Where's my keyboard?
 

I have a spare old Pentium III I don't use much but set it up the other day and it worked ok for a few days until the keyboard stopped working - I went in to control panel>>>keyboard and it said 'error 10 - this device could not be started' so I'd go in to device manager, uninstall it, reinstall and all would be fine.

But recently it just won't find the keyboard at all now, in control panel>>>keyboard, it's not there. I've tried searching for new devices but nothing comes up.

The strange thing is, the keyboard works while the pc starts up, it gets to the XP green dots screen, then the keyboard lights go off and then - nothing.

Once the pc starts up properly, if I then try to use the keyboard, the mouse freezes.

It's not the keyboard as I've used a few and I get the same thing each time.

'elp!!

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

We are having a similar problem with an old PC it boots up has a mouse but when its finished its lost the mouse or keyboard you are rebooting over and over again and it will suddenly work. Or you reinstall drivers I am about to reformat it and make it into a server so it will have no need of a keyboard or mouse..

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

Have you got access to or tried a USB keyboard?

If you boot into dos (via a dos disk?) Can you use the keyboard properly?

edit.... If you have no luck but DO have USB on it - I have a usb>ps2 keyboard converter that I could send you.... PM me if you want it ;) :) (note I got it with a keyboard and I can't say %100 it will only work with that keyboard - but you are more than welcome to try)

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

Sounds like a dodgy PS2 port to me
Are you using a switch box at all? - HP Motherboards (had a problem with some P2/P3 boards in that the OS (Windows) would not spot the keyboard/mouse unless a pin was shorted (Compaq actually sold a little adapter to do this!).

I have a HP laptop that unless it has focus on my switch (Vista) it will not detect the mouse (even though XP reckons one is installed).

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

No switch boxes, and the keyboard works fine in dos. Also it works perfectly if I start up in safe mode too. I don't have a USB keyboard but any dongle adaptors would be cool :)

But it wouldn't eliminate the problem though....

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

If you can see the keyboard in device manager under safe mode - have you tried uninstalling it?

Why would it not eliminate the problem if you tried it as a USB device?

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

Go on then - What's the motherboard make/model - Anything special about the keyboard? (media buttons etc?)

EDIT - Do you have Intellitype installed? :)

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

Could be a faulty PS2 controller :erm:

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

That is a good point.... Have you ever installed keyboard drivers. eg intellitype?

edit - awww crap - beaten to it :)

p.s. you can have the adaptor - just pm me your addy - I'm free on weds and can post it then.

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

I'm away from the pc so can't answer the questions yet, but the keyboard was working perfectly for about a month, and before that it had been working for about 18 months. I tried uninstalling in safe mode but again, when I finally get back in to normal mode, it's just not there.

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

And i forgot to say, it's a standard keyboard....

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

That is very much my suspicion as well.

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

I'm not so sure about that as it works fine in DOS and safe mode - BUT if it IS that then a usb keyboard should work fine :)

But Russ did say that a usb keyboard wouldn't solve the problem (Still waiting to hear why on that one).

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

You've not got the mouse and keyboard in the wrong ports have you?

Re: Where's my keyboard?
 

No, they're in the right ports.

And when I meant it wouldn't solve the problem, I meant it would mean I could use a keyboard but there would still be a problem somewhere. It would be just a temporary fix, I'd rather remedy the problem than just bridge it.