My stuff works in my CMOS, but not in Windows. WTF?

October 8, 2007 10:55 AM

I just installed a new motherboard (and various other things). Yay! The problem is, my keyboard worked fine when I was mucking around in my CMOS, but nothing plugged into any of my USB or ps/2 ports works in Windows. Argh!

It's an ASUS socket AM2 motherboard, and replaces my 4-year-old one. Like I said, it worked fine to play around with my CMOS settings, but once I get to Windows, nothing I plug into my USB or ps/2 ports works. I tried a corded mouse (both USB and PS/2--my keyboard and mouse are wireless), I even tried my graphics tablet, so I could use it like a mouse to see if reinstalling my keyboard/mouse drivers worked. No dice.

I haven't touched my BIOS or changed any drivers.

I haven't tried formatting/reinstalling Windows, 'cause I'm afraid that once everything's all said and done with a new Windows install, it won't work then, either. Besides, there's got to be a solution that doesn't involve a format. Right? ...Right?

I seem to remember this happening a long time ago to another computer I had, and I seem to remember a simple fix for it, but I can't remember what it was for the life of me.

Everything I've Googled is about motherboards whose ports don't work at all, even in the CMOS, which doesn't help me.

Please help me, hive mind. I've been trying to get this thing working for days. TIA.

posted by Verdandi to computers & internet (7 comments total)

You need to install the drivers that came with the motherboard, windows doesn't have them.

If the mainboard has a ps2 port for the keyboard beg/borrow/buy one to get the drivers installed.
posted by iamabot at 10:59 AM on October 8, 2007

Oops, you've tried the PS2. whenever you swap a mainboard out from under windows you're bound to have some fun getting it back and healthy.

If you have your data backed up you're going to want to re-install anyway, performance is going to be better with a clean windows install.
posted by iamabot at 11:02 AM on October 8, 2007

How about instead of reformatting do a true Windows Repair. I've had some success doing that after changing major hardware components like the mobo.
posted by genial at 11:04 AM on October 8, 2007

Your PS2 ports should work, assuming that you have keyboard and mouse plugged in when booting and Yes, you need the motherboard drives to get USB to work.
posted by Ferrari328 at 11:05 AM on October 8, 2007

genial's advice to do a Repair Install is good. Definitely something you want to do after replacing your motherboard, as it'll tell Windows to forget about all your old hardware and re-detect the new stuff, but it won't trash any of your programs, settings, or files. (That said, you should back up everything important anyway, just in case.)

Oh, and I'd do it with the PS/2 keyboard.
posted by CrayDrygu at 11:16 AM on October 8, 2007

You do need to perform a Windows XP Repair Installation, for a motherboard/processor change. Basically, a Repair Installation lifts your current Windows installation, re-probes your hardware, recreates your Hardware Abstraction Layer (complete with adding multi-core CPU support, if you need it for a new multi-core CPU), and cleans up things like System Restore points and some Registry hives, and then sets down your old Windows installation on your new foundation, with all software and settings, including users accounts and security, ready to go. It's not for the faint hearted, but it's not particularly problematic, either, if you go step by step, and follow some basics.

Have your Windows install media around, and if it's an older release, consider making a slipstreamed SP2 CD version before you start. Have the latest set of motherboard drivers for your new motherboard, downloaded and burned to CD, as you'll need them when prompted during the repair install process, for disk controllers, etc. You'll have to re-validate Windows at the MS Web site when you finish.
posted by paulsc at 11:25 AM on October 8, 2007

The repair install actually didn't work (I have no clue why), but a format/reinstall did. Thanks tons for such quick answers, everyone!
posted by Verdandi at 8:13 PM on October 8, 2007