Keyboard Mystery

[Guest Blake Kaos]

I have an IBM laptop running XP Pro, where the keyboard does not seem to

work (in regular windows mode) - no key works at all.

 

However, when I go to Device Manager, the keyboard does not report any

errors; when I run PC-Doctor (which is a part of the supplied IBM

diagnostics) it reports no errors and indeed the keyboard works just fine

for navigation and option selection. In fact, when the laptop boots up, it

requires a log-in password and the keyboard works perfectly to enter the

password. This leads me to think that keyboard per se is not defective.

 

Once it has booted however, the keyboard becomes totally non-responsive.

 

What could be wrong and how could this be fixed?

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Blake Kaos" <MGKXLAXBUSTL@spammotel.com> wrote in message

news:eCLR2EvCJHA.4176@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I have an IBM laptop running XP Pro, where the keyboard does not seem to

>work (in regular windows mode) - no key works at all.

>

> However, when I go to Device Manager, the keyboard does not report any

> errors; when I run PC-Doctor (which is a part of the supplied IBM

> diagnostics) it reports no errors and indeed the keyboard works just fine

> for navigation and option selection. In fact, when the laptop boots up, it

> requires a log-in password and the keyboard works perfectly to enter the

> password. This leads me to think that keyboard per se is not defective.

>

> Once it has booted however, the keyboard becomes totally non-responsive.

>

> What could be wrong and how could this be fixed?

 

The first step in such cases is always to try a different keyboard,

preferably using a different keyboard port (USB vs. PS/2).

[Guest Ian D]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Blake Kaos" <MGKXLAXBUSTL@spammotel.com> wrote in message

news:eCLR2EvCJHA.4176@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I have an IBM laptop running XP Pro, where the keyboard does not seem to

>work (in regular windows mode) - no key works at all.

>

> However, when I go to Device Manager, the keyboard does not report any

> errors; when I run PC-Doctor (which is a part of the supplied IBM

> diagnostics) it reports no errors and indeed the keyboard works just fine

> for navigation and option selection. In fact, when the laptop boots up, it

> requires a log-in password and the keyboard works perfectly to enter the

> password. This leads me to think that keyboard per se is not defective.

>

> Once it has booted however, the keyboard becomes totally non-responsive.

>

> What could be wrong and how could this be fixed?

 

It looks like the laptop keyboard is working until you log in as a user.

Can you log in as a different user to see what happens? Maybe your

laptop has the facility to lock the keyboard on a per user profile basis.

[Guest Lem]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Blake Kaos wrote:

> I have an IBM laptop running XP Pro, where the keyboard does not seem to

> work (in regular windows mode) - no key works at all.

>

> However, when I go to Device Manager, the keyboard does not report any

> errors; when I run PC-Doctor (which is a part of the supplied IBM

> diagnostics) it reports no errors and indeed the keyboard works just

> fine for navigation and option selection. In fact, when the laptop boots

> up, it requires a log-in password and the keyboard works perfectly to

> enter the password. This leads me to think that keyboard per se is not

> defective.

>

> Once it has booted however, the keyboard becomes totally non-responsive.

>

> What could be wrong and how could this be fixed?

 

Try the suggestions here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4YQKLQ

 

Or contact Lenovo support or post in the appropriate Lenovo forum (link

on page above)

 

--

Lem -- MS-MVP

 

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest Blake Kaos]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Thanks folks for your suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands on a

PS2 or USB keyboard right now, but will rummage through the garage tomorrow

to find one and see whether the laptop works.

 

Ian, your tip about trying another user was PERFECT. I created another user

account and logged in with that, and the same keyboard worked normally - no

problem at all.

 

The question is why does the administrator log in render the keyboard

impotent, whereas when logged in as another user, there is no problem with

the same hardware? What 'adjustment' do I need to make with Windows to cure

this disease?

 

Any ideas, anybody? Thanks so much.

 

PS. Lem, I did go through the Lenovo/IBM site before I posted here.

Unfortunately it did not help me solve my problem. However, I had concluded

earlier that it could not be a hardware issue, since the keyboard allowed me

to enter the password for the Windows login, i.e. it was working fine.

[Guest Elmo]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Blake Kaos wrote:

> Thanks folks for your suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands

> on a PS2 or USB keyboard right now, but will rummage through the garage

> tomorrow to find one and see whether the laptop works.

>

> Ian, your tip about trying another user was PERFECT. I created another

> user account and logged in with that, and the same keyboard worked

> normally - no problem at all.

>

> The question is why does the administrator log in render the keyboard

> impotent, whereas when logged in as another user, there is no problem

> with the same hardware? What 'adjustment' do I need to make with Windows

> to cure this disease?

>

> Any ideas, anybody? Thanks so much.

>

> PS. Lem, I did go through the Lenovo/IBM site before I posted here.

> Unfortunately it did not help me solve my problem. However, I had

> concluded earlier that it could not be a hardware issue, since the

> keyboard allowed me to enter the password for the Windows login, i.e. it

> was working fine.

 

Here's something to try:

 

Open Device Manager, remove the keyboard and let Windows find and

reinstall it upon reboot.

 

--

Joe =o)

[Guest Ian D]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Elmo" <elmogeek@iglou.invalid> wrote in message

news:%23rUHCE2CJHA.4916@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Blake Kaos wrote:

>> Thanks folks for your suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands

>> on a PS2 or USB keyboard right now, but will rummage through the garage

>> tomorrow to find one and see whether the laptop works.

>>

>> Ian, your tip about trying another user was PERFECT. I created another

>> user account and logged in with that, and the same keyboard worked

>> normally - no problem at all.

>>

>> The question is why does the administrator log in render the keyboard

>> impotent, whereas when logged in as another user, there is no problem

>> with the same hardware? What 'adjustment' do I need to make with Windows

>> to cure this disease?

>>

>> Any ideas, anybody? Thanks so much.

>>

 

You mentioned the administrator login. Are you using XP Pro and it's

THE Administrator, or is it just an administrator account? If it's a

regular administrator account you can create a new admin account and

transfer your settings, etc. From what you said, it appears that the

keyboard

navigation keys work, so it has to be a setting within that user profile.

 

As Joe (Elmo) suggested, you could try removing the keyboard from

Device Manager for the defective login, and reboot to that user.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Blake Kaos" <MGKXLAXBUSTL@spammotel.com> wrote in message

news:upQV78yCJHA.4916@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Thanks folks for your suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands on

> a PS2 or USB keyboard right now, but will rummage through the garage

> tomorrow to find one and see whether the laptop works.

>

> Ian, your tip about trying another user was PERFECT. I created another

> user account and logged in with that, and the same keyboard worked

> normally - no problem at all.

>

> The question is why does the administrator log in render the keyboard

> impotent, whereas when logged in as another user, there is no problem with

> the same hardware? What 'adjustment' do I need to make with Windows to

> cure this disease?

>

> Any ideas, anybody? Thanks so much.

>

> PS. Lem, I did go through the Lenovo/IBM site before I posted here.

> Unfortunately it did not help me solve my problem. However, I had

> concluded earlier that it could not be a hardware issue, since the

> keyboard allowed me to enter the password for the Windows login, i.e. it

> was working fine.

 

If you can use the keyboard normally under a different user account then it

is extremely unlikely that the problem is caused by a hardware or driver

problem. You either have a corrupted profile or else your profile is

afflicted with some malware or a virus. I would create a new account, then

transfer all the files and settings across from the damaged profile.

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

That's hard to do on a LAPTOP.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:uqnBrNvCJHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

> "Blake Kaos" <MGKXLAXBUSTL@spammotel.com> wrote in message

> news:eCLR2EvCJHA.4176@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>I have an IBM laptop running XP Pro, where the keyboard does not seem to

>>work (in regular windows mode) - no key works at all.

>>

>> However, when I go to Device Manager, the keyboard does not report any

>> errors; when I run PC-Doctor (which is a part of the supplied IBM

>> diagnostics) it reports no errors and indeed the keyboard works just fine

>> for navigation and option selection. In fact, when the laptop boots up,

>> it requires a log-in password and the keyboard works perfectly to enter

>> the password. This leads me to think that keyboard per se is not

>> defective.

>>

>> Once it has booted however, the keyboard becomes totally non-responsive.

>>

>> What could be wrong and how could this be fixed?

>

> The first step in such cases is always to try a different keyboard,

> preferably using a different keyboard port (USB vs. PS/2).

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

"Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

news:OyAuk.19611$cW3.5274@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...

> That's hard to do on a LAPTOP.

 

Really? Each and every laptop I have seen had either a PS/2 port or several

USB ports, or both. What laptop do you have that does not have a USB port?

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Not the point. What Laptop owner has a loose keyboard lying around?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:em0zyk5CJHA.2056@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

> news:OyAuk.19611$cW3.5274@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...

>> That's hard to do on a LAPTOP.

>

> Really? Each and every laptop I have seen had either a PS/2 port or

> several USB ports, or both. What laptop do you have that does not have a

> USB port?

>

>

[Guest Blake Kaos]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:u0UTwZ4CJHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> If you can use the keyboard normally under a different user account then

> it is extremely unlikely that the problem is caused by a hardware or

> driver problem. You either have a corrupted profile or else your profile

> is afflicted with some malware or a virus. I would create a new account,

> then transfer all the files and settings across from the damaged profile.

 

Is there perhaps an easy way to transfer files and settings across users in

XP Pro?

 

Thanks

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

news:mnEuk.19534$xZ.10332@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...

> Not the point. What Laptop owner has a loose keyboard lying around?

 

When trouble-shooting one looks at various options in order to eliminate

potential causes and homing in on the real cause. If you have a keyboard

problem and if you argue "Well, I don't have a spare keyboard lying about,

hence the problem will have to be caused by something else" then you may not

get very far in your search. Note also that there is an abundance of PCs

around. Most people would have a friend or a neighbour who could lend them a

keyboard for an hour. You need to be a little resourceful when tracking down

a problem!

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Blake Kaos" <MGKXLAXBUSTL@spammotel.com> wrote in message

news:OcssJU7CJHA.2060@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

> news:u0UTwZ4CJHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>

>> If you can use the keyboard normally under a different user account then

>> it is extremely unlikely that the problem is caused by a hardware or

>> driver problem. You either have a corrupted profile or else your profile

>> is afflicted with some malware or a virus. I would create a new account,

>> then transfer all the files and settings across from the damaged profile.

>

> Is there perhaps an easy way to transfer files and settings across users

> in XP Pro?

>

> Thanks

 

It depends on what files and settings you're after - you need to be a little

more specific!

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Yes, but intelligent resourcefulness. Since OP can boot up, don't you think

it more appropriate to look for some

program or other that is blocking keyboard interrupts?

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:e%23ul4X7CJHA.4176@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

> news:mnEuk.19534$xZ.10332@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...

>> Not the point. What Laptop owner has a loose keyboard lying around?

>

> When trouble-shooting one looks at various options in order to eliminate

> potential causes and homing in on the real cause. If you have a keyboard

> problem and if you argue "Well, I don't have a spare keyboard lying about,

> hence the problem will have to be caused by something else" then you may

> not get very far in your search. Note also that there is an abundance of

> PCs around. Most people would have a friend or a neighbour who could lend

> them a keyboard for an hour. You need to be a little resourceful when

> tracking down a problem!

>

>

>

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

> news:mnEuk.19534$xZ.10332@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...

>> Not the point. What Laptop owner has a loose keyboard lying around?

>

> When trouble-shooting one looks at various options in order to

> eliminate potential causes and homing in on the real cause. If you

> have a keyboard problem and if you argue "Well, I don't have a spare

> keyboard lying about, hence the problem will have to be caused by

> something else" then you may not get very far in your search. Note

> also that there is an abundance of PCs around. Most people would have

> a friend or a neighbour who could lend them a keyboard for an hour.

> You need to be a little resourceful when tracking down a problem!

 

Resourcefulness is not one of unknown's strong points. About all it's

really good at is trying to get in the last word. It's like feeding a

troll sometimes.

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

I think you both need to define the word resourceful.

Let's suppose the OP lives on a farm far from neighbors etc.

Let's accept the OP's comments made on his system. IE the keyboard works

till fully booted up.

Why wouldn't you look for something blocking keyboard interrupts for example

instead of

looking for another keyboard? Resourceful indeed.

If your car doesn't start but cranks over well do you try another battery?

"Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message

news:ebrQq68CJHA.2060@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>

>> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

>> news:mnEuk.19534$xZ.10332@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...

>>> Not the point. What Laptop owner has a loose keyboard lying around?

>>

>> When trouble-shooting one looks at various options in order to

>> eliminate potential causes and homing in on the real cause. If you

>> have a keyboard problem and if you argue "Well, I don't have a spare

>> keyboard lying about, hence the problem will have to be caused by

>> something else" then you may not get very far in your search. Note

>> also that there is an abundance of PCs around. Most people would have

>> a friend or a neighbour who could lend them a keyboard for an hour.

>> You need to be a little resourceful when tracking down a problem!

>

> Resourcefulness is not one of unknown's strong points. About all it's

> really good at is trying to get in the last word. It's like feeding a

> troll sometimes.

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

news:3LTuk.25997$Ri.427@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com...

>I think you both need to define the word resourceful.

> Let's suppose the OP lives on a farm far from neighbors etc.

> Let's accept the OP's comments made on his system. IE the keyboard works

> till fully booted up.

> Why wouldn't you look for something blocking keyboard interrupts for

> example instead of

> looking for another keyboard? Resourceful indeed.

> If your car doesn't start but cranks over well do you try another battery?

 

It's not Interrupts "instead of" Keyboard. You should plan your

trouble-shooting effort according to the facilities you have available. If

you have easy access to a spare keyboard, make this your first test. If you

don't, check the other things first but keep in mind that you haven't tested

the keyboard.

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Exactly! However your first response was 'try a new keyboard'.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:usKGN1EDJHA.4800@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>

> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

> news:3LTuk.25997$Ri.427@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com...

>>I think you both need to define the word resourceful.

>> Let's suppose the OP lives on a farm far from neighbors etc.

>> Let's accept the OP's comments made on his system. IE the keyboard works

>> till fully booted up.

>> Why wouldn't you look for something blocking keyboard interrupts for

>> example instead of

>> looking for another keyboard? Resourceful indeed.

>> If your car doesn't start but cranks over well do you try another

>> battery?

>

> It's not Interrupts "instead of" Keyboard. You should plan your

> trouble-shooting effort according to the facilities you have available. If

> you have easy access to a spare keyboard, make this your first test. If

> you don't, check the other things first but keep in mind that you haven't

> tested the keyboard.

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

"Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

news:%DUuk.26002$Ri.21468@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com...

> Exactly! However your first response was 'try a new keyboard'.

 

Yes - because the majority of PC users do not "live on a farm far from

neighbors", as you put it.

 

Somehow I get the impression that you take pleasure in nit-picking other

people's replies. Your first objection to my initial reply was "That's hard

to do on a LAPTOP." When you realised that the laptop/desktop issue was

totally irrelevant, you changed direction and dreamed up the remote farm

scenario. It would be great to see a positive, useful and original

contribution from you, one that demonstrates the resourcefulness which you

claim you have.

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

You get MANY wrong impressions.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message

news:uiM1hEFDJHA.3432@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>

> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> wrote in message

> news:%DUuk.26002$Ri.21468@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com...

>> Exactly! However your first response was 'try a new keyboard'.

>

> Yes - because the majority of PC users do not "live on a farm far from

> neighbors", as you put it.

>

> Somehow I get the impression that you take pleasure in nit-picking other

> people's replies. Your first objection to my initial reply was "That's

> hard to do on a LAPTOP." When you realised that the laptop/desktop issue

> was totally irrelevant, you changed direction and dreamed up the remote

> farm scenario. It would be great to see a positive, useful and original

> contribution from you, one that demonstrates the resourcefulness which you

> claim you have.

>

>

[Guest Alec S.]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

Pegasus (MVP) wrote (in news:u0UTwZ4CJHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl):

> If you can use the keyboard normally under a different user account then it

> is extremely unlikely that the problem is caused by a hardware or driver

> problem.

 

That’s true. Drivers have nothing to do with user accounts. It’s not like one

user can use driver A for a device and another user use driver B for the same

device.

 

If the keyboard does indeed work fine for all but one account, then that’s your

clue: there is something wrong with that account. I wouldn’t wipe it out and use

another account just yet though. Like Unknown said, check to see if there is an

app, service, etc. (auto)running in the admin account that is blocking/disabling

the keyboard.

 

 

--

Alec S.

news/alec->synetech/cjb/net

[Guest Gypsy]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

 

 

"Blake Kaos" wrote:

> Thanks folks for your suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands on a

> PS2 or USB keyboard right now, but will rummage through the garage tomorrow

> to find one and see whether the laptop works.

>

> Ian, your tip about trying another user was PERFECT. I created another user

> account and logged in with that, and the same keyboard worked normally - no

> problem at all.

>

> The question is why does the administrator log in render the keyboard

> impotent, whereas when logged in as another user, there is no problem with

> the same hardware? What 'adjustment' do I need to make with Windows to cure

> this disease?

>

> Any ideas, anybody? Thanks so much.

>

> PS. Lem, I did go through the Lenovo/IBM site before I posted here.

> Unfortunately it did not help me solve my problem. However, I had concluded

> earlier that it could not be a hardware issue, since the keyboard allowed me

> to enter the password for the Windows login, i.e. it was working fine.

>

>

[Guest Gypsy]

Re: Keyboard Mystery

 

KO, I stumbled to this post since I had exact same laptop keyboard problem

like yours aLike You, I was able to type in the password but then keyboard

would not respond after logging on. In my case, interestingly, my keyboard

would work normally when I rebooted to the to second OS (Dual boot OS). I

may have been able to fix it by logging on as a different user, but instead,

I went ahead and did a system restore to a week prior to the date that

keyboard suddunley stopped working. This fixed the problem for me and was

able to use keyboard by logging on as admiinistrator.

So, I believe, a virus blocked the interface between the keyboard hardware

and software?