Keyboard dead at logon. 2

[bullhlms]

When I try to boot, my keyboard is often dead, which makes it VERY difficult to enter my password. Sometimes a "safe boot" helps; usually if I insert a floppy when the keyboard doesn't respond it helps. Usually a "restart" is more successful than a "cold" boot. This started over two months ago, and has gotten worse and worse. I have restored, but not that far back (not available), checkdisk'd, virus scanned (Norton)and defragged, to no avail. I have WINXPHESP1, 512M RAM (checked), 80G, Athlon in Compaq.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[linney]

Perhaps you could go into the Device Manager and uninstall the drivers associated with the keyboard. Reboot the machine and let Windows rediscover them.

Some other general things to try.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[bullhlms]

Thanks, Linney. I've already run scannow, and been afraid to uninstall the keyboard; I'll save that as a last resort. I'm using the MS (or maybe Compaq) driver for the keyboard.

 

[linney]

If you make a restore point before you uninstall anything you will have a fallback position.


No Mouse/Keyboard After Updating Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro Drivers (Q257729)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q257/7/29.asp

 

[debonairOne]

The last couple of times I came across this issue, a small investment in some keyboards resolved the issue permanently... Issue only came back after trying to recycle an old keyboard... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[meastaugh1]

The only time I've had this is when the PS/2 connector on the motherboard just failed. Not had it intermittently.

 

[bullhlms]

Good point Linney; I'll go for it. I found several unsigned drivers loaded about the time this started, and disabled their app. No help--they still loaded. Changed the ext of one which had been trouble before (udfreadr_XP) to .bak and it didn't load, but didn't help either. My Compaq keyboard (USB) was new in April, when I got the system. Thank you all for helpful suggestions.
I'll be BAAAAAAACK.

 

[bullhlms]

I deleted and windows re-installed the keyboard. Three out of four boots were good. It seems that loading order is important. I read that XP continually optimizes it. If so, I've been playing roulette. The ntbtlog shows many processes not loading, and kbdhid being loaded on failed boots.

Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32
Did not load driver RasAcd.SYS
Did not load driver IPSec.SYS
Did not load driver Tcpip.SYS
Did not load driver NetBT.SYS
Did not load driver NetBIOS.SYS
Did not load driver Serial.SYS
Did not load driver Processor.SYS
Did not load driver AmdK7.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\PCIDump.SYS

Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\kbdhid.sys

I'm going to read up on it.

Thanks again for your many helpful suggestions.

Bill

 

[bullhlms]

I was mistaken; kbdhid.sys did not load on failed boot attempts. The "did not load" list pertains to successfull boots. I read that many times mouse and keyboard conflict when both are USB. My keyboard is USB and has special keys, mouse is PS2. Had changed to an optical mouse about time of problem. Switching back didn't help. This may be a hardware problem, but it sure "feels" like software.
Thanks in advance for any helpful hints.

 

[crwpulsar]

I had the same problem with my keyboard...for months every now and again it would load up without the keyboard...then it got worse and Every time it was dead!To get it to work I had to remove and replace(USB) the keyboard..untill 1 time this didnt work!Keyboard decoder was fried!
Seems very like mine...if it is then im afraid it is a new keyboard.

 

[bullhlms]

crwpulsar, I'm afraid you are right. Last night I got an error msg stating the keyboard was not responding (after using it a while). At the time I was using a different USB port to rule that out. I'll be back when I get a new one.
Many thanks to all of you.
bull

 

[exodus300]

A friend of mine had keyboard problems after he logged in, and he could not type anything. Turned out he switched on all the accesability features, disabling them fixed it. [Thanks in advance|Hope I helped you]
Exodus300
World-Wide Alliance of Evil and Twisted People
[red]"Experimentation by Example is the best learning tool" - Exodus300[/red]

if (pop_tarts == 0)
{
   tantrum = 1;
}

 

[jade1001]

Finally!!! Someone else with the same problem as I!!!

check out thread779-241666

I found NOT using usb mouse or keyboard fixes the problem. I used an adapter for my mouse and moved it to ps/2 and I began to have a keyboard again. I have no idea why 9 out of 10 reboots this works and 1 out of 10 it does not.

FYI: I found replacing the driver did NOT work. Changing devices (new keyboard and mouse --all microsoft brand) did NOT work. ONLY what I described above did.


If anyone yet knows why this is please do share, for I am **VERY** curious. I have been since the day MS released this version of Windows for it was the very first day I began struggling with this problem.

Thanks,
jade>:O>

 

[bullhlms]

Jade, You've really had this problem since March? I guess that rules out SP1. I'm running OK now, but have removed my password from logon, and run "on-screen" keyboard so I'll have some tools when it recurrs. I'll be down a couple days to re-paint.
Bull

 

[jade1001]

I've had this problem since November. I tried many things between November and March. March I gave up and posted to see if anyone else knew the answer. For now it seems to be moving my input devices to ps/2 that fixes it.

jade>:O>

 

[bullhlms]

Hello again. New day; new wrinkles. Last three boots were clean. Then, I got in on a bad boot and found 99% CPU usage by "svchost.exe PID # 764". Maybe someone can make sense of that. On the next (clean) boot PID # 764 is not running! Will install new PS2 keyboard now.

 

[NucomMat]

"svchost.exe" does many diffrent things, depending on what services you have listed in the registry in
"HKLM\software\microsoft\windowsnt\currentversion\svchost"

If you were using both the USB KB, and USB mouse, you may have had a problem starting the USB drivers and that could be the cause of your high CPU usages starting svchost.exe

Once you have the PS/2 KB installed hook up the USB one again then do this:

Start->Run->CMD in the run box
from command promt type "tasklist/svc" and it will show what is running and give you all the numbers that the generic host corresponds to. I would be willing to bet that USB Univeral Host controller will show up at that PID. Try updating to the latest patch from the chipset vendor for the MB, or if you have recently installed the newest, roll back the driver on the USB root hub and the host controller. The USB driver is what allows many devices to install with a small driver provided by the manufacture of the hardware, rather than having a large file that tells the USB how to react to specific hardware. For more info on how USB does what it does search google for "USB miniport driver"

Here is good link on it:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/buses/hh/buses/usbsystem_3rjb.asp

-Mat

 

[bullhlms]

Nucomat,
Thanks for the inputs; I will check it out. My keyboard is USB and has special keys, mouse is PS2. I was unable to plug the PS2 keyboard in--the plug looks identical to that of my mouse, but doesn't fit, probably a few thousandths of an inch. I thought that PID #764 would identify a specific device, but have been unable to find a look-up table.

 

[bullhlms]

Nucomat,
"tasklist is not recognized---" My system is XPHESP1. The OS was loaded by Compaq, and apparently does not include "Tasklist.exe".

 

[bullhlms]

Nucomat,
I downloaded the latest system ROM update on 10/21, during this problem. I had high hopes. The HKey you mention has over 40 processes listed, none of which looks like a mouse or keyboard (xcept HID) and I'm checking them out.