Windows will not load "Keyboard failure"

standingupformyself

Yesterday my computer was perfect, this morning I turned it on and it will not load up at all.. Pressed F12, F2 etc and I have got "Keyboard failure" I am on XP, have swapped the keyboard over to a USB one, no luck. I have googled the problem and it suggested opening up the case and unlugging a four pin connection and leaving it for a while, which we did. I am a little scared of computers but my son is up to the job! Turned it all back on, and still the same.

Cannot get to the menu which gives Safe mode as an option. The computer is dead! Any hints or suggestions very very gratefully received.

Thank you.

aliEnRIK

Have you tried booting without any keyboard plugged in?

standingupformyself

Yes. Nothing changes, If there is a keyboard problem I am sure it is not with the actual keyboard, more likely some internal problem?

Thank you for responding x

enigma52

try a different keyboard ps2 type

enigma52

what changed yesterday? did you fiddle about with any settings? what sort of internal problem do you have in mind?

Basil1234

judging by the info you have given so far if i'm correct you where running a ps2 type keyboard before then tried a usb keyboard as to which no joy.
i would suggest first trying another ps2 type keyboard first which if does not work is the ps2 socket is broken i.e. not working on the motherboard.
now i would suggest if the usb keyboard isnt working there is a strong possiabailty it has had the function turned off in the bios because you are using a ps2 i had a friend with a similiar problem we ended up having to reset the bios using cmos jumper reset header pins. this may reset your bios setting for the usb keyboard setting otherwise you will be up the swanny. basically on your motherboard next to the battery one the board there will be 3 header pins with a jumper on pins 1 and 2 when you do this make sure the power is off and the board is drained of power most important otherwise will damage board!! with no power move the header jumper across pins 2 and 3 for about 30 seconds then move it back to pins 1 and 2 then turn power back on the bios has now been reset to factory settings try plugging in the usb keyboard and hopefully the keyboard will now work. if it doesnt the only option that i can think of left would be reinstalling windows from scratch where it might pick it up but that is the last resort i can think of.

standingupformyself

Thanks for all your assistance.

Yes, I have tried a different PS2 keyboard as well as a USB one.

As regards the internal problem, I really do not know, I just am now pretty sure that the problem is not with the actual keyboard. I have not fiddled with any settings, the computer was working fine, I shut it down normally and the next morning it would not start up..

After googling the problem, we did indeed drain the power and unplugged a 3 header pin, leaving it off for a while, as a pc forum suggested. Re-installing windows was a possibility we thought of, we do have a rescue disc, but it will not load, we did try to change the settings to boot up from the CD drive, but the rescue disc would not load. I do not have a full windows disc so not sure if this would have helped at all.

I do know a company that are very reasonable and do not seem to take the pee, they will let you know the costs before they do any work. They did in fact get this pc running for me a couple months ago at a cost of £45, which I accept is probably 2 hours labour... I have emailed them the details and will have to drop it off to them tomorrow and see what they say.

Thank you for all your help, there does not seem to be an obvious solution to this problem, other than the ones I have already tried.

Richie-from-the-Boro

"" drain the power and unplugged a 3 header pin, leaving it off for a while ""

- first unplug the puter from the mains completely, yes pull the kettle led out of the back
- you don't unplug, you short
- as in take the jumper from the two pins it's on [ 1 & 2 ] and put it on [ 2 & 3 ]
- wait couple of minutes then put the jumper back where it was
- then put the kettle lead back in, boot up

totalsolutions

I think you have bent the little pins in the mauve plug of the keyboard, am I correct, there should be 6 if I remember correctly.

pendulum

You've been doing alot of unplugging so make sure you haven't got the mouse (green) and keyboard (purple) mixed up by mistake.

Try resetting the CMOS by removing the battery for a while (several minutes) if your not sure you did things correctly with the jumper method. Make sure the PC is off at the plug during the battery removal and replacement.

If that doesn't work, it may be the PS2 socket. I doubt its the keyboard or plug at fault as you say you've already tried another keyboard. Maybe there's a loose connection in the socket, so get one hand and hold the PS2 keyboard plug firmly in place in the PS2 keyboard socket whilst you turn the computer on with the other, and see if that works. I've seen plenty of dodgy PS2 sockets fail like that with the keyboard only working when the plug is pressed in by hand, although usually the PC will still boot without a keyboard, but not all will.

closed

How did you change the boot order if the keyboard is not working? Any lights on the keyboard if you press caps lock?