Keyboard doesn't work during boot

Problem

My keyboard is inop during boot until windows is up, so I am unable to enter Setup or select which OS I want. Everything works normally on either OS once its up and running, but I have to change the default OS in boot.ini to force a change in OS.



History

I recently installed a 2nd copy of WinXP Pro on a separate drive (for my kids to use) in hopes of keeping my OS isolated and clean. It was an older upgrade CD, so I actually installed Win2k Pro, then ran a PrepTool from the upgrade CD, then got latest drivers and BIOS from Dell, then ran XP upgrade, then installed Service Pack 2 from MS, then installed all the applications.



I know the keyboard still worked part way through this process, because I remember switching between Win2k and WinXP, and going into Setup to change boot order, etc. May have quit after upgrading BIOS, but not sure. Might have lost a keyboard driver




My boot.ini file:

[boot loader]

timeout=15

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="WD250 WinXP Pro" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="SEAVIEW WinXP Pro" /fastdetect


Help
If you know what would cause this or have any suggestions to try, thanks. If you need more info for diagnosis I can add – just didn’t want to bore folks with long description of my system if it’s a recognizable problem.

Thanks!

T

Do you have a USB keyboard?

just what i was going to ask - if it is usb it wont work unless the drivers for it are installed (in you OS) and thus wont work during boot. My usb keybd+mouse work during boot up but i had to enable in in my bios setup - go into ur bios setup and see if ur mobo supports usb keybd+mouse as such

I think the boot.ini file should not affect your keyboard.

Try using a ps/2 keyboard, go into BIOS, check advanced settings and enable 'USB Keyboard'

There maybe an option saying 'enable usb keyboard support in OS,' enable that too.

whoops forgot he couldnt get into his bios and change stuff without a keyboard

Thanks for the advice. Yes, is USB keybd as you all suspected. Any way to enter bios thru windows? I don't have a ps/2 keyboard.

Did you get a driver dis(c)k with the usb keyboard? Have you read your mobo manual and what it's support is like for USB keyboards?

I can't really think of another way to solve your problem without reverting to a ps/2 keyboard to get the drivers going.

Is it a wireless usb keyboard?

The original driver is on a Dell Resource CD that threatens to reinstall everything, with no apparent option to pick and choose - scared me off! I borrowed a ps/2 keyboard to get into Setup but didn't find a setting for "USB Keyboard". I did find "USB Controller" and "USB Emulation" which were already set ON. Is there a specific keyboard setting I didn't find?

I downloaded all previous versions of BIOS and keyboard driver from Dell, and will read descriptions and try going backward if no other suggestions. What do you think?

I'm out of town for several days, so won't be able to try any new ideas until late next week. For now, the ps/2 allows users to select OS, so it'll do for the time being.

Thanks again for your time.

If there is not an option in the BIOS then you will probably have to install the drivers in windows and then restart for it to work.

Who is the manufacturer for this keyboard? Is it dell? Have you visited their site for support/drivers?