USB keyboard and mouse wont work at all on a dell XPS400

[Nvidiaguy07]

Well wont work at all is an overstatement i guess, but it sure would be simpler if that was the problem.

I took my friends xps400 home to fix and connected my usb keyboard and mouse to it (this computer doesnt have PS2 connections) and booted into windows. I couldnt get past the login screen because the keyboard and mouse were both non-responsive. I just thought to myself, well his computer must be so bad that whatever virus he has on there is messing things up. So i decided just to get into the re-format/reinstall.

I wanted to try a linux live cd first on the computer just to make sure that it worked. So i was able to press F12 to choose what to boot into (the keyboard works fine in bios) but when the timer comes up and you have to select a launguage (ubuntu) the keyboard goes back to being non responsive again, up until it auto boots into the cd and then you hear a bunch of beeps from the buttons that were being pressed but werent responsive at the time.

The keyboard seems to go on and off depending on whats happening or the screen, or something like that, im not really sure, this is the weirdest problem ive encountered yet.

The model is Dell xps400 and the service tag is 51P3Z81

Any help or advice you can offer will be GREATLY appreciated.

EDIT: took a quick video, it even does it when i try to run the ultimate boot cd. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYfYxOcHa3I

sorry i mumble, but you can see everything works fine until MBCD actually boots up, then the keyboard cuts out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well wont work at all is an overstatement i guess, but it sure would be simpler if that was the problem.

I took my friends xps400 home to fix and connected my usb keyboard and mouse to it (this computer doesnt have PS2 connections) and booted into windows. I couldnt get past the login screen because the keyboard and mouse were both non-responsive. I just thought to myself, well his computer must be so bad that whatever virus he has on there is messing things up. So i decided just to get into the re-format/reinstall..

Just a note - if you boot up Windows, with a USB keyboard/mouse that it has never seen before, it has to enumerate and detect it first, which takes a little while. Just wait and let it sit at the login screen for about three minutes, and eventually the mouse should start moving.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Just a note - if you boot up Windows, with a USB keyboard/mouse that it has never seen before, it has to enumerate and detect it first, which takes a little while. Just wait and let it sit at the login screen for about three minutes, and eventually the mouse should start moving.

I thought the same thing. Ive had older dells that would take FOREVER to recognize, so i let it sit for about 10 mins, no difference.

The fact that i cant use ultimate boot cd and cant select what language in ubuntu makes it clear that the problem runs deeper than the OS installed. The only problem is that any bios option that might help the situation hasnt worked.

 

[13black]

That is really weird, its usually the other way around. Usually you can't get into the BIOS with a USB keyboard and mouse (legacy support disabled) but you can get into the OS OK. The fix in that case is to reset the BIOS to defaults. I wouldn't think it would make any difference in this case but have you tried reseting the BIOS? What was the original complaint of the owner?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

That is really weird, its usually the other way around. Usually you can't get into the BIOS with a USB keyboard and mouse (legacy support disabled) but you can get into the OS OK. The fix in that case is to reset the BIOS to defaults. I wouldn't think it would make any difference in this case but have you tried reseting the BIOS? What was the original complaint of the owner?

Ive reset the bios (reset to system default, battery pull, and used the jumper to rest), altered almost every setting to try and get it to work. nothing has worked so far.

I googled xps400 keyboard failure and a bunch of people seem to have similar problems with theirs. but no one was smart enough to check and see that the problem lies deeper than just their install of windows.

My last shot at this would be to buy a pci usb adapter and just pray that that works.

Im completely baffled.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

so im waiting for my pci usb adapter to come in. But does anyone have any recommendations until then?

 

[NesuD]

Have you tried different make/models of mouse and keyboards? I know I have issues with some Dell computers recognizing a dell branded USB mouse without installing a driver in Windows. Recognizes microsoft or logitech branded devices after enumeration with no problems and no driver required.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Have you tried different make/models of mouse and keyboards? I know I have issues with some Dell computers recognizing a dell branded USB mouse without installing a driver in Windows. Recognizes microsoft or logitech branded devices after enumeration with no problems and no driver required.

yup, tried 3 different ones.

the thing that i dont get is that the OS has nothing to do with it. Im just trying to boot into ultimate boot cd and the keyboard stops working.

Hopefully the pci usb card that came in today will fix things... will report back

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

pci adapter came in today. It made no difference. Im almopst ready to chalk this one up to bad motherboard.

Im gonna try reflashing the bios or possibly reverting to an earlier version to see if it helps.

 

[fr]

I have the same problem with someone's XPS 400 that I'm trying to fix. The Windows install is totally hosed. The Dell factory restore disc seems like an OEM XP disc. I get to the "Welcome to Windows Setup" screen, but the keyboard doesn't respond. I can't press Enter to continue. The keyboard works during POST and in the BIOS.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I have the same problem with someone's XPS 400 that I'm trying to fix. The Windows install is totally hosed. The Dell factory restore disc seems like an OEM XP disc. I get to the "Welcome to Windows Setup" screen, but the keyboard doesn't respond. I can't press Enter to continue. The keyboard works during POST and in the BIOS.

yup, its like once it leaves bios it disables the keyboard. Im guessing its gotta just be a bad motherboard. I was hoping maybe a bios fix would come out to fix the problem, but i dont think thats the case because apparently the keyboard and mouse did work at one time.

let me know if you make any progress or find anything that can help us figure this out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Is there a setting for "PnP OS: NO"? Try that.

Edit: My reasoning for trying this, is that that setting controls whether or not the BIOS, or the OS, sets up PnP hardware. By setting that to "NO", the BIOS will initialize all of the hardware and enable it. Setting it to YES, enables only a minimal subset of hardware, enough to get the OS booting, and then it becomes the OS's responsibility to initialize the rest of the PnP hardware.

 

[Rifter]

I had this problem with my dads old dell 9100 that i reformatted, i had to use XP with a specific service pack, i believe it was SP 2, would not work with SP1 or SP 3 install disc, i downloaded about 15 differnt XP discs till one worked.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Some issues I've seen with USB devices in the past can be solved by one of a few ways:

1) Disable/enable "legacy USB" in the BIOS.
2) Try different ports, even front ports.
3) Unplug the USB devices until you've booted up, then connect them.
4) Disable/enable ACPI in the BIOS.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Was this ever resolved?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Was this ever resolved?

just got a chance to try everything, no solution yet. Tried the pci usb card. It wouldnt even work in bios

Some issues I've seen with USB devices in the past can be solved by one of a few ways:

1) Disable/enable "legacy USB" in the BIOS.
2) Try different ports, even front ports.
3) Unplug the USB devices until you've booted up, then connect them.
4) Disable/enable ACPI in the BIOS.

no option for legacy usb
tried every port
tried every combo of unplugging/ plugging in etc. it disables after it leaves bios
nothing on ACPI in the bios

Is there a setting for "PnP OS: NO"? Try that.

Edit: My reasoning for trying this, is that that setting controls whether or not the BIOS, or the OS, sets up PnP hardware. By setting that to "NO", the BIOS will initialize all of the hardware and enable it. Setting it to YES, enables only a minimal subset of hardware, enough to get the OS booting, and then it becomes the OS's responsibility to initialize the rest of the PnP hardware.

no setting for pnp OS
i did turn off quick boot if that makes any difference though

I had this problem with my dads old dell 9100 that i reformatted, i had to use XP with a specific service pack, i believe it was SP 2, would not work with SP1 or SP 3 install disc, i downloaded about 15 differnt XP discs till one worked.

im gonna try a few different cds to see which will install, and then which will continue to work.

The problem is the keyboard gets disabled right when it leaves bios, and then snaps out of it after something else happens....

For example, if i boot to a live linux mint cd, i cant select anything right when it boots up, so it automatically picks the first selection, then when it boots into the OS the stuff works again.

I think im gonna try reverting back to an older bios (if i can find one) Or should i just try reflashing the same bios version (its the newest, but im not even sure if flashing to the same version is possible and would even do anything)

I pretty close just to telling him the computers done unless he wants to replace the motherboard, which im not even sure which kind would fit in this case.

 

[fr]

My solution was to install a PCI USB card.

Even if I didn't use any of the PCI USB ports, all the other USB ports worked fine. Controller bad?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I quick google search nets tons of identical complaints with the XPS 400, with no real solution other than replacing the motherboard or getting a new computer. Time to move on.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I quick google search nets tons of identical complaints with the XPS 400, with no real solution other than replacing the motherboard or getting a new computer. Time to move on.

yea i thought the same thing but it seemed that everyone who had this problem wasnt smart enough to look past thier windows installation and reailze that the problem is that it turns off the usb ports after leaving bios - regardless of what is wrong with their windows install.

I figured there might be a solution out there, but most people who own this computer just didnt put enough time into solving the acutal problem.

I think it is time to call it quits though....

My solution was to install a PCI USB card.

Even if I didn't use any of the PCI USB ports, all the other USB ports worked fine. Controller bad?

I tried the pci usb card, didnt help. Did it "wake up" the other ports when you installed the extra card?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Found a solution (sort of)

I was able to install linux mint via usb install, and it works with no problems at all. I think i just got lucky that this method worked (other distros didnt).

I think someone said in an earlier post to just keep trying xp cds until one worked, so this is very similar.

Or it could have something to do with the fact that it cant disable the usb ports because the OS is running from them.... not too sure..

Not ideal, but not hell have to get used to it.

 

[mikeh3]

Solution Found

Useing Windows XP service pack2 cd allowed the keyboard to continue working during installation.

 

[pc_user]

monkey with this issue also and have found a solution. Saw alot of post with same issue, so figured I would try it.

as explained by several people, USB keyboard / mouse would work fine getting into BIOS, but once out of bios and it has booted into WINDOWS the USB keyboard and mouse will not work.

THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

as suggested by someone before, go into SAFE MODE. I know that you are saying, keyboard / mouse does not work. BUT it does. Right after the PC gets past the dell splash screen (during POST the keyboard for sure works - at least for me it did, but once into windows it got stupid) DO NOT ALLOW it to boot to windows, instead hit F8 and force it to boot to SAFE MODE.

Once I was at the menu, I choose SAFE MODE by itself. I think attempted to hit my keybaord and wiggle my mouse and saw no activity, but did see that my NUM LOC on the keyboard was lit, also see that my mouse laser wa also lit. I then promptly cursed and then hit the power button to shut it down.

I did it again a 2nd time, and this time I disconnected the keyboard and re-attached ONCE it got into SAFE MODE and I saw that the number lock was on. once re-attahced I hit my NUM LOCK just to make sure it was toggling and it was.

The mouse however was not working YET. So after some fancy ESC / TAB finger toggle to get to BOX where I can enter in my password to one of the account, it was finally logging into SAFE MODE WINDOWS. Once it got into SAFE MODE WINDOWS it then saw my USB MOUSE and prompty loaded the drivers.

So now the MOUSE and KEYBOARD was both working. I then rebooted the PC and let it go into WINDOWS normally. this time since the drivers were already fixed by going into safe mode prior, the keyboard and mouse now works.

I know that the USB keyboard and mouse worked before, but that was a different keyboard / mouse setup (my newphews stuff as this is his PC I am working on). I had this issue before on this same PC before and I had to use HIS keyboard / mouse for me to gt things done.

this time I however forgot his keyboard / mouse and did not feel like driving back out.

LONG STORY short, windows USB is not initializing FIRST when it first boot. On Mine instead it want to load the MONITOR DISPLAY and all sort of junk first. you know the CART BEFORE THE HORSE crap.

Hopefully this works you guys too. Let me know your results.

I can say for a fact it worked for me as MY USB keyboard / mouse that was not working before is now working.

 

[jeffkan1]

monkey with this issue also and have found a solution. Saw alot of post with same issue, so figured I would try it.

as explained by several people, USB keyboard / mouse would work fine getting into BIOS, but once out of bios and it has booted into WINDOWS the USB keyboard and mouse will not work.

THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

as suggested by someone before, go into SAFE MODE. I know that you are saying, keyboard / mouse does not work. BUT it does. Right after the PC gets past the dell splash screen (during POST the keyboard for sure works - at least for me it did, but once into windows it got stupid) DO NOT ALLOW it to boot to windows, instead hit F8 and force it to boot to SAFE MODE.

Once I was at the menu, I choose SAFE MODE by itself. I think attempted to hit my keybaord and wiggle my mouse and saw no activity, but did see that my NUM LOC on the keyboard was lit, also see that my mouse laser wa also lit. I then promptly cursed and then hit the power button to shut it down.

I did it again a 2nd time, and this time I disconnected the keyboard and re-attached ONCE it got into SAFE MODE and I saw that the number lock was on. once re-attahced I hit my NUM LOCK just to make sure it was toggling and it was.

The mouse however was not working YET. So after some fancy ESC / TAB finger toggle to get to BOX where I can enter in my password to one of the account, it was finally logging into SAFE MODE WINDOWS. Once it got into SAFE MODE WINDOWS it then saw my USB MOUSE and prompty loaded the drivers.

So now the MOUSE and KEYBOARD was both working. I then rebooted the PC and let it go into WINDOWS normally. this time since the drivers were already fixed by going into safe mode prior, the keyboard and mouse now works.

I know that the USB keyboard and mouse worked before, but that was a different keyboard / mouse setup (my newphews stuff as this is his PC I am working on). I had this issue before on this same PC before and I had to use HIS keyboard / mouse for me to gt things done.

this time I however forgot his keyboard / mouse and did not feel like driving back out.

LONG STORY short, windows USB is not initializing FIRST when it first boot. On Mine instead it want to load the MONITOR DISPLAY and all sort of junk first. you know the CART BEFORE THE HORSE crap.

Hopefully this works you guys too. Let me know your results.

I can say for a fact it worked for me as MY USB keyboard / mouse that was not working before is now working.

Gotta give you props, pc user! Really really well done. I did your suggestions on a friend's XPS 400, and bada BING bada boom... it recognizes the mouse and keyboard. I say thanks and BIG thumbs up to you!!!