Issues with Keyboard not accessible during startup

Hey,
I have noticed recently that when I turn on my computer, my keyboard works up to and including the startup of windows, once windows 7 fully starts up, it "restarts" the keyboard (Num lock, caps lock and scroll lock all light up and turn off), but then the keyboard stays off. It is then not possible to use the keyboard at all (ps/2 keyboard and a pretty ordinary one btw). Sometimes if I am lucky, I just power down completely and start back up and it works, but mostly it takes me anywhere from 3-6 tries before I can use the keyboard as usual.

I have already tried logging in with the on-screen keyboard, un-installing the ps/2 keyboard drivers and letting windows 7 re-install them, but that has done nothing.

I am running the Windows 7 RC (build 7100). There are no logs in the Event viewer to make me think it is a device conflict, and as stated, the keyboard works fine up until windows restarts the keyboard. Normally the Num lock light is on, then windows restarts it, and the num lock light should turn back on, but mostly it stays off and the keyboard is a dead stick.
Any advice??

When did it start to play up? System restore may solve the problem then you can scrutinise programs, drivers, etc you install after doing the restore. Set up restore points if anything seems suspect. You can also turn off automatic updates, and change to "download updates, but ask before installing" - this way you can check over them, although W7 nilly always sets a restore point with updates.

If the problem has been around since you installed the OS you should post your motherboards name, hard drives- whether they are sata, and what bios version you are using. The keyboard itself could be the problem - can you find its exact name ? Then you can go to the labtec site and find the best drivers for it .
Hmmn!! if its the Labtec® Standard Keyboard Plus or the Labtec® Media Wireless Desktop 800™ no drivers are required - meaning they use standard plug and play drivers.
Labtec.com > Support > Downloads

Try a sytem restore, well, thats what I would do firstly, because if was working correctly at some stage, its something you installed after that stage, which has caused the problem.

the issue has been there since installing win7rc1. and it is just a standard keyboard, so no drivers required for it. I have already tried a system restore, but that hasn't changed anything, also tried creating a new profile as I saw that on some other forums, but as the problem starts before selecting a profile I don't think the profile will help. it is an MSI motherboard (type and model will have to check after work).

Wow -- been a LONG time since I used a real PS/2 keyboard ... so I'm doing this from memory ... but typically, there was dip switch on the back or bottom of the keyboard that affected compatibility settings. If yours has such a switch, you should try the different positions to see if any of them work better.

As an alternative, if your motherboard has USB ports, even USB 1.1 ports, you can get a $20 PS/2-to-USB adapter, plug your ps/2 jack into that, plug the USB jack into the motherboard -- and see if that works.

Actually, now that I think about it, given that USB keyboards can be had for $10 or so, it might be cheaper just to get a new keyboard.