You have some strange things going on. I have actually had a PS/2 keyboard port croak. I just ran it with a USB keyboard. I doubt the BIOS update will fix anything and yes, you will lose your overclocking settings if you do the BIOS update. I've RMA'd motherboards but not from ASUS. I've done two from Abit that came back in 7-10 days, but both times it came back just as dead as when I sent it in. I just gave up and got an MSI board.

Now you're saying that the keyboard is causing your other computer to act up? Can your see the keyboard in device mgr in the other computer?

 

[RonAKA]

Originally posted by: esquared
Now you're saying that the keyboard is causing your other computer to act up? Can your see the keyboard in device mgr in the other computer?

Yes the other computer is now acting in essentially the same way as the first one with the problem. If you go to Control Panel, Keyboard, Hardware there is no keyboard listed. I found a removal of the keyboard in the compontent history in System Information, View, History.

The only difference is that touching the keyboard does not lock up the computer. That only happens with the wireless keyboard.

Overnight I wondered if I had lost some of the power supply. But for all voltages I can see with software, they are all there; 12V, Vcc, Vmem, Vcore. Both computers use a Sonata II case, and have the same power supply. However, that does not seem to be the case.

Running on USB is ok, except I can't get into my BIOS. Seems like I'm living on borrowed time.

 

[esquared]

I am at a loss here. I would see if I could get a cheapie $4 or $5 keyboard from Fry's and look at both of them again.

What is this about you not being able to get in your BIOS with the USB keyboard? You can't press the delete key when booting to get to the BIOS?

 

[RonAKA]

Borrowed another PS/2 keyboard. Tried it on the second machine that acted up. It works fine now. I tried the keyboard which would previously not work on this second machine (the normal keyboard for it), and it now works fine. I have no idea what is going on here.

I then went back to the original problem machine which has the wireless keyboard and mouse. I tried the the borrowed PS/2 wired keyboard and PS/2 wired mouse from my other machine. The mouse worked but no keyboard. Further there were no lights on the keyboard lit at any point in the boot process. I've concluded that I have a dead PS/2 keyboard port on this P5B DX board. Will see what the dealer has to say about testing it and replacing it.

Yes I can't seem to get into the BIOS when using the wireless USB connected keyboard and mouse. The IT tech guy at work thinks it must use a different interrupt key when on USB. I can't figure which one it may be.

Thanks for the help on this. Will post the solution if I find one!!

Ron