Keyboards stopped functioning

Hello all,

One day keyboards stopped functioning and it hasn't worked since. The problem is on a home built desktop computer and any and all types of keyboards. I've sat on this problem for a while since I also have a laptop and have used that for activities that require extensive typing and I can still use the onscreen keyboard to use the desktop. I wish I'd done a system restore when the problem was still fresh but I didn't think of that immediately, and it's been several months now since it started.

Keyboards work fine in BIOS, but not in safe mode. All attempts at updating or reinstalling drivers have not resolved the issues.

My last resort will be to reinstall Windows but I want to find an alternative fix before going there.

Using Home Edition 64 bit...

Is there any more information I could provide which might give someone an idea how this can be resolved?

Are all keyboards USB or ps2? I had an issue once that I had to use a ps2 keyboard to boot the system, and then connect a usb keyboard while Windows was working. Once Windows installed or saw the USB keyboard, I could then reboot with only the USB and all would work normally. It might work for you too...

play2mefish said:

Are all keyboards USB or ps2? I had an issue once that I had to use a ps2 keyboard to boot the system, and then connect a usb keyboard while Windows was working. Once Windows installed or saw the USB keyboard, I could then reboot with only the USB and all would work normally. It might work for you too...

Neither USB or PS2 keyboards work. Somehow Windows is not recognizing any kind of keyboard input except the on screen keyboard function. And this is unlikely a hardware issue since the PS2 keyboard works in BIOS. It's only once Windows starts that the keyboard becomes non functional.

No one has any clue?

Dwarf said:

Try this: Click All Programs, Accessories, Ease of Access, Ease of Access Center. Click on Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard and uncheck the option Use On-Screen Keyboard. Click OK and then close the Ease of Access Center.

Thanks for this idea. Unfortunately it didn't solve the issue.

Dwarf said:

Do the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys still toggle the LED indicators?

Once Windows starts they do not. As the computer powers up, the LED indicators all light up. Before Windows starts, the caps and num lock do toggle on and off. I tested it by repeatedly toggling it as the computer is powering up, and the LED lights go out and stop turning on as soon as "Starting Windows" appears on the screen.

Try "clear CMOS". Read through your motherboard manual on the how to.(usually involves shifting the jumpers from pins 1 and 2 of the header to pins 2 and 3 briefly)

Alternatively, disconnect your computer from the mains and leave it for sometime so that all charge in the Power Supply dissipates. Remove the battery from your motherboard. Put it back after 5 minutes. Restart your computer.

Since you have assembled the computer, I presume you are skilled enough to do this.