Keyboard won't work until Windows starts, help!!

Please can someone help. My keyboard won't start working on my new PC until Windows starts. That means I can't access the BIOS settings or install a new OS as you need the keyboard to do so.
No-one seems to have the answer to this problem, all I keep getting is 'well it should work, just press the right key for the BIOS or maybe try another keyboard'. Yeah thanks guys but I've already tried that, plus anything else I can think of, even changing from a USB keyboard to a PS2 one!! Nothing works. Once Windows has started it's fine, just completely dead before then.
It worked fine on my old PC and the one before that. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

F2 no good?

Unfortunately nothing is any good as the keyboard won't fire up until Windows starts up, so it is unusable.

Have a read here Jen :

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/...ot-access-bios

and if you try their advice have a read here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/18743...your_bios.html

be carefull though, if it is a bios problem it might be best to download update from manufacture's website.
Hope this helps

JT

it should work, especially a ps2 one, my guess is the bios is set to 'fast boot' and quickly goes past the bit where you could stop it to access the bios,. there will be a way just finding the right keypress

what is the make / model of the PC?

it should work, especially a ps2 one, my guess is the bios is set to 'fast boot' and quickly goes past the bit where you could stop it to access the bios,. there will be a way just finding the right keypress

what is the make / model of the PC?

Originally Posted by silver

It doesn't matter what key I press, silver, the keyboard won't work until Windows starts, so none of the keys work at all with anything... no light comes on, nothing. When the PC boots up it comes up with all the stuff at the beginning to tell you what to press but it won't work because the keyboard won't work, it's just as if it isn't plugged in at all.
The PC was bought from Rab Computers, it hasn't got a make/model.

Thanks jacktar, will maybe try the BIOS update but not right now I think, as I had the sad news that my uncle passed away at the weekend and am not in the right frame of mind to concentrate on doing it right now. Appreciate the links, will tackle it as soon as I'm able.

It doesn't matter what key I press, silver, the keyboard won't work until Windows starts, so none of the keys work at all with anything... no light comes on, nothing. When the PC boots up it comes up with all the stuff at the beginning to tell you what to press but it won't work because the keyboard won't work, it's just as if it isn't plugged in at all.

Originally Posted by jenonnet

What Silver's getting at Jen is to try a PS2 keyboard (likely you have a USB keyboard?).


Just a wee bit of info:

http://www.computing.net/answers/har...-ps2/7522.html



and a photo of the two connections (quickly scroll halfway down the page):

http://www.justanswer.com/computer/4...-not-want.html


Good luck.

Thanks for that info N1755L but if you look right at the start of my posts you will see that I have already tried both USB & PS2 keyboards. I have bought a new one of each, all to no avail. The PS2 didn't work any better than the USB one!!
I really don't know what's the matter with these new PC's, as I swapped the one I bought for another one (completely different supplier & PC) but still my keyboards won't work!
I have eventually bought another keyboard and finally it worked. So now I just have to use the new one (which I don't like at all) until I've loaded Windows & anything else I need & then swap back to my old faithful Compaq keyboard, which I absolutely luuuurrrrvvveee.
Thanks all for the help & suggestions, even if they didn't work, it's appreciated.

Sorry 'bout that Jen, totally missed the PS2 part.

Souds like the new PS2 keyboard you bought was defective, albeit new. Is it the USB one that works now on boot up for you?

Myself I use a USB keyboard, but I also have a PS2 keyboard connected to my computer at all times (it just sits tucked away beside the computer), just in case, sometimes I'll boot to DOS from a CD or, very rarely, from the floppy. In any case, if ever I cannot get my keyboard to respond on boot, I always have the PS2 on standby.

If you had a working PS2 keyboard, you could have your Compaq keyboard connected at all times (which I assume is USB), and the PS2 keyboard always connected as well in case you needed BIOS access. Then you wouldn't need to do any swapping.


Richard

Hi Richard
Yes it is a USB keyboard that now works on boot up. The PS2 was brand new & I assumed that it would work as usually the do but as usual I get the duff one!! If there was a warehouse full of the same item, you can guarantee the one I chose would be the faulty one!!
I too used to have a PS2 plus my compaq one plugged in on my old PC, as the same thing happened on that one for a while but then suddenly it righted itself and I didn't need the PS2 one anymore.
You're right in assuming my compaq keyboard is a USB connection, I too prefer them but unfortunately there are so many gadgets these days that have a USB connection and there just isn't enough USB ports available on PC's.
Don't know why the new USB & PS2 keyboards didn't work but at least I've got there in the end. lol
Thanks for your help & suggestions.

Jen.

The PS2 was brand new & I assumed that it would work as usually the do but as usual I get the duff one!! If there was a warehouse full of the same item, you can guarantee the one I chose would be the faulty one!!

Originally Posted by jenonnet

Sounds like my life story. I've taken to opening everything I buy while still in the store and checking it out before I leave. Unfortunately, I can't test things like keyboards, but I check everything as completely as I can manage.

You're right in assuming my compaq keyboard is a USB connection, I too prefer them but unfortunately there are so many gadgets these days that have a USB connection and there just isn't enough USB ports available on PC's.

Originally Posted by jenonnet

7-port USB hubs are wonderful! Unless you are connecting hard drives or other high power consumption devices to the hub, you don't need to power the hub either, your computer's USB power will handle the hub and the devices connected to it. They're quite portable as well (in the laptop case).

Don't know why the new USB & PS2 keyboards didn't work but at least I've got there in the end.
Thanks for your help & suggestions.

Originally Posted by jenonnet

Yep, you're there, back in business, despite our failed best efforts ;-)

All's good.

I think there is a problem with keyboard socket.
You should use Ps2 Keyboard.