XP won't start - no keyboard

Dozey_Mare_2

A regular, but had to create a new profile as the password for my usual profile is locked on a PC I can't start!

I restarted my PC this morning, simply because it hadn't been restarted for days.

Now it won't start. It boots .... but fails to display the windows login screen.

Have had to hard reset several times .... and on a couple of occasions I get the message telling me that windows was not shut down properly, so I should use the arrows to select how to start it. Only the arrows don't work - there's no light on the keyboard (wired, USB).

Restarted again with CD in - press any key to boot from CD ... only the keyboard doesn't work, so I can't.

Now, it's hung at the splash screen.

Any ideas? I guess a different keyboard is the first, only the USB mouse has no lights either.

So it seems like a possible USB issue

I think I'm stumped without a keyboard, but would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

bookduck

plug the keyboard into a different usb port, as there is often one special port that allows recognition on boot

Dozey_Mare_2

Managed to find an old serial connection keyboard and running repair from the CD now