XP, USB Mouse/KB Dead at Logon Screen

[Trouble-Shooter]

Hello all,

Been awhile since I've been on the forums. I have an issue with my pc that I've been stumped by before, but never on my own rig. USB keyboard and mouse work fine in BIOS, but will not allow me to enter safe mode (pressing f8 during post doesn't bring up the boot options dialogue), or logon to windows. PS2 mouse/kb work with no trouble. I've heard there are recent variants of malware that have disabled usb device access, but I'm not finding anything on any scans. Hard drive is healthy, bios is updated, drivers are updated. Each time the PC loads into windows, it brings up "found new hardware" dialogues for each usb device (logitech trackman, logitech keyboard), and each one says fatal error. I can't install via the CD that came with the mouse/kb either. Windows update fails via IE, but my offline update cd's do work. I had a rootkit a couple months ago, but my rootkit detectors aren't finding anything on multiple scans. Any thoughts?

I think I'll end up getting a new HD and running a new install of Windows, PC could use it anyhow. By the way, I did run a repair installation of Windows twice to get the usb mouse/kb to work a couple days ago. Each time, they would work until I rebooted.

 

[Appleby]

That is strange! I was going to say that maybe the USB ports were going bad on the motherboard but then after I kept reading that doesn't seem to be the problem. I would say at this point, if it were me, I go with the full format and reinstall, since you said it needs it anyway. If that doesn't solve it, I think you've got your answer.... Def. a weird one though. Keep us updated.

Oh and I read your signature. I agree with you about Toshiba laptops. I've had similar hassles out of Acers and Gateways at times. At least with a Dell, HP or Compaq, you know you can buy parts. I've really pulled my hair out over finding parts for some of these other brands at times. Oh but I did find the mobo for the model in your sig. Ebay had about 4 of them and a few popped up when I did a Google search.

 

[Trouble-Shooter]

LOL, that's awesome. That's an old sig. I should replace it with another model. At the time, the only mobo I could find on the entire internet was $390, used, and was coming from Hong Kong. I bought a new HD for my PC so I don't have to worry about backing everything up for right now, user-data wise. This morning, IE stopped working, error-report dialogue as soon as you click IE. Finally got Windows Update to work, so I updated to IE 8, reboot PC, then IE wouldn't load again. Twilight Zone, man. Clean install is imminent.

 

[ATTech]

Have you tried a new USB keyboard and Mouse?

 

[vdub12]

This is very common. Many older systems don't have DOS support for USB input devices. This happened to me on site last week. I had to drive all the way back to my office to get a PS2 keyboard so I could boot an XP CD in to the recovery console to run fixboot on a system that has a messed up boot sector. Needless to say I keep a PS2 keyboard in my car now.

 

[ATTech]

This is very common. Many older systems don't have DOS support for USB input devices. This happened to me on site last week. I had to drive all the way back to my office to get a PS2 keyboard so I could boot an XP CD in to the recovery console to run fixboot on a system that has a messed up boot sector. Needless to say I keep a PS2 keyboard in my car now.

Unless he's running MS-DOS, it doesn't quite explain why it also doesn't work for him in Windows.

 

[vdub12]

The windows boot loader basically is DOS.

 

[ATTech]

The windows boot loader basically is DOS.

Which may explain why F8 won't work, but at the point of login, Windows has loaded at least simple USB Keyboard drivers.

Of course, this is assuming he's using 98SE or above, but I think it's safe to assume this is the case.

 

[vdub12]

Which may explain why F8 won't work, but at the point of login, Windows has loaded at least simple USB Keyboard drivers.

Of course, this is assuming he's using 98SE or above, but I think it's safe to assume this is the case.

During the bootloader the BIOS still has control, or lack there of, of the keyboard.

 

[Trouble-Shooter]

Windows XP SP3, all updates are current. I did get my new 1tb hard drive last night and installed a fresh copy of windows. All is working flawlessly. I think a root-kit from a few weeks ago had some lingering processes in Windows.

 

[Trouble-Shooter]

And the system is only a couple years old. Phenom, OCZ RAM, Gigabyte 790xds4 motherboard, etc.

 

[ATTech]

During the bootloader the BIOS still has control, or lack there of, of the keyboard.

The BIOS no longer controls the keyboard at the login screen, Windows does.

And the system is only a couple years old. Phenom, OCZ RAM, Gigabyte 790xds4 motherboard, etc.

Did you try a different USB keyboard and mouse?

 

[Trouble-Shooter]

Yes. Didn't work either. I figured, Delete to get into setup is obviously BIOS controlled and recognized. F8 to get into startup options is Windows controlled and recognized. Windows wasn't responding to my usb input devices at all during bootup, even during POST. Even though I could enter the BIOS, select startup drive (F12), etc.

 

[vdub12]

The BIOS no longer controls the keyboard at the login screen, Windows does.

Did you try a different USB keyboard and mouse?

You can use as many difference USB keyboards as you want. During the initial boot loader the BIOS still has control of the keyboard and if it does not support USB your only choice is to use PS2. I have seen this hundreds of times. Its a very common problem. I didn't think we where talking about the windows login screen. We are talking about the windows boot loader right? During the boot loader process the BIOS still has input control unless the boot loader supports input devices. Grub dues, windows does not. Windows boot loader uses the BIOS's input control. You can have a USB keyboard that works during post but then the BIOS releases it and the OS does not pick it up until it loads its USB drivers during boot up. This is common on older BIOS's that would support USB but then turn it off until the OS takes it over. On systems like this a USB keyboard will not work during the boot loader process. No hitting F8, no hiting the space bar to load a windows install CD, and no choosing an alternative operating system on a dual boot system. The best fix for this if you must use a USB keyboard is to use the Grub boot loader. it supports USB and will boot windows.

 

[ATTech]

I didn't think we where talking about the windows login screen.

Really? Because I'm not sure how you could have missed this:

but will not allow me to ... logon to windows.

Unless he's running MS-DOS, it doesn't quite explain why it also doesn't work for him in Windows.

but at the point of login

Regardless, the point is moot; he noted that it was a newer system, and this BIOS not recognizing the USB devices isn't the issue.

even during POST. Even though I could enter the BIOS, select startup drive (F12), etc.

This statement seems a bit contradictory: during post is typically when you are given the option to access the BIOS set-up. I don't see how it wouldn't respond during POST, yet you can access the BIOS set-up or select the boot option. What other USB inputs did the system not recognize during POST?