Keyboard Failure On Boot Fix

• Keyboard Failure On Startup

Apr 25, 2012  USB ports can fail. Dell had models that only accepted the keyboard (for boot use) on a few ports. Imagine all this effort and you call repair and they try another port and it works.

Keyboard Failure On Startup

Comments

• #2

  Have you tried plugging the keyboard into another PC or laptop? Just to double check it is actually working.
  When the PC is switched on do any of the keyboard indicators flash (Caps/Num Lock for example)? That would at least show it's getting power. Does the wireless keyboard dongle have an indicator light on it that would also show if the USB ports have power? Or have you any other USB device that lights up when plugged in that you could use to check?
  I have also had a PC which would supply power to any USB device but would not see any data connection, on any USB port. That was a Dell too, though different model.
  If the USB ports have died, either data or power then probably nothing you can do short of a new motherboard to fix it unfortunately.
• #3

  
  If the USB ports have died, either data or power then probably nothing you can do short of a new motherboard to fix it unfortunately.

  
  if it is the usb ports that are faulty, this can be fixed by adding new ports via a PCI card or similar.
• #4

  if it is the usb ports that are faulty, this can be fixed by adding new ports via a PCI card or similar.

  Good point.
  Though that might depend on the case the OP has. Some Dell small form factor PCs can only take half height PCI cards. Which might make it a little more difficult to find a suitable card.
  Also not sure if ports on an expansion card would be seen immediately by the BIOS enabling it to see the keyboard at boot up.
• #5

  Diskette drive 0 seek failure
  Keyboard Failure
  Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program
  Press F1 to continue, F2 to enter SETUP

  
  given it reports 'Invalid Configuration' as well as a floppy drive problem, along with the keyboard failure, it seems likely the BIOS data is corrupt, have you tried resetting it ? There's should be a jumper on the motherboard which you temporarily move to different pins, but you'll need to read the motherboard manual. The underlying cause might be a dead bios battery. These are often a CR2032 cell, and are user changeable.
• #6

  Thanks for all the advice.
  

  if it is the usb ports that are faulty, this can be fixed by adding new ports via a PCI card or similar.

  
  Thanks for that.
  What about this PCI PS2/USB card HERE
  It's a 2 Port USB 2.0 & 2 Port PS/2 Combo to PCI Card Adapter.
  The computer has a couple of slots for PCI cards.
  Do you think this one will work and be available from boot? It should shouldn't it?
  Especially as it has the dedicated PS2 keyboard and mouse ports.
• #7

  given it reports 'Invalid Configuration' as well as a floppy drive problem, along with the keyboard failure, it seems likely the BIOS data is corrupt, have you tried resetting it ? There's should be a jumper on the motherboard which you temporarily move to different pins, but you'll need to read the motherboard manual. The underlying cause might be a dead bios battery. These are often a CR2032 cell, and are user changeable.

  
  Thanks.
  The Dell C521 user manual is HERE
  I can see a CMOS reset jumper on Page 105 but nothing about a BIOS reset/restore jumper setting?
• #8

  Though they are not strictly speaking identical BIOS and CMOS in this context are interchangeable terms.
• #9

  Ok thanks.
  I did replace the motherboard battery and I have also used the clear CMOS jumper but still have the same problem.
  If I plug an optical mouse into one of the USB ports the infrared light doesn't light up until after the second screen is displayed.
• #10

  Have you tried the keyboard on another PC or laptop to prove it is working? There is no point faffing around trying to fix the PC until you have made sure it actually is the PC at fault or whether it is the keyboard that is knackered.
• #11

  Have you tried the keyboard on another PC or laptop to prove it is working? There is no point faffing around trying to fix the PC until you have made sure it actually is the PC at fault or whether it is the keyboard that is knackered.

  
  Yeah I have tried it on another PC and it works perfectly. Even on system boot.
• #12

  That doesn't sound promising. If you've put in a good battery and reset the BIOS data, it should load a default configuration, and so shouldn't report 'Invalid Configuration' any more. My next step would be to get hold of (borrow) a replacement power supply and try that before spending more money on a usb card. Presumably you get a POST failure (amber light), do the diagnostic lights tell you anything - see the manual, page 47-48
• #13

  I had the same problem with my PC (not a Dell). Looking on the net it would appear that it is not an uncommon problem.
  In my case I had a satellite tuner card so I disconnected the LNB cable and it booted up and recognised the keyboard.
  I guess that during the power up process insufficient power is getting to the USB socket but a powered SUB hub didn't help.
  As you have tried disconnecting things already it doesn't sound promising!
• #14

  Looking at your manual, I see there is a floppy drive in the system and one of the faults showing is Diskette drive 0 seek failure, as this floppy drive gone faulty and dragging the system down take the cover off computer and disconnect floppy drive from Motherboard at least it will eliminate that.
• #15

  my dell did this. but it worked when i plugged it into my hub.
• #16

  Looking at your manual, I see there is a floppy drive in the system and one of the faults showing is Diskette drive 0 seek failure, as this floppy drive gone faulty and dragging the system down take the cover off computer and disconnect floppy drive from Motherboard at least it will eliminate that.

  
  Thanks.
  I tried disconnecting the floppy and still got the same error.
  I replaced the floppy with one from another C521 (motherboard faulty) and also got the same error. Not sure what the problem is? Obviously not the floppy itself.
• #17

  my dell did this. but it worked when i plugged it into my hub.

  
  Was this a powered USB hub?
• #18

  Was this a powered USB hub?

  
  yes.
  it was a new problem. i'm not sure when it started. i suspect it might have been when i got the hub and plugged the keyboard directly into the computer. so i assume removing he hub would also work.
• #19

  yes.
  it was a new problem. i'm not sure when it started. i suspect it might have been when i got the hub and plugged the keyboard directly into the computer. so i assume removing he hub would also work.

  I've come across similar things with certain Optiplex models in the past (mainly the 320). Basically certain USB devices that draw a significant portion of power would cause the system to freeze at boot. A temporary fix was to remove the offending item and re-insert it after the OS has loaded.
  To reiterate, I would suggest disconnecting all USB devices bar the keyboard. If you still have problems try a different port. Maybe even a different keyboard.
  If it is the same issue as with the 320's I believe Dell released a BIOS update that fixed it.
• #20

  Frustration continues.
  I left it overnight with the battery disconnected and the power lead out.
  I tried it with a powered USB HUB with the keyboard attached and got into the BIOS........ I was so excited. Made all the relevant settings and then selected SAVE and EXIT......
  But I hadn't put the BIOS battery back and on boot up it didn't recognise the keyboard anymore!!!!!
  I have tried various things since and still no joy. Only that once.....!!!!
  It has the latest BIOS by the way ver 1.1.11.
  I tried totally disconnecting the floppy drive but I still get the 'Diskette drive 0 seek failure' Message.
  I also make sure that the keyboard is the only USB device attached when booting up.
  The powered USB Hub has a small LED on which shows when it is powered up.
  This LED comes on immediately the PC is switched on (even without using the external power supply).
  This seems to suggest that the USB ports are working and sending power to USB devices?
  Tried using the USB Hub with the external power supply and without.
  Can't understand why it very occasionally works but mostly doesn't?
  I was so excited when the powered USB Hub worked as soon as I tried it! I thought I had it 'cracked'. Back to frustrated now
• #21

  But I hadn't put the BIOS battery back and on boot up it didn't recognise the keyboard anymore!!!!!

  
  Won't you be able to get into the BIOS again with the hub, this time with the battery inserted ?.
• #22

  Sorry I didn't make it very clear.
  I did put the battery back immediately and then re-tried it several times since but cannot get it to recognise the keyboard again (with or without the external power to the USB Hub).
  

  That doesn't sound promising. If you've put in a good battery and reset the BIOS data, it should load a default configuration, and so shouldn't report 'Invalid Configuration any more. My next step would be to get hold of (borrow) a replacement power supply and try that before spending more money on a usb card. Presumably you get a POST failure (amber light), do the diagnostic lights tell you anything - see the manual, page 47-48

  
  The diagnostic lights on the front show 3 green lights 1-2-3 (4 not lit up).
  In the manual it says
  

  Routine system activity subsequent to video initialization.
  Watch your monitor for on-screen messages.

  
  So that suggests it's running ok. Just doesn't recognise the keyboard...!!!
  Do you think changing the Power Supply would have any effect (I have a spare power supply in the PC with the damaged motherboard)?
• #23

  The only thing the PSU could affect is the 5V supply on the USB ports. If the problem is with this supply then changing PSUs could make a difference. It could be a problem with the supply not being able to properly power the keyboard. It could also be affecting other devices on the motherboard.
  So worth trying, assuming the replacement PSU is healthy of course. At least you are unlikely to be any worse off, unless you make a real pigs ear of changing the PSUs :eek:
• #24

  The only thing the PSU could affect is the 5V supply on the USB ports. If the problem is with this supply then changing PSUs could make a difference. It could be a problem with the supply not being able to properly power the keyboard. It could also be affecting other devices on the motherboard.
  So worth trying, assuming the replacement PSU is healthy of course. At least you are unlikely to be any worse off, unless you make a real pigs ear of changing the PSUs :eek:

  
  Surely if the 5v rail were down the computer would fail at post.
• #25

  Surely if the 5v rail were down the computer would fail at post.

  I don't think it is totally down as the OP mentioned seeing a power light on the external USB hub when it was plugged into the PC but not using it's own PSU.
  So it looks like there is a 5V rail there but perhaps it can't quite power the keyboard properly. Mind you I agree if that were the case I would expect to see other effects. Perhaps the oddities with the BIOS and the other errors seen are symptoms of that.
  I'm not entirely convinced it's a PSU issue but you can never be completely certain something weird is not going on. As I said if the replacement PSU is healthy then the OP should not be any worse off by swapping it.
• #26

  Swapped the PSU but it made no difference. Swapped it back. Same...!!!
  I then started playing around with everything in the case....
  Nothing worked until I left the RAM out alltogether. This created an error and I had to pull the power plug out to shut the PC down.
  I then put the RAM back in and powered up and got into the BIOS. I again changed the various settings that I thought needed changing and did a 'save & exit'.
  Surprise, surprise I cannot get into the BIOS again.!
  However I only get 2 lines of error now
  I've managed to get rid of the error

  Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program

  
  A step in the right direction?