Question

Dell SK-8115 USB Keyboard recognised but not working

Asked by: phil7979

Hi, My original PS2 keyboard died and I obtained a new Dell SK-8115 USB keyboard and installed it - or rather I finally did after solving all the HID problems which occured and reinstalled the files and activated the HID service, which took me almost a week to figure out!

Unfortunately, whilst the keyboard works during POST as soon as operation is passed to Windows it freezes: the NumLock light stays on but there's no reaction to pressing any of the keys. I've tried uninstalling/reinstalling everything, even configuring it as a PS2 keyboard, with no success. The only time I thought I solved the problem was when I inserted the USB cable into one of the two USB slots on my Dell screen, the NumLock, Scroll and Shift keys worked but then froze. I tried unplugging/reinserting/rebooting as USB/PS2 configuration but now the the result is the same whichever USB port I plug it into.

I've disabled and reinstalled all of my USB entries in Device Manager but this has made no difference: I still can't use the keyboard. However, I've come across a reference in the MS site, I think it is, which advises that Windows disables USB legacy support for 32-bit USB drivers to work, which would seem to explain what's happening. But this doesn't fit with the fact that all my other USB hardware works!? Their advice is to clear the Use Automatic setings checkbox in the PCI to USB Host Controller and to use the settings provided by the BIOS. However, this presents me with a bit of a problem as my PCI to USB Host Controller already shows settings for Memory Range CFFFB600-CFFFB6FF and IRQ 21; with the Use automatic settings checkbox ticked but greyed out and I can't access it to try if this is the solution.  This is driving me absolutely nuts! Can you help please?

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Asked On
2009-01-23 at 04:45:15ID24077294
Tags

Windows XP Pro

,

Dell USB keyboard

,

USB issue?

Topics

Microsoft Hardware

,

Peripherals

,

Mice / Keyboards

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: CambridgeITPosted on 2009-01-23 at 04:56:53ID: 23448467

How long are you waiting for the keyboard to work? Typically on boot windows can take upto 10mins to load and recoginse new USB devices.

Allernativaly load Windows with your old keyboard and then add the USB device you will then see the installation.

 

by: phil7979Posted on 2009-01-23 at 05:17:32ID: 23448608

Hi CambridgeIT,

I've left the system alone for as long as an hour after installing and receiving the message: Your device has now been installed and is ready for use" or similar wording on completion of installation of the drivers; and at the moment it's been sitting here with the green NumLock light on mocking me for what must be nearly all morning, without any change whatsoever in it's status.

I've tried your solution re. the old PS2 keyboard and adding the keyboard as a USB device, installing the drivers and getting the above message without success. In fact, I'm typing this reply on my old, faulty, PS2 keyboard whilst the USB keyboard is doing what I described above!

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-01-24 at 01:44:23ID: 23455776

i fear that your OS is corrupt; i would try with a fresh install
or just buy a ps2 keyboard...

 

by: phil7979Posted on 2009-01-24 at 08:35:54ID: 31538084

Dear Nobus, I confess my earlier reaction to your suggested solution was not very fair in rejecting it out of hand. But having given it some thought I took your advice and it has solved the problem. Many thanks indeed.

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-01-24 at 09:23:50ID: 23457206

>>  I confess my earlier reaction to your suggested solution was not very fair in rejecting it out of hand   <<  i never noticed it...  :-))   it is not a very fine solution, such as changuing a key here, and a file there, but it solves most problems

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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