USB Keyboard Won't Install

maybe the keyboard broke... try with another one usb kb.

Connect the keyboard:-> Go to device manager when the found new hardware wizard is prompted.
right click on the unrecognized device or the device with exclamation ! and uninstall those.

Download the keyboard.inf file from http://www.infdump.com/cgi-bin/testwrap/downloadcounts.cgi?rt=count&path=inffiles/K/keyboard.inf
Save it to windows\inf folder and accept when asked if needs replacement.
Right click on the file and click install.
plug the kb again and point towards the inf file if its not recognized.

The files involved with kb are:
kbdhid.sys
keyboard.inf
hidparse.sys
kbdclass.sys

Try a system restore if the above steps dint work.

-?

Thanks for the suggestions.  I've two different MS Digital Media Pro Keyboards and they won't work on either laptop but they will work on the desktop using the same USB ports where they worked previously.  I installed fresh copies of the keyboard.inf and the other listed files with no joy.  Between the last time that the keyboards worked and didn't I installed vnc on all three machines and have since uninstalled with no good result.  I have not yet found a system restore that makes a difference.

Any further suggestions?

go to bios and check if the keyboard works there.. we can find out if its hardware /drivers

The keyboards work on both laptops in bios.

Additional information - at my office I've got a different USB keyboard in a docking station.  The keyboard works fine when plugged into the docking station but when I plug the keyboard directly in the laptop I get the new hardware found the the keyboard drivers won't install properly.

I would first verify the keyboard is working. Connect to a desktop and see if it works or if not leave connected to laptop and restart. Once restarting hit f2 or delete or the key that goes into bios. If it does go into bios, move the arrow keys around. If moves, at least you can verify life with the keyboard and something went bump in windows.

I had this similar problem once, the way I solved it: Go into device manager, and remove the chipset drivers for the usb controller. In device manager, expand "universal serial bus controllers', and everything underneath that, right click and uninstall. Reboot and they'll reinstall. Before doing so have the latest copy of your chipset drivers downloaded. Most common ones are the intel chipsets which can be downloaded directly from Intels site. Your motherboard might be different, could be nvidia chipset, amd chipset, via, etc. Find out by your manual, or your device manager may clue you in.

Once restarted, you'll see new device for the chipset pop up, let them all load up, then connect your keyboard.  This should remedy your problem.

Try different usb ports and directly to machine (no hubs) if above don't work.

Let us know how it turned out, best wishes.

hi.. have the steps in the forum followed..
hope this helps
http://www.planetamd64.com/lofiversion/index.php?t31751.html

Do these instructions apply to XP Pro?  These are all XP Pro systems.  The keyboards work fine in BIOS.

Apologies.. do a sfc /scannow from run and reboot the pc and see if that fixes the problem then.

-?

if that does not fix.. boot to recovery console and write cmd: copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config ... it will copy 1 file (overwrite - yes), keyboard and mouse on ps/2 should now working.

to enter recovery console refer to: section: "how to use the recovery console"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

-?

Thanks!  I'll give these a try.

Have you uninstalled the usb drivers like mentioned in my post above? Restart and you'll see them reinstall automatically. Resolved same issue I had.

NaturaTek - Refer comment # ID: 24351453

"NaturaTek:Have you uninstalled the usb drivers like mentioned in my post above? Restart and you'll see them reinstall automatically. Resolved same issue I had."

Yes, I removed all of the USB hub devices and restarted the system.  They all reinstalled and all of my other USB devices work normally.  But the usb keyboards still come up as new devices and unable to locate drivers.

I performed the following suggestion :"if that does not fix.. boot to recovery console and write cmd: copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config ... it will copy 1 file (overwrite - yes), keyboard and mouse on ps/2 should now working."

Now the laptop boots and I can login, but after gettning the windows wallpaper, the boot process stops without error message and does not put up icons, task bar or start icon.  :-(

prims,
   Please press alt+ctrl+delete and go to task masnager. File-new tasks- Type Explorer and hit enter that should bring the icons back up. It appears to me that the rebuilding is not happening on reboot. if task manager is not coming up can you restart in safe mode and see if you can login. WIA should rebuild the drivers which is the native property of XP. From safe mode go to msconfig and select Startup tab and select "disable all" and click ok and have your system reboot and see if thats ur antivirus/other apps that prevents the wia rebuild.
  Apologies for the trouble mate..  Btw can you tell me if your comp lets you use the usb keyboard to login?

-?

No Joy.  Explorer wont run from task manager whether booted in normal or safe mode.  USB keyboard is non responsive at login.  Maybe it is time to reload windows from scratch.

I just finished running repair on the windows volume from the XP CD (which appeared to reload all of the drivers), and I am still unable to get to a desktop after logging in.  Tried in normal and safe mode and two different accounts.  Now I am ready to reformat and start over unless anyone has a suggestion.

When you say a running repair, do you mean a Repair Installation like this?

1.  Boot the computer from your XP CD (if this wont boot, you may need to change the order of boot devices in BIOS setup).
2.  Eventually you will see the Welcome To Setup screen. Press the Enter key to start Windows Setup.
3.  Be careful NOT to choose R, which is To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console. That is what you dont want!
4.  Accept the License Agreement.
5.  Windows setup will search for existing Windows installations.
6.  Select the XP installation you want to repair (there is usually only one) and now press R to start the repair.
Then just follow the prompts.

More complete instructions on how to do this, complete with pictures, are here on Michael Stevens excellent site.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If you really don't wish to do a clean install that may help.

Yup, that's the one I ran that did not improve anything.

I think a bit went the extreme.. copying registry files causing you not to boot. You don't wan't the default 'repair' part of the hive as that is the default.  If you did make a backup of your current one, replace it back. Or you can go into the system restore and manually go back to a certain point by replacing registry files.

At this point, backup your documents and reformat. Use a standard XP cd with sp3 on it. Becareful of any 'custom' 'tweaked' cd's out there as they cut out services/files that you may need for certain hardware.

If you can't boot because of the registry copied you performed, see if you can boot in safe mode and then go system restore back to a point.
If not, you can boot to recovery console and copy a system restore point manually. Let me know, I'll tell you the steps.

Thanks.  I'm booting just fine, and I'm able to login, but once past the login, the desktop won't load.  Nothing happens if I run Explorer from task manager.  I've tried multiple profiles and the same thing happens both in normal and safe mode.

Try last known good configuration in the start menu Tap F8 on startup and you can select last known good config and see if that works. If that not we better have the repair done for OS. restart into OS disc and proceed with the repair. Its the second repair option you need to select.  Follow attached doc.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxprepair1.htm
see this as well. sorry to have you drive to the edge.. but remember that we had given all possible steps to work with the rebuild of the drivers. Dint work though.

-?

@ question
pnims has already tried a Repair Install. See comments 24370623 and 24371395.

@ pnims
I've asked the moderator for more help here.