How do I get USB mouse/kbd to work?

[sorcerer]

I'm almost ashamed to ask this because it must be so simple but I'm just having 'one of those days' today.

Picked up a friend's Dell Dimension 3100 last night to sort out why it is running slowly. Only picked up the tower unit, but he does use a USB wireless mouse and keyboard. So, I get it on the bench and discover that there's no PS2 sockets, so I plug in a USB mouse and keyboard, fire it up, and everything's OK until I get to the Windows logon screen, where I'm presented with three user accounts but the cursor won't move for me to click on one, nor can I use the keyboard to tab to one.

Try two more sets of mouse/keyboard 'just in case' but no joy. Keyboard works OK in BIOS (where the only mention of any USB controller is on/off and it's set to on). Booted into an Ubuntu Live CD and both keyboard and mouse work perfectly as they should, so I reckon it's a Windows thing and it must need drivers - but I can't get into Windows to load drivers.

Even Safe Mode only gets me as far as the Windows logon screen, which now shows the choice of 'Administrator' as well as the other three user accounts, but I still can't get to select one. This is the first time I've ever come across this and the answer must be easy but I'm stumped, so I throw myself at your mercy and ask, what do I do to get round this?

TIA

 

[Tab Alternatives]

Have you tried using a PS2 mouse/keyboard to enter into Windows? That should work considering that this sounds definitely like a driver issue.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

You tried plugging them into diff ports and what not while at the login screen and still nothing?

Could be like an upperfilters registry setting issue but I don't see why that would start out of the blue unless he hadnt rebooted for a while. Would of course need to resort to a boot disc to get that far though.

 

[sorcerer]

Have you tried using a PS2 mouse/keyboard to enter into Windows? That should work considering that this sounds definitely like a driver issue.

Unfortunately my friend, there are no PS2 sockets to plug PS2 mouse/keyboard into, but thanks anyway

 

[johnrobert]

usually if you wait a few minutes it will install usb mouse and keyboard
best to go away and come back in 10-20 mins.

 

[sorcerer]

You tried plugging them into diff ports and what not while at the login screen and still nothing?

That's correct

Could be like an upperfilters registry setting issue but I don't see why that would start out of the blue unless he hadnt rebooted for a while. Would of course need to resort to a boot disc to get that far though.

It was running alright (albeit slowly, which is why I'm involved in the first place) last night, so this is completely out of the blue

Cheers for your input my friend.

 

[sorcerer]

usually if you wait a few minutes it will install usb mouse and keyboard
best to go away and come back in 10-20 mins.

OK, I'll give it a go - cheers sir

EDIT: Just been out of the house for half an hour to pick up my wife from work and sadly, no, that didn't work. The screensaver must have kicked in and then the display has been switched off (but the machine is not yet in sleep mode), and no amount of key pressing or mouse moving is bringing it back to life. I suppose I'll have to get my friend to drop off their wireless M/K as the drivers for that should at least be ready and waiting in there - or, any other thoughts folks?

 

[Vicenarian]

Check USB mouse/keyboard support in the BIOS? What is it set as? Also, look for BIOS settings relating to PS2, et al.

 

[sorcerer]

Check USB mouse/keyboard support in the BIOS? What is it set as? Also, look for BIOS settings relating to PS2, et al.

Nothing in BIOS relating to PS2 because there's no PS2 sockets on the motherboard, and only one mention of anything to do with USB, which just says "USB Controller On/Off" - no mention of USB keyboard/mouse/legacy etc. This really is strange, although I do feel better that it is also puzzling you good folks who are far more knowledgeable than myself - I just thought it was me being stupid but it would seem that there really is more to it than that

By the way, I forgot to mention earlier that this is a Windows XP machine, just in case anyone has a flash of inspiration

 

[NYJimbo]

Almost every machine that had USB only for keyboard/mouse will eventually recognize a generic Microsoft mouse and generic 101 keyboard, but as others have posted sometimes you have to boot it up, wait or remove the keyboard/mouse from one USB port and move to another, without rebooting. I have a tower in right now that didnt like initial booting with the USB ports I put the key/mouse in but when I swapped them about a minute later they were working.

 

[jbartlett323]

OK, I'll give it a go - cheers sir

EDIT: Just been out of the house for half an hour to pick up my wife from work and sadly, no, that didn't work. The screensaver must have kicked in and then the display has been switched off (but the machine is not yet in sleep mode), and no amount of key pressing or mouse moving is bringing it back to life. I suppose I'll have to get my friend to drop off their wireless M/K as the drivers for that should at least be ready and waiting in there - or, any other thoughts folks?

well when he does, be sure to ask what USB port it was plugged into, else you will have the exact same issue... Oh and dont expect him to know, cause i wouldn't...
I have had machine take literally an hour to load mouse and keyboard drivers, then i've had some that are constantly stuck with the "Found New Hardware Wizard" because of some malware... Either way, this is why any board i buy must have PS/2 ports even if they are outdated, they always work!!

 

[stevenamills]

Not that this will help you now, but a PCI/PS2 card isn't a bad thing to have in your toolkit.

SOMETIMES, I've been able to wake things up by putting one cable in back and one in front. Worth a try.

 

[johnrobert]

Good idea to get origanal mouse and keyboard

I used to live at 2 Ribbbleton lane

 

[sorcerer]

Good idea to get origanal mouse and keyboard

I used to live at 2 Ribbbleton lane

Well I'll go t'foot of our stairs, as my grandad used to say! My gran and grandad used to live in Ribbleton Avenue, next-door-but-one to Sutcliffe's Bike Shop and I used to live in Skeffington Road. Number 2 Ribbleton Lane - that would put you near the County Arms wouldn't it, opposite the prison. I think there used to be a pie shop somewhere near there called Bailey's - fantastic pies if I remember right

Wow, small world eh? Have to say though, you're in a far better place now. Preston in general, and Ribbleton in particular, have gone a bit downhill. We inherited my old family home in Skeffington Rd when my mam died but it's getting harder and harder to rent it out now; I think it may well be time to sell to be honest.

Well I'm amazed! Cheers my friend

 

[red12049]

We've run across a few Dells that simply refused to work except with a Dell branded keyboard/mouse...

Otherwise, just wait, as a few have said.

Rick

 

[sorcerer]

We've run across a few Dells that simply refused to work except with a Dell branded keyboard/mouse... [..]

Rick

Funny you should say that Rick. Just got my friend's keyboard, which, surprise surprise, is a Dell - but the mouse he uses is a Trust wifi one. However, I'm now booted into Windows on first attempt using his stuff, so the question now becomes 'what can I do now that I'm in Windows to avoid this situation in future (if/when this keyboard/mouse go faulty)?'

On your findings Rick, I suppose I could just tell him to replace them with genuine Dell. Well, you live and learn eh? It never crossed my mind that you may have to use Dell peripherals. Cheers sir