keyboard error

[ritasinger]

I get the message keyboard error or no keyboard found on a particular computer. I've tried 3 different keyboards, all of which work with other computers. The plugs look straight and clean. What else can I do to continue using this old computer?:confused:

[bassman]

Welcome to SysOpt! :)
That's actually displayed when the keyboard isn't plugged in or is wrongly plugged in; if you tried several known-good keyboards on it, the bad news is the keyboard port may have reached the end of it's life cycle. Anyway, enter the BIOS and see if the keyboard is enabled there.

[G Ray88]

Check and see if the keyboard is pluged into the correct PS/2, you might be pluging keyboard in to the mouse PS/2, just a thought. Good Luck :)

[bassman]

I was guessing the PC is old enough not to have PS/2 plugs

[rmanet]

any chance your mobo has usb - even many older P2 boards, etc. had them? if you think the ps/2 is history try that? or maybe go get yourself a cheapo USB card if you still want to use the computer?

And you could try to change the bios to boot thru the error and see if the keyboard actually works anyway? If so, maybe a bios update might help, or even reflashing the old one.

I had an old IBM that I upgraded, then decided to sell it, but it refused to recognize the Celeron 566 that was the orginal stock CPU - ran fine but gave me a bios error at boot - flashed the same BIOS - there was no more current version, and the problem went away - go figure

[ritasinger]

Thanks to each of you for your help. I see many mentions elsewhere of "flashing the bios". How do you do this with no keyboard? Also of bypassing the boot notice - how can you do this with no keyboard?

Sorry to be such a dummy. Just starting - was feeling very good about myself because I had just been able to repair a computer by installing a new hard drive and cpu fan. Guess you gotta start somewhere!

Thanks for your welcome too, all - keep the good words coming.:D

[ritasinger]

If those are the round ones that are sometimes colored, I believe it does have those. The computer was purchased new in 1997. Pretty old in computer years, but only one in dog years!

Is that port replaceable at a reasonable price?

[bassman]

Oh! An old computer IMO is a 486 :p So, like GRay mentioned, if you're sure you're plugging the keyboard on the right port (those are PS/2 ports) and the keyboards you've tried on the correct port are working OK, then the port is probably damaged. You can either get a PS/2 expansion card or a USB adapter card. You can find one of the latter here: http://www.usbwholesale.com/2%20port%20usb2%20pci.htm If you buy one of these, you'll also have to buy an adapter for your keyboard (PS/2 to USB): http://ergopages.com/adapters.html?oa11. I didn't find any PS/2 expansion card, but it wouldn't hurt to look on the local computer shop

[ritasinger]

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like you are correct and that the port is damaged. Dang it! I already have a PS/2-USB adapter, so I'll see if I can get the USB card. The computer has 2 USB ports, but nothing plugged into them works! It's a Pentium II, 200 mhz machine, still running on, sorry to say, Windows 95 - but it's only got 64 mb ram. What's a mother to do?

This is great being able to get you guys to help me. My brother is a MIT and does programming in Sacramento - he says he helps people like this on the internet. It's wonderful that you guys help beginners like me out. Thanks again.:t

[bassman]

Originally posted by ritasinger
The computer has 2 USB ports, but nothing plugged into them works!
Once again, they may not be enabled in the BIOS - on the other hand, it can also be Windows related; what version of Win95 do you have? Maybe an upgrade to Win98SE would help a lot, Win95 has a lot of limitations on USB support (that were fixed on 98SE). While you're at it, being christmas and all, get yourself some more memory: http://www.pricewatch.com/1/33/1282-1.htm

[ritasinger]

Originally posted by bassman
Once again, they may not be enabled in the BIOS - on the other hand, it can also be Windows related; what version of Win95 do you have? Maybe an upgrade to Win98SE would help a lot, Win95 has a lot of limitations on USB support (that were fixed on 98SE). While you're at it, being christmas and all, get yourself some more memory: http://www.pricewatch.com/1/33/1282-1.htm

Message received. Thanks for the website. I think I got the right memory chip - it was $13, as opposed to $90 at Micro Center, if they happen to have it in stock! And free shipping - what a price difference.

I don't know what version of Windows 95 is on that machine. I didn't know there was more than one version. We just have a big box of them! It does say "with USB support" on the disk under the title, though. The machine I work on uses XP - but I do have a 98SE disk and can upgrade it. I just hate Win 98, that's all. I guess it would be worth it for the USB support. I probably can't install it without a keyboard though. Is this a catch 22?

[bassman]

I probably can't install it without a keyboard though. Is this a catch 22?
****! I think you're right on that :( And it's the second time I fall on this one :p

[rmanet]

seems to me that if you plug in a USB keyboard, and enter setup (to make sure your USB ports are enabled and your boot option is to to use the cdrom first) and pop the w98SE disc in and boot from there that everything should go okay with the install?

[ritasinger]

Worth a try - I'll see if we have a USB keyboard around.:cool:

[RAGUSMI]

I'm having the exact same problem on the exact same type of system. Message on screen says, keyboard error or no keyboard present CMOS checksum error - Defaults loaded. My OS is updated from 95 to 98SEPLUS. I was trying to set it up to give to a kid for Christmas and was trying to get the system to accept a new keyboard, it has a PS/2 connector. First I tried plugging in new keyboard with system booted and windows running, it wouldn't work but the old one would. So i shut sytem down and plugged new keyboard into it. When I turned the unit on, I got a consistant beeping, like a key was stuck. So I punched all the keys to see if one was stuck but it didn't stop. With system still on, I unplugged the keyboard and plugged in the original and got the same thing. Tried switching the keyboard into the mouse port, noise quit but keyboard didn't work. I have an adapter for PS/2 to serial port and that didn't work either but I got no beeping. I have not tried a USB keyboard because I don't have one. Funny that both systems are 200MMX. Mine worked fine till I plugged the other keyboard in and hit all the keys. I have also reset the C-mos but that didn't work either and I can't get into BIOS without hitting delete on the keyboard. I can't remember but keyboard may have been deleted from control panel. Was wondering if ritasinger had done the same? In my case I've found a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. :rolleyes:

[RAGUSMI]

Well I found my problem. After going back over 4 years worth of blah blah blah, replace this, have you tried that? I found a reference to a little green fuse, looks more like a resistor, by the PS/2 connector on the mobo. I put a jumper across it and SHAZAM, system booted and no more checksum error. I saw what must have a couple of hundred threads from people who had checksum errors or their keyboard didn't work so they couldn't get into BIOS. Only a couple had conclusions and none of those mentioned this little green fuse. I will give credit to the first place I saw it mentioned. SDT mentions it in a post to krislan in a thread titled "New here.....Need help!" under Tech Support dated 05/25/2000. Now what I want to know is will it hurt to leave the jumper or do I need to tear the whole thing down to solder 1 in? :cool:

[rmanet]

leave the jumper - a little solder or heat in the wrong area can wreck that mobo

[ritasinger]

I have not re-set the cmos because I don't know how to do it. I have plugged the keyboard into another computer and it works with that one. I have not tried any fancy tricks because I'm afraid I'll really ruin the computer. However, what does it matter, if you can't use it anyway? I think I'll just use it for parts. It wouldn't make financial sense to buy a new motherboard for such an old computer. I've come to the conclusion that it's the plug for the keyboard on the motherboard that is the culprit.:t

[rmanet]

Sent you a reply - USB keyboard's an option if your mobo isn't too old, and resetting the cmos is quite simple. Look for 3 pins on the board, usually near a corner away from the cpu - you should see the letters CMOS silkscreened right on the board. Unplug your computer completely, move the jumper from pins 1 and 2 to 2 and 3, wait 5 seconds then move it back. Pulling (gently) the round shiny CMOS battery and then putting it back also usually does the trick.

Then hit del (usually) on reboot and enter setup - you'll need to reset all your system options, time, etc. If you're just learning use setup defaults as a start.

[fmie]

I also have the keyboard port on a motherboard dead. It seems that everything else work fine. It seems easy to enter the bios, or reflash it, to fix the problem. the only little problem is that without keyboard you cannot enter the bios. A ps2 keyboard does'nt work, that is the problem. But even with USB there is a problem. With most motherboards now default is USB enabled, but USB keyboard support is not enabled.

Is it a general work around for this problerm ?

[rmanet]

Originally posted by fmie
I also have the keyboard port on a motherboard dead. It seems that everything else work fine. It seems easy to enter the bios, or reflash it, to fix the problem. the only little problem is that without keyboard you cannot enter the bios. A ps2 keyboard does'nt work, that is the problem. But even with USB there is a problem. With most motherboards now default is USB enabled, but USB keyboard support is not enabled.

Is it a general work around for this problerm ?

welcome to sysopt - next time best to start a new thread :t

what mobo, system, OS? please? have you tried a PCI USB controller card - they're cheap and all you need is to get into the BIOS to enable USB keyboard support - heck you could return the card or get a credit afterwards......

www.bootdisk.com is always a great choice, and I'm pretty certain your BIOS is still probably set to boot from a floppy first if present, some flash programs don't require any typing and all are usually small enough to copy to a bootable floppy

you can start here (http://www.bootdisk.com/readme.htm#bios) - scroll down, maybe create a floppy disk with support for your mouse and try that too