Dual boot-Stopped working!

[johnwillyums]

Hi.
I've been running a dual boot with Vista x64 and W7 x64.
I've been doing this for a while and am presented with a choice between W7 and Vista at boot.
Today I tried to boot into Vista and I can't move the choice with the keyboard arrows.
I cannot choose Vista (2nd choice) and the up down arrows won't move at all so I can't make any other choices eg memory diagnostic.
Similarly the enter key doesn't work so I have to sit and wait for it to boot into W7.

I've been into the BIOS and all seems well. Could this be a keyboard problem?

Thanks, John

 

[johnwillyums]

Well it doesn't appear to be a keyboard problem.
I have a Logitech Wave keyboard and I just reinstalled the drivers.
This has not solved the issue and I still can't make any boot choices.

Anybody got any ideas?

 

[SIW2]

It won't be an o/s problem , John. I assume once you are in 7 the keyboard works fine.

EDIT : just saw your second post _ odd bios doesn't seem to be picking up the keyboard all of a sudden .

Is there a bios update ava from mfrs site?

 

[johnwillyums]

Not sure. I'll have a look.
Am I likely to run into problems with this I've never done a BIOS upgrade. Is this the same as "flashing" the BIOS?

 

[SIW2]

Yes - the same thing . I did it a couple of times without issue.

It is easy in Vista/7 for my ASRock mobo - it just runs from the desktop - no messing about, might be the same for yours

 

[johnwillyums]

Found a BIOS upgrade from Gigabyte.

It seems to more recent than the one I have. My current one is May and this is September.
So I downloaded a zip file, extracted it and Windows can't open it.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[SIW2]

Aren't there instructions on the site? I believe with bios updates - you either burn something to a bootable media if you have an ancient o/s , or there is a program that just does it from the desktop - if you have Vista /7.

They are separate downloads - at least with ASRock mobo's.

Do you have the link ?

 

[johnwillyums]

GA-X58A-UD5 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - BIOS

This is from December so has to be the latest.
As I say I downloaded it as a zip. extracted it and tried to open it and got the "Windows cannot..." message.

 

[SIW2]

No info on the link you provided about how to do it.

ASRock have windows or Dos d/l - I choose windows and follow this:

How to Update

I assumed they would all do it like that.

 

[mckillwashere]

John,
Have you moved the placement of your usb keyboard on your usb ports?

On the back if my pc I have two ports next to my ps/2 ports,
My mouse and keyboard have to be plugged into those for boot use.
If they are not they are not recognized by the bios for access to the bios or dual boot programs.

 

[johnwillyums]

Ok. tried that Casey but no luck.
Also tried to update from a USB stick using Gigabytes "Q-Flash" but couldn't do that because keyboard would nit allow me to choose or enter in the BIOS.
I then tried @bios and that couldn't find an update.

Not getting very far here

 

[SIW2]

I think the next step is to find a basic ps2 keyboard - that will probabaly work .

Then you can try boot from usb and do the update.

You must have one lying around - or borrow one.

 

[johnwillyums]

Actually I've dug out an Enermax Aurora USB keyboard someone gave me and the problem is solved.
So I suppose it must have been a fault with the Logitech one. It wasn't that old. wonder if it's still under warranty?
Anyway this Enermax has a very nice feel to it and my BIOS problem is no more.
Eerily I just booted into Vista for the first time in weeks and there were no updates at all!

Thanks for your help, best wishes, john

 

[mckillwashere]

Glad to hear you got it fixed

 

[SIW2]

Glad it's working for you.

I am always pleasantly surprised when I boot into Vista - at how well it runs.

 

[johnwillyums]

This gets weirder guys.
Last night I plugged in a different usb keyboard and everything worked, I was able to boot into Vista etc.
Problem lay with the "old" with keyboard I figured.
Today I find that this "new" keyboard has started behaving in the same way:shock:

I have no keyboard control in my BIOS again!

What's going on?

 

[johnwillyums]

Just tried unplugging it and plugging it back in another USB socket. It's p'n'p so it installed itself.
I tried a restart. Still no control in BIOS.

This is very strange, it worked last night and I was able to boot into Vista but now I can't.
I didn't change anything last night and it's been off until not long ago.
I can't understand this at all

 

[johnwillyums]

Well I thought it might be some kind of virus or malware but I've run several different scanners including VIPRE and nothing.
I thought of installing Ubuntu and hoping that would sort out the boot but realized I can't because I can't choose "boot from Disk"

Any ideas anyone?

 

[mckillwashere]

Have you checked your cmos voltage lately?

 

[pebbly]

dont forget to leave the power on and the pc running if it is the cmos battery that needs replacing or you will lose any custom bios settings you have