PC Problem. SOLVED...BIOS.

[oso grande]

PC's 6 yr old HP 700 series. Running' Windows XP Home ed. SP2.
Just re-installed OS using HP's 8 disc recovery set.
Worked great for a day or two...then became increasingly unstable, showed a couple of blue screens. It got worse and worse. Now the machine boots, but won't recognize the keyboard. It sees the mouse, but disses the keyboard.
Worse...when I press a key...the mouse freezes!
Can anybody help?
Thanks
OG

[code33]

What made you decide to reinstall the OS?
What messages were on the blue screen crashes?

[Ricky-Ray]

Yeah what made you decide to reinstall the OS?

Did you try unplugging the mouse and keyboard cables and plug them back in? Do you have a spare mouse/keyboard that you can switch out and see if the problem still follow's it?

[juicemansam]

I would boot up to a live Linux CD, like the Ubuntu Desktop install disk, and run that for a while (that is if the problem can occur with that while), just to rule out a software issue. Then I'd run the memtest found on that same CD to test the memory. Then I'd be try a different keyboard and/or mouse. Should the problem still occur, I'd have no choice but to lay blame on the motherboard.

[Dankle]

You can try downloading the XP SP3 file and install it to see if it helps any. I had some erratic behavior after doing a reformat recently (XP SP2). The SP3 install seemed to smooth things out. I'm not sure if it will help, but it is another option to try.

[oso grande]

Yeah what made you decide to reinstall the OS?

Did you try unplugging the mouse and keyboard cables and plug them back in? Do you have a spare mouse/keyboard that you can switch out and see if the problem still follows it?

Yep and yep.
The mouse is OK. It's the keyboard. The PC doesn't boot properly. It doesn't look for the keyboard. I can boot with the keyboard disconnected.

OG

[oso grande]

What made you decide to reinstall the OS?
What messages were on the blue screen crashes?

I was given the PC. The previous owner told me, that, a virus had destroyed the OS and that the computer wouldn't boot. So I did re-install.
Blue screen..."Page fault in non paged area".
I would re-install again if the keyboard worked.
OG

[oso grande]

You can try downloading the XP SP3 file and install it to see if it helps any. I had some erratic behavior after doing a reformat recently (XP SP2). The SP3 install seemed to smooth things out. I'm not sure if it will help, but it is another option to try.

If any fix involves typing or any keyboard use, I can't do it.

[Ricky-Ray]

Did you just reinstall the OS and left everything alone? If so there maybe additional problems with it because of the virus. I would reformat the hard drive and do a clean reinstall of the OS and any additional programs that you have.

Does the keyboard connect via PS/2? If so have you tried a USB keyboard?

[oso grande]

I would boot up to a live Linux CD, like the Ubuntu Desktop install disk, and run that for a while (that is if the problem can occur with that while), just to rule out a software issue. Then I'd run the memtest found on that same CD to test the memory. Then I'd be try a different keyboard and/or mouse. Should the problem still occur, I'd have no choice but to lay blame on the motherboard.

I'm downloading Ubuntu as we speak.

I want to thank you all for taking your time to help me.

Oso Grande

[oso grande]

Did you just reinstall the OS and left everything alone? If so there maybe additional problems with it because of the virus. I would reformat the hard drive and do a clean reinstall of the OS and any additional programs that you have.

Does the keyboard connect via PS/2? If so have you tried a USB keyboard?

I can't do a reinstall without the keyboard...Have to, at least, "push any key".
Yes...PS/2. No USB keyboard.

[sniper4usmc]

go to BIOS and make sure keyboard and mouse are enable....

[Lancear15]

I know what the problem is... it's an HP, throw it out.

Problem solved.

Have you tried using a different PS/2 keyboard? not likely the problem, but you have to at least eliminate the possibility.

[Lancear15]

go to BIOS and make sure keyboard and mouse are enable....

How is he going to get into BIOS if the keyboard doesn't work...

[incredablehefey]

virus might have flashed your BIOS, because most older systems go through a simple POST (power on self test) and signal a fault if no keyboard is detected