Keyboards no longer work on Windows 7, but the function keys work

Like Megahertz07, I believe USB somehow got hosed on your computer. If other USB devices work on this computer, then it's probably not a USB failure.

I have had this happen twice, on two different computers. Fortunately both computers had PS/2 ports, so I was able to connect a PS/2 keyboard and mouse and then easily fix the problem. In the 2nd case, I was using a USB wifi adapter to get on the internet, and I lost my keyboard, mouse, and internet connection all at the same time. I plugged in a PS/2 keyboard and mouse, and ran an Ethernet cable from my router to my computer, and I was back in business. I then installed a USB card to regain USB. (My built-in USB ports had died.)

It's a 7 year old computer, but you didn't say whether it was a desktop or a laptop. (You said that the function keys are still working - is it a laptop?) It's possible that it has PS/2 ports on it. (If it is a laptop, then it is possible that the docking station would have PS/2 ports on it.) If you have PS/2 ports, try to find a PS/2 keyboard and mouse and hook them up to your computer to see if they will work. (Be sure that the power is off before you connect or disconnect a PS/2 keyboard or mouse.)

Megahertz07 said:

Most of us at this forum think that Win 10 is just a better Win 8. Win 7 is still the best.

I would say you have a good computer with a software issue.
If you do a factory restore it will work as new.
HP Notebook PCs - Using System Recovery, Factory Reset and Minimized Image Recovery Options | HP® Customer Support

And if you want to spend some money, buy a 128 G SSD for Win and programs and use the HDD for data.
You'll have the speed of a SSD and the space of a HDD (for only US$ 50)

I agree, I love Win7, I think it's probably the best OS from MS ever produced. But I still need a better and faster system overall, and I'd rather have an all-in-one with no tower. So I think at this stage it's time to upgrade. I'll probably try to do a clean install on the old one and see if I can give it to a friend who needs a computer or something.