Solved Keyboard isn't working in Boot Menu (even reformatted)

[rou22]

Last year, one of our PC have this rare bug that it cannot use keyboard in boot menu (though it works in BIOS and Windows 7). Even I've change keyboard, still not working. During that time it doesn't have Ubuntu or other OS installed there.

And now that keyboard doesn't work anymore when resuming Windows (it cannot use arrows to choose options in boot menu). I know it's not on hibernate's fault because this works in other PC. I tried run Ubuntu in demo mode to reformat the whole hard drive (including Windows 7). But when attempting to reinstall Windows, I'm stuck in "Pressy any key to continue" 'cause the keyboard isn't working thus it cannot install Windows anymore.

I believe that this failure is in motherboard (am I right?) Please help us so that we can continue our business. Thanks for reading everyone.

 

[AddRAM]

Is it a usb keyboard or does it have a ps2 plug ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_connector

 

[TVeblen]

If you reformatted the hard drive and the problem persisted afterward then that might remove the OS and hard drive from the equation.

One thing that occurs to me: If this actually was a result of a viral attack then it might ber a better test to wipe the hard drive (zeroing out the entire drive) prior to re-installation. Formatting will prepare the drive for OS install and look clean, but there can still be data there, particularly in the first sectors.
You may need to use a program like Partition Wizard from a bootable CD to do this job, since using Windows Diskpart as we normally would may not work due to the lack of keyboard control.

Another thing to check is in the BIOS/UEFI. You could check to see if the USB settings are correct, but it might be faster and easier to reset the BIOS defaults. (Be sure to note all the current settings first so you can change them back).
If that doesn't do it then try a ClearCMOS procedure. This will re-initiate all the hardware in the BIOS and may clear up any PS/2 or USB problem

If you need instructions on doing any of these things, just ask.

 

[rou22]

Is it a usb keyboard or does it have a ps2 plug ?

PS/2 connector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The keyboard is USB. but when this happens, I've switch to PS2 but still not working.

If you reformatted the hard drive and the problem persisted afterward then that might remove the OS and hard drive from the equation.

One thing that occurs to me: If this actually was a result of a viral attack then it might ber a better test to wipe the hard drive (zeroing out the entire drive) prior to re-installation. Formatting will prepare the drive for OS install and look clean, but there can still be data there, particularly in the first sectors.
You may need to use a program like Partition Wizard from a bootable CD to do this job, since using Windows Diskpart as we normally would may not work due to the lack of keyboard control.

Another thing to check is in the BIOS/UEFI. You could check to see if the USB settings are correct, but it might be faster and easier to reset the BIOS defaults. (Be sure to note all the current settings first so you can change them back).
If that doesn't do it then try a ClearCMOS procedure. This will re-initiate all the hardware in the BIOS and may clear up any PS/2 or USB problem

If you need instructions on doing any of these things, just ask.

Thanks for the tip. I haven't tried to reset BIOS settings so I'll try tonight. But even I cleared cmos by switching the jumper and removed cmos battery, still nothing, but I'll try that again.

It's not on virus' fault, but something in hardware or BIOS settings.

 

[TVeblen]

Doing a ClearCMOS automatically resets the BIOS defaults. So that's been done.

To be clear: the keyboard works fine on another PC with Windows, it works fine in BIOS, and it works fine in Ubuntu, just not in Windows - even in the pre-desktop environment, correct?

Check the BIOS settings for USB settings. You can toggle the setting for Legacy USB Support on and off to see if that changes anything.

Then see if you can boot into Safe Mode to see if the keyboard works there.

 

[rou22]

Doing a ClearCMOS automatically resets the BIOS defaults. So that's been done.

To be clear: the keyboard works fine on another PC with Windows, it works fine in BIOS, and it works fine in Ubuntu, just not in Windows - even in the pre-desktop environment, correct?

Check the BIOS settings for USB settings. You can toggle the setting for Legacy USB Support on and off to see if that changes anything.

Then see if you can boot into Safe Mode to see if the keyboard works there.

I did everything for 1 week but still not working D :

Since I reformatted hard drive through Ubuntu Live Demo, and attempting to reinstall Windows, now I'm stuck in this screen 'cause any keys aren't working here. If the problem is on motherboard, we're gonna to buy a whole new PC.

 

[TVeblen]

So now the keyboard will not work in BIOS? How about Ubuntu?
What is the brand and model of keyboard? USB or PS2?

 

[rou22]

So now the keyboard will not work in BIOS? How about Ubuntu?
What is the brand and model of keyboard? USB or PS2?

Keyboard works in BIOS and OS, but in boot menu keyboard isn't working.
The keyboard is A4Tech KRS-85 USB, but we know that the problem is not on the keyboard. Something inside MOBO.

Soon I'll try to install Ubuntu 13.04 on that PC before we contact the store where we purchase that PC.

 

[TVeblen]

When you get to the screen where it says press any key to boot from CD, that is the BIOS. The BIOS does not hand off to the OS until a boot device has been started.

There can be two "boot menus" depending on the machine and who's talking.
The first is BIOS/UEFI based and can be accessed by pressing ESC (usually) just as the PC starts up but before the system hands off to the OS. Here you can choose which drive you want to boot from.
The second is a Windows based menu that you get to by pressing F8 just after the BIOS finishes it's routine but before the OS starts loading. Here you can choose which mode you want Windows to start up in.

Both of these menus require you to press a keyboard key to activate them. So my question is when you say "cannot use keyboard in boot menu", how are you getting into the boot menu? Or are you saying that the keyboard works until you get into the BIOS boot menu but once there it stops working?

 

[rou22]

Both of these menus require you to press a keyboard key to activate them. So my question is when you say "cannot use keyboard in boot menu", how are you getting into the boot menu? Or are you saying that the keyboard works until you get into the BIOS boot menu but once there it stops working?

What I mean is that I can use keyboard in BIOS menu, but in Boot menu (the part where you press any key to continue installing Windows or choose an option to start OS), it cannot use keyboard (pressing down, but in menu it doesn't go down).

Recently I've check this problem in retailer and they said the problem is in the Motherboard and there are some parts that was removed or malfunction that no longer works (that's why the keyboard don't work in boot menu.) The solution is replace with new Motherboard and that solves our problem. Thank you guys for helping me us out of this problem.

 

[TVeblen]

That's a new one for me.
I wonder: if the problem lies on the motherboard, why would buying a new keyboard solve it?

 

[juice619]

easy fix

I had the same problem my keyboard worked in bios setup but not in boot menu [F12] easy fix,
1. enter bios setup (for me pressed ) yours maybe [esc] or [F2]
2. check the menu and select (for me it is) INTERGRATED PERIPHERALS, for you it maybe something similar.
3. go down the menu and check for USB KEYBOARD SUPPORT, make sure it says [ENABLED] if not change it.
4. then save and exit

now it all works in boot menu, and I can now boot from cd,

 

[bswan]

easy fix works!!!

The information provided by juice619 was very helpful. I could not understand why the keyboard would work with the same motherboard in a recent build and not my build.

GIGABYTE F2A78M-D3H
So juice619 steps were translated to Peripherals / Port 60/64 Emulation: Disable (Enables I/O Port 60h/64h emulation support. This should be enabled for the complete USB keyboard legancy support for non-USB aware OSes.

I had it enabled therefor no keyboard use in boot loader. Windows 7 Pro 64 bit is USB aware.

Many thanks!

bswan