Odd Windows 2000 & USB question?

[SloppyB]

This may sound a bit weird but...I need to know if it is possible to boot Windows 2000 Professional with out a keyboard and mouse (and monitor). Then, after it is running, plug in a USB keyboard and mouse. If this works I would also assume that you could install and remove the keyboard and mouse at will.

If someone has this kind of a setup and would be willing to test it I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Adul]

It it is possible. You made need some bios options for it to happen. To bad I do not have a USB keybaord.

 

[SloppyB]

Are you talking just enabling legacy USB support? Again, as weird as this may sound, I need to make sure that it will work. Also, do we think that on some motherboards it will work and on others it will not?

 

[Noriaki]

I don't know if youc an boot without a keyboard and mouse, but Win2000 fully supports my USB keyboard and mouse, and yes I can hot plug them.

 

[Oyeve]

Yes. But, some system prompt you to hit F1 when it doesnt find a KB.

 

[Lvsheng]

Your BIOS may not continue if a keyboard or monitor not detected. It may just sat there and start beeping. Threoctically, you can hot plug keyboard into ME using USB. But I have no USB keyboard or mouse......

 

[Skooch]

It's easy to do as long as your BIOS supports disabling of "halt on errors". We use a video capture machine here at work without a keyboard, mouse, or monitor boot up Win2k Server, and use remote services to control the box. As far as the USB thing, it should work as USB is hot pluggable (in theory at least).

 

[cavingjan]

I can understand botting the server without keyboard but I'm lost as to a reason for pro without the keyboard but its not my reason to know that. I have one comment and one question to add:
Does you need to have a usb keyboard plugged in for legacy usb keyboard support to kick in from the BIOS? I'm guessing yes but that is a guess.
Tthere is a thread going around in the last two days or so about something similar where the usb keyboard allowed access to the BIOS but the individual could not use it to log into the box after 2000 popped up because the usb devices are not all found until after the login has occured. People suggested some changes to the BIOS to correct this but I don't recall reading whether this issue was fixed for the poster. Do a quick search and see.

 

[SloppyB]

I don't want the external peripherals as I am going to be using it as a server of sorts. I don't want my clients to touch it...ever.

The login before USB drives would cause a problem. I guess I am just going to have to try it out. I'll post results.