Win2k Pro: i8042prt.sys - keyboard driver problem, upload any1 ?

[Kasgoroth]

hi folks,

ever felt like taking one of this cute Win2k workstations and throwing it out of the window(s) ? :eek:

guess so, well that's how I feel now.

I know I'll calm down tomorrow, but it's sunday, 22:15 at my place and i'm still in the office, not to mention preeeeetty annoyed. When do we get this brain implants to upgrade our memory already? Lucky Jonny Mnemonic.....

so here's my story:

I bought a new mouse (MS Wheel Mouse Optical, USB) for one of our PC's here at the office (small LAN, 4 PC's), since the old one stopped working (PS/2). But while I was away one of our employees must've turned the PC on without the keyboard or the PS/2 mouse attached to it... so i think. Anyway the "PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse" driver "i8042prt.sys" won't start since then.
The new mouse I attached uses both USB and PS/2, so I can use it while in USB mode, but what does? Whithout a working keyboard I can't enter the system, can't use the Win2k Recovery Console and can't repair the OS from the Win2k setup CD-Rom.
The last thing I can do with my keyboard is to choose whether to launch normal Win2k installation or to switch to recovery console as this is installed on my hd. After that, it's dead.
BUT, I can acess the PC from other workstations in our LAN, so I can copy stuff if needed, edit the registry etc.

Downloaded this cool utility Remote Task Manager (http://www.ntutility.com/rtm/) and that's how I found out about the keyboard driver - 'cause with it one have remote access to other pc's event logs, devices etc.

I believe that my problem is described in the following MS article:

=== PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Not Recognized When Plugged Into Running Computer (Q262798) (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q262798)

There it's said: To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000

In addition to the registry tweaks they describe the version of i8042prt.sys must be 5.0.2195.4900 or later. The version of my file is 5.0.2195.2936

One of my questions to you is: where to get this file??

I'm supposed to get SP2, but I have it already, Release Date: May 16, 2001, HOW could SP2 contain a file with this attributes:

Date Time Version Size File name
-------------------------------------------------------------
02/04/2002 10:19 AM 5.0.2195.4900 48,720 i8042prt.sys


plz, tell me I'm stupid and that I overlooked something, this would make my life easier and I wouldn't be forced to do a clean install tomorrow since I have the "old" SP2 and could extract some files from it if needed.

I also searched everywhere for a standalone hotfix for this issue, like at the Windows 2000 Post-SP2 Hotfixes Page (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com/support/ServicePacks/Windows/2000/Win2000_Post-SP2_Hotfixes.asp), to no avail.

If you don't know how to help me and read till this point I'd ask you to search your HD after the file "i8042prt.sys" (if your OS is Win2k) and check it's version number. Perhaps you've got the right file for me?


Any other ideas? help?


The PC I'm troubleshooting is a:

P III
128 MB RAM
20 GB HD
On board sound
ATI Rage 128 MAGNUM SG AGP
3Com EtherLink NIC

OS: Windows 2000 Pro, SP2 (no additional hotfixes installed)


Thanks for reading,
Kasgoroth

PS: I've tried to change the registry as described in the article (added the "Headless" Value) but it didn't work. Perhaps because I still have the old keyboard driver.

[BipolarBill]

You have to unzip the service pack to a folder. WinZip should work. Find i8042prt.sys in there. It may be i8042prt.sy_. In that case, you must use the extract command from a command line:

EXTRACT I8042PRT.SY_ C:\

[BipolarBill]

My mistake...it's not in there. I'm working on it...

Any ideas out there?

[BipolarBill]

I'm curious as to which keyboard you are using on his PC...

[Kasgoroth]

hello BipolarBill,

I'm at home now (not for long though *g*), but I'm pretty sure its a normal "101/102 Key", german layout.

Perhaps you're referring to another issue I' found here:

Your Mouse/Keyboard has ceased to function properly after installing the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro drivers on Windows 2000? (http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBF/TIP2600/rh2694.htm)

I believe that all our Win2k installations have the same standard keyboard drivers installed which are called Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard. However this shouldn't be a problem since I've not reinstalled any Keyboard/Mouse drivers, neither do I have a MS Natural Keyboard, don't even know how it looks like.

Ah yes, forgot to mention I also tried the Last Known Good Configuration which was not as good as expected :rolleyes:

As for extracting i8042prt.sys from SP2, I'm not sure how this should be able to fix the problem. SP2 has the file of course, as you said it can be found under the name i8042prt.sy_, but the file itself must be old... I mean it's the same file that I got on all my systems, since I installed SP2 everywhere as soon as it came out (on all 4 PC's).

I unzipped the SP2 file by using the extract command:

W2KSP2.EXE /X

And even though I don't believe that this may be of any help, you seem to know 'bout this *.sy_ files.... I don't :)

why do they have such strange extensions (underline = *.sy_)?
Can I just rename them to *.sys files or what do I do after I extract them from the SP2?


greetz,
Kasgoroth

[BipolarBill]

The underscore indicates that the file is compressed. It must be extracted and is not usable in that state.

Try something for me. Look in BIOS setup for "USB keyboard" or "Legacy keyboard". However it's set, change it and see what happens.

[Kasgoroth]

k I'll do that... after 4 hours of sleep I'll be off to work again :)

I wonder if I will dream of a room filled with huge PC's that have the BSOD fever *g*

[Kasgoroth]

didn't help. Although I didn't find an option for "USB keyboard" or "Legacy keyboard", could only select to Enable/Disable USB support = AWARD BIOS.

[BipolarBill]

Try "repairing" Win2K. Boot from the CD. When prompted, select Repair > Fast Repair.

You may want to try changing the "HAL" too. During the CD bootup, press F5 when you see "Setup is inspecting hardware...". When prompted, select the Standard PC HAL (hardware abstraction layer). Continue as above.

[Kasgoroth]

using the Standard PC HAL (F5 on setup) was a good idea, it didn't solve my problem though, because the repair brought no results, but at least I could try it out. Previously my keyboard stoped working right after Win2k Setup was done loading all the system files and popped up the screen that lets you choose fresh install/reinstall/repair.

Q1: could the HAL may be defect somehow, because loading the Standard PC "computer type" enables the keyboard?

Q2: if it is defect, can I replace it with a working one without reinstalling the OS (fresh install)?

Q3: after I pressed F5 setup let me choose another "COMPUTER TYPE" for my pc.... why don't they write HAL instead of "computer type", I'm a little confused 'bout the definition, or is the meaning for both the same?

Q4: also at the repair screen there is a advice:
If the system is not successfully repaired, restart setup and choose the option to recover a destroyed system or system disk
Do they mean the "REINSTALL"- option (over an existing installation), or another hidden feature I haven't found before :confused:

in the meanwhile I've tried the following (of no avail):

- booted from DOS and using NTFSDOS copied the 2 keyboard/Mouse drivers "i8042prt.sys" & "kbdclass.sys" from one of my working systems to the faulty one, thought I'd try it under DOS, to make sure Windows does not interfere in any way with the process.

- booted the PC to its own Recovery Console (the one that's installed locally) using F5 and applying the HAL manually, just to test whether it works or not. Well it worked, but surprisingly I couldn't pass the Password test... :confused: :confused:
that's one really strange side effect, 'cause I know our passwords... after all I made them up by myself...

that's it. No more news so far, and If I won't be able to solve this issue today, "format C" will do it tomorrow :(

I still hope to avoid this....


greetz,
Kasgoroth

[BipolarBill]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kasgoroth
using the Standard PC HAL (F5 on setup) was a good idea, it didn't solve my problem though, because the repair brought no results, but at least I could try it out. Previously my keyboard stoped working right after Win2k Setup was done loading all the system files and popped up the screen that lets you choose fresh install/reinstall/repair.

A. Sounds like a bad PS/2 port. :(

[b]Q1: could the HAL may be defect somehow, because loading the Standard PC "computer type" enables the keyboard?

A. The HAL (hardware abstraction layer) is the I/O subsystem and regulates OS/Application hardware interaction. It's not defective if installed fresh, but may point to hardware failure.

Q2: if it is defect, can I replace it with a working one without reinstalling the OS (fresh install)?

A. Yes...absolutely. The Repair process allows you to change the HAL without reinstalling (and wrecking) your OS.

Q3: after I pressed F5 setup let me choose another "COMPUTER TYPE" for my pc.... why don't they write HAL instead of "computer type", I'm a little confused 'bout the definition, or is the meaning for both the same?

A. That's just plain stupid! ;) MS tries to make your life easier and complicates it instead. They are famous for that. :p

Q4: also at the repair screen there is a advice:
If the system is not successfully repaired, restart setup and choose the option to recover a destroyed system or system disk
Do they mean the "REINSTALL"- option (over an existing installation), or another hidden feature I haven't found before :confused:

A. No...you cannot reinstall Win2K and save it. You can, however, Repair it.

in the meanwhile I've tried the following (of no avail):

- booted from DOS and using NTFSDOS copied the 2 keyboard/Mouse drivers "i8042prt.sys" & "kbdclass.sys" from one of my working systems to the faulty one, thought I'd try it under DOS, to make sure Windows does not interfere in any way with the process.

A. I really believe that you are having a motherboard PS/2 port problem. Windows just doesn't know how to report it. A bad PS/2 port would mess up logon - see next.

- booted the PC to its own Recovery Console (the one that's installed locally) using F5 and applying the HAL manually, just to test whether it works or not. Well it worked, but surprisingly I couldn't pass the Password test... :confused: :confused:
that's one really strange side effect, 'cause I know our passwords... after all I made them up by myself...

A. The Recovery Console doesn't always work well. Watch the CaSe.

[Kasgoroth]

Sounds like a bad PS/2 port.

- but the keyboard works under DOS, I can enter and change BIOS settings, it even worked for repairing Win2k from CD. It stops working just after the bootmenu with choices to boot Win2k install or recovery console. How could the PS/2 port be defect under this circumstances? It doesn't work only under Windows.

The Repair process allows you to change the HAL without reinstalling (and wrecking) your OS.

- oh, so when I did the repair the HAL on the faulty system was replaced? Right? ... and it still isn't working


The Recovery Console doesn't always work well. Watch the CaSe.

- I did, our pass contains both upper & lower cases, but... I dunno, tried several times. Caps Lock wasn't on either, but it's not that important, I don't need the Console, for I can edit the registry and partitions another way.

[BipolarBill]

but the keyboard works under DOS, Yes....that's odd. To de direct, I've seen the i8042prt.sys error before. My keyboard always worked though. I usually unistalled, reinstalled any fancy keyboard software or just left it off.
- oh, so when I did the repair the HAL on the faulty system was replaced? Right? ... and it still isn't working Well, I never said it would work. It was worth a try. You will use that process again. I can assure you of that. At least you know of it now.

Frankly, I'm out of ideas. You could try to manually start i8042prt.sys. You could try another keyboard. You could enable those switches in BIOS and use a USB keyboard too.

At any rate, I would uninstall all keyboard and mouse software and use default drivers.

[Kasgoroth]

don't get me wrong BipolarBill, I'm very thankful for that info you gave me and for your help. Even though WE couldn't fix the problem I've learned something new - that's always good.

Saying "and it still isn't working" was a mere statement, like giving an update to the situation but NOT by any means a complaint to you.

as for your further suggestions I tried them already, except for using a USB Keyboard cause I haven't got one.
Oh, and there were no keyboard/Mouse software installed on this pc.

tomorrow I'll go for the "format C" trick :D
In future I'll make sure I got an image of a working install ready, using Ghost or smthg.- perhaps also GoBack *twinkle to G* ;)

greetz,
Kasgoroth

[BipolarBill]

Good luck. Reinstalling usually works. It's the "Gen. Sherman method"(U.S. Civil War Union "hero") of PC repair. Make that Ghost image before you format and You can use Ghost Explorer to extract any valuable data.

[G]

Kasgoroth, that’s my boy. You’re getting it :)

Good luck with everything.

G