New
#81
Dave what is this,
set to in the bios? Unless I missed it this wasn't asked, or if it was I missed the answer. If it is set to disabled, enable it.USB Legacy: This enables support for attaching an external USB keyboard when using an older legacy OS that does not have USB support.(Not supported in Windows NT).
Typical Dell. And knowing them despite it probably being hidden (like most of the options they like to hide), they have it set to disabled.
All I know is that I have to leave it enabled on mine, as with it disabled neither my keyboard or mouse won't work for getting into Safe mode (or OS selection screen if I was dual booting). Works fine in the bios and once Windows starts to load, but F8 won't do anything at all.
If I remember correctly, upon startup drivers are loaded from the BIOS. This duty gets handed off to the operating system when that starts loading up. Though, I would assume this was handed off during install, and Windows installs load their own drivers. But this also means that Windows already has the drivers, since they were used during the install. Forgive me, as I don't completely know where I am going with this, but as a thought: For whatever reason, could the 'driver duty' not be handed off to the newly installed OS? Either through Dell dropping it and Windows not picking it up (which would explain the keyboard shutdown prior to Windows loading or during the Windows load, and not coming back up, if I remember correctly) or the BIOS drivers staying in the system to control the keyboard, which Windows 7 is not recognizing?
OP: Have you tried installing Windows 7 again? Did you attempt to upgrade from Vista to 7, or did you do a clean install? Do you know if your computer can boot from a USB drive (either external or flash)?