Windows doesn't think I have a keyboard, but I do.

September 20, 2007 7:49 AM

Windows XP doesn't think I have a keyboard plugged in, but it works fine in BIOS. What gives?

First off, I'll make it known that my computer's been having all sorts of random issues over the past 2 years (hard drive issues, Windows randomly not detecting its installation, freezing at the Windows loading screen, etc) so I know something is not running as it should, however for the past few months the computer has been 100% stable, no crashes, no freezing, a perfect computer.

The issue is this: Windows doesn't think I have a keyboard plugged in. Not only does the keyboard not work while in Windows (but it does get power, as the num lock key turns on when I press it [note, num lock is set to turn on by default, so maybe that's part of the issue]), but every program's menu/buttons/etc no longer have their keyboard association underlines.

Now what's even stranger is that the keyboard works fine in BIOS. I can get to both the boot and setup menus and navigate inside them with no problems. Obviously the keyboard isn't broken, and I would think that the motherboard's PS/2 port is fine as well.

I've tried plugging in a different keyboard, which works fine in BIOS but not in Windows, same as my own keyboard. This second keyboard is also PS/2. I have not yet tried a USB keyboard as I do not have access to one.

One last thing: right before the keyboard stopped working, I removed my MX Revolution mouse and uninstalled SetPoint (Logitech's mouse setting program). Right after doing so, the keyboard conked out. I would assume the two are related, but Googling hasn't brought up anything helpful.

What should I do, hive mind? My next thought is to update the BIOS, but beyond this I have no idea what to do. My Google-fu isn't helping me solve the problem. I guess the last option is to reinstall Windows, and I'll do that if it's what it takes, but I'd rather avoid having to do this (because I've done it 3 times within the last year...)

Tech Details:
OS: Windows XP SP2
Motherboard: ASUS P5ND2-SLI
Keyboard: Generic Microsoft PS/2 keyboard

posted by Meagan to computers & internet (4 answers total)

Your symptoms scream hardware/disk problems. Not sure what you can do other than hardware roulette. Perhaps you'll just luck out with a usb keyboard.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:19 AM on September 20, 2007

What does the Device Manager say about the keyboard? You can get to the Device Manager by right clicking on My Computer and choose Manage. There will be a section called Keyboards which will list any keyboards detected. If you do see a keyboard right click on it and select Properties. Does XP believe the keyboard is functioning properly?
posted by dereisbaer at 10:37 AM on September 20, 2007

I had this issue once when i got a new motherboard. I was playing around in the bios and saw "enable legacy usb support" I thought "sure! that sounds okay" I saved the setting and restarted.
Windows did not recognize the keyboard (PS/2, by the way).
I restarted and was able to get back in the bios, I turned that option off and now it works.
posted by ijoyner at 11:39 AM on September 20, 2007

Thank you dereisbaer! Looking at the properties told me that Logitech had installed a keyboard driver on top of the default Windows ones, despite the fact that I didn't buy a Logitech keyboard!! Rolling the driver update back removed it, thus restoring my ability to type.
posted by Meagan at 3:36 PM on September 20, 2007