Keyboard Failure

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I am trying to reinstall XP on a couple of old Dell Opltilex GX 150's. I originally thought I sorted the first one out with help on here but the second one is now causing the same problem.

On start up I get a Keyboard Failure message even though I know the keyboard is working. The first Dell had a similar issue initially and changing the keyboard cured the problem.

Because it is impossible to get to the BIOS it appears from Google that I need to reset a jumper block on the motherboard.

This was how someone who had a Dell Dimension 9150 did it I cannot find the 3 pin jumper block on the GX 150!

'Open computer case and locate the 3 pin jumper block (located next to the 4 SATA harddrive connection points on the motherboard). The jumper is blue and will be connected to two of the three pins on the motherboard.

-Remove the jumper block for a second (apparently this clears the memory?) then reconnect it back to it's original position'

JasX

Can you not simply plug in a different keyboard to access BIOS..... I keep an old PS2 type keyboard lying around specifically to work round problems getting into BIOS on really old PCs that don't like USB keyboards

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JasX wrote: »

Can you not simply plug in a different keyboard to access BIOS..... I keep an old PS2 type keyboard lying around specifically to work round problems getting into BIOS on really old PCs that don't like USB keyboards

Thanks, I tried that but the other way round. I originally had a PS2 keyboard and changed it to a USB keyboard.....it didn't work though.

Apparently according to Google it's not a keyboard failure as such but a sign that the motherboard needs reseting.

spakkker

I think you should try another keyboard -pref. a ps2 one.
Can you not just borrow one from a neighbour/colleague/friend/relative ?

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spakkker wrote: »

I think you should try another keyboard -pref. a ps2 one.
Can you not just borrow one from a neighbour/colleague/friend/relative ?

Thanks. I have found another PS2 keyboard and it still shows Keyboard Failure.

I am pretty sure it is a motherboard problem because the first GX150 I originally got going is now showing the exact same systems. BTW all three keyboards work ok on different machines.

This link shows that it is not always the keyboard http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/kb_Failure.htm and the quote above about the three pin jumper block was on the recommendation of a Dell Engineer

I got the two machines for a fiver at a car boot so it's not the end of the world if I don't get them working but I don't like to be beaten on things like this!

Hammyman

The Clear CMOS jumper is usually very close to the CMOS backup battery on desktop motherboards. Could be blue, black or red. Could be 2 pins or 3.

spakkker

This jumper maybe ??? - http://www.computerforum.com/108121-dell-optiplex-gx150-bios-password.html

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Thanks for the replies.

I have just removed the System Board Jumper and replaced it but it doesn't seem to have cured it because I am still getting Keyboard Failure. The computerforum link is taken from here http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx150/sm_en/smdsktp.htm

On the other machine I had already reinstalled XP but the Keyboard Failure problem started after the reinstall so the machine is able to boot and load XP. I had to put a jumper on because there was nothing covering the System Board points in the first place! No keyboard is showing in Device Manager and even if I attach a USB keyboard it is not recognized.

I finally sorted this out and reinstalled XP on both machines. The main problem was that the BIOS needed to have USB enabled if you use a USB Keyboard. The default setting in the BIOS for these machines is to have the USB disabled!