Why doesn't my keyboard work until Windows is running?

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I can't believe you didn't recommend a USB to PS2 coverter, they're inexpensive and are sold nearly everywhere.

The nature of keyboards makes it completely safe, you will not experience any problems or differences in speed etc by using this converter with a USB keyboard.

That is a very good suggestion for some. Unfortunately it will not work for many "USB" keyboards - in particular wireless keyboards that use a USB plug-in transmitter.

lol

USB plug-in keyboards are better. But ues what ever you want man

leo man can you help me find my old email password please because that was my old email and i forgot my password when i moved to B.C so I really want to talk to my old friends and my email is neely_2003@hotmail.com please help

>I believe, but I'm not certain, that newer
>computers may include a BIOS with more robust USB
>support

You are correct. My computer (about a year old) has an option in the BIOS to 'Enable UBS keyboard support'. Unfortunately, it's turned off by default, so those who have USB keyboards can't get into the BIOS to enable the BIOS's support for USB keyboards.

That's some catch, that catch-22...

I have a Microsoft USB Wireless keyboard.. It works fine when I startup my computer, no matter what I am running, CMOS Setup, DOS or Windows.

(I recently had to recover a HD with a DOS based recovery program, only the mouse didn't work)

I think the key is a new BIOS.

My computer dealer of the past 20 years (all that time, among the most respected in our city) insists on a PS2 keyboard and mouse -- even for my new 3.40G dual-core screamer. And now I can see why! It never dawned on me that a USB keyboards might not let me access my BIOS, let me boot into Safe Mode, etc. I have a enough of a time making sure the F-Lock key becomes active in time for Safe Mode access. (A physical disability forces me to use the MickeySoph split keyboard.)

He talks of other potential problems, too, but this would be the most obvious for me.

Even though many of my keyboards have had USB plugs, they usually ship with a little PS2 adaptor (or vice versa: a PS2 plug with a USB adaptor). If this is the case with your keyboard, then you needn't keep an extra one handy, just plug it into the PS2 adaptor before you boot.

Take care!

- The Zero Card

Oddly enough, I have a REVERSE problem...

My wireless keyboard (PS/2) works just fine in the BIOS, but as soon as Windows XP loads and prompts me for my password, it won't respond at all!

I have the same problem.
I switched from a usb to a ps2 keyboard, and it doesn't work under winxp.

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