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valleeo

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Only PS2 keyboard works before boot; after boot, only USB keyboard works

OK, it is difficult to describe how I got to this problem. This is one of a pair of home built servers running W2K SP4 in English but located in Paris, France. The system drive is mirrored, and there is an entry in the Boot.ini file so that I can boot off either disk. The second system is exactly identical and has no problem.

On the first server, Windows was installed with an English-layout PS2 keyboard but then it was replaced with a French-layout USB keyboard. There was no problem until one day the server had to be rebooted and from there on, the following problem appeared (or became visible, anyway; perhaps it was always there). In the boot process, Windows asks, as usual when it finds several entries in the boot file, which OS needs to be booted, with a countdown of 30 seconds for the user to select one of the two. Usually, after the thirty seconds, if the user doesn't do anything the first OS is booted.

The problem is that

(a) neither the PS/2 keyboard nor USB keyboard (which are now coexisting) allows the user to select which OS to boot; in other words neither allows the user to use the arrow keys, enter key or space bar to select even the currently highlighted OS.

(b) after the countdown is finished, and only then, the system allows the user to press <enter> on the PS/2 keyboard. It hangs until the user does so. The USB keyboard still is completely dead.

(c) after the boot is complete, the control-alt-delete for the login box only works on the USB keyboard, which works great from then on. On the other hand, the PS2 keyboard is dead, even for the enter key.

(d) for a bonus, see if you can answer this. While logging into the login box, the USB keyboard, which if you recall uses a french layout, is programmed to act as a US keyboard, as the PS/2 was originally installed. The french layout only appears after the user (administrator) logs in. I have seen this before and I think it is "normal" behavoir for Windows 2000, I was just wondering if anyone know how to fix this.





Avatar of Wesley Lennon
Wesley Lennon
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Hello valleeo, not too familure with multi lauguage keyboards, you can try removing the .ini file from the bat file, and let windows use plug and play to reconize the keyboards, but I have found that using KVM switches to run ONE keybaord on two systems sucessfully (see link below, there are serveal options, two USB, two PS/2).  On page three there is even one that is Rack Mounted.  Note* you do not have to use the Monitor support on any of these for them to work.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=202

Thanks,

wlennon
The system that doesn't have a problem, does it, too, have 2 keyboards?
Why can't you just use the PS/2 KB?
/RID
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Bernie Salvaggio
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valleeo

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wlennon, thanks for your comment, but there is not .ini file except for the boot.ini file, that has no reference to the keyboards. also, a KVM switch is irrelevant for this problem.

Rid:  I would like to get rid of the PS2 keyboard, but if I remove it then I can't hit the enter key to get the system to boot.   To answer your question, the second system does not have two keyboards.

Salvagbf:  The bios idea is a good one. I will reboot the system tomorrow, and I will check then.  I do remember that if  I remove the USB keyboard, the PS/2 keyboard still does not work, leaving me with no keyboard access at all. I did do the "scan for hardware changes" but that did not help.

Icedrop-dcse:  Thanks for the insight. I will check the bios settings when I reboot (see above). To answer your question, yes, I'd like to have one keyboard. Re the french/english problem, I have installed english-language systems with french keyboards before, and it does work, but only if you specify the french layout during system installation. I have neverfound a way to change this, even in regional settings, which works as your describe. The problem is that once you install it as english layout, if you then install a french keyboard, the layout is always english until you log in. When you log in, you have to log in as "Qd,inistrqtor" and not "Administrator"!

Thanks to everyone,
Olivier

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I brought down the machine and checked the bios settings. In fact there was a bios setting for USB support, and that fixed the problem. I'm splitting the points between Salvagbf and Icedrop-dcse. Many thanks.
PS. Still don't know how to change the keyboard layout before login.