mobo fix has left new problem....

[lorik]

Started having an overheat problem in a 3month old computer that i built... on inspection i found that one of the ears on the motherboard bkt that holds the processors heatsink down had broken off. I took the motherboard out, repaired the bkt, and put the computer back together.... and now when i start the computer... it boots up fine but neither the mouse or keyboard has power to it? Is there some way i've shorted out my ps/2 adapter or something? I have no clue what to do about this, i've thought about switching to a usb mouse and keyboard but i don't know how to load the software to install it since i can't type anything! Any suggestions?? The motherboard is a gigabyte ga-81exp, only card on it is a video card...
thanks,
bl:Q

 

[Buz2b]

Check for a short/check the fit of the I/O backplate. Sounds like it may be causing your problem. Try without the I/o plate at all and see if PS/2 function returns.
If not and you are running XP, it should "see" the USB mouse upon boot. You may have to tab/enter to log on but once you have the mouse should be seen. No experience with a USB keyboard but make sure you go into the BIOS and look for the entry to enable USB keyboard. Some but not all MB's have this included in the BIOS.

 

[lorik]

i'll try the IO plate... i'm using xp... funny thing though, i can't use my keyboard to tab or login... ha ha.. aaaarrgghhh
thanks

 

[lorik]

i pulled the I/O plate off with no new results.... anything else????

 

[Buz2b]

Start with "no-brainer" stuff first. Can you hook up a USB mouse or keyboard (I'd try one at a time if you can) to see if XP will automatically load them? If neither of those work, go to "no-brainer #2: Make sure you don't have the PS/2 keyboard and mouse plugs mixed up (plugged into each other's ports). Make sure that the pins on each plug are straight and unbroken.

Before going further, let me ask about this MB bracket you repaired. Are you talking about one of the lugs (three on each side) that the HS clips on to? Is that what you "repaired" or was it something else? Curious.

OK, notwithstanding the answer to the previous question, I would remove the MB from the case, put it on a piece of cardboard (hopefully with some sort of anti-static material underneath) and hook up the minimum items to it. Minimum means just the items you need to boot to Windows in this case: HDD, video card, RAM, Power Supply, keyboard and mouse. If you can't run the Power switch wires to the MB you can just momentarily "cross" the prongs they connect to with a screwdriver to boot the system. See if the mouse and/or keyboard work then. If so you might have something "shorting" the MB when installed in the case. If not, you are back to the beginning which is what happened during this "repair" you did. There is always a possibility that you damaged a trace or two on the MB during this repair; rendering your PS/2 ports useless.

 

[lorik]

the bkt is a P4 heatsink bkt... plastic- rectangular, with 4 prongs, one on each corner, attached to the motherboard by 4 plastic snap on pins, one of the side prongs broke off.... i'll go through and try some of your ideas...
thanks,
bl