Q: Connect keyboard or install Intellitype first?

[SQOTD - Stupid Question of the Day]

Ok, new computer on order. I already have a Microsoft keyboard and its brief user guide says:
a) install the software (IntelliType Pro),
b) connect the keyboard to the PC,
c) read the installed help.

So how would I be able to install the software BEFORE plugging in the keyboard?

And, if I connected the keyboard, then installed the IntelliType software, how can I make sure that it is used for the keyboard?

My understanding is that the Intellitype software IS the correct driver.

So if the keyboard is plugged in first, would not some other generic keyboard driver be found and used?

Can anyone shed any light on this? Or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Hello DarkStar,

It doesn't really matter which one you do first as long as you install the Intellitype at some point, but I would have the keyboard plugged in first to be able to type. If you plug in the keyboard first, then Windows 7 will just use generic drivers until you install the latest Intellitype drivers.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

You should plug the keyboard in first. It will operate using the generic driver that is built in to W7, and indeed there is nothing wrong with that. All the specific driver does is to enable you to utilise the special function keys and other non-standard keys on your keyboard.

I'm not sure why they say install first and then connect (I've also seen this), as you need the keyboard connected to confirm that you want to install the driver (the same thing applies if you have an MS mouse). I suppose it's a bit like the BIOS error message saying Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue.

Thank you for the advice, guys.

After plugging in the keyboard then installing IntelliType Pro, will IntelliType automatically be installed as the keyboard driver or will I need to do anything else?

Other than a simple restart, you shouldn't have to do anything. After restarting, the driver in use should be the Intellitype one.

DarkStar GT said:

Thank you for the advice, guys.

After plugging in the keyboard then installing IntelliType Pro, will IntelliType automatically be installed as the keyboard driver or will I need to do anything else?

After you go to the link provided by Brink, you should be able to download and install the latest driver and that will be it.

Don't go into MSconfig and disable it. That's what I did back when I didn't know better. Good luck!

Ok, thank you for the pointers. :)