Windows ME keyboard doesn't work

I have Windows ME on my older computer - the keyboard works fine for a couple
of months, then it won't work for another couple months, then all of a sudden
it works again, and so on. Right now its not working again. I bought a new
keyboard - no luck. I reinstalled Windows - still no luck. I figure it must
be a problem with the Windows system or a bad connection on the computer.
What do you think? (PS - Please don't tell me to buy a new computer. I have a
newer one. I want to keep this old one.) Thanks, Barbara

Details of the keyboard - or at least its connector might help.

Does it use a ps/2 connector or a USB connector?
Is it an optical or even infrared keyboard? (contains or uses batteries -
flat batteries?)

Does the keyboard work in Safe Mode, even if it doesn't work in Normal Mode?
To boot into Safe Mode, Keep stabbing the F8 key (or the Shift key) whist
your computer boots-up, or press and hold the Ctrl key during boot-up.

N.B - If you can't perform the previous suggestion then you've either got
another faulty keyboard, keyboard cable/plug, "a bad connection on the
computer." or possibly a hardware problem with the computer itself.

Finally, does the 'suspect' keyboard(s) work with your "newer computer"?

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
I have Windows ME on my older computer - the keyboard works fine for a
couple
of months, then it won't work for another couple months, then all of a
sudden
it works again, and so on. Right now its not working again. I bought a new
keyboard - no luck. I reinstalled Windows - still no luck. I figure it
must
be a problem with the Windows system or a bad connection on the computer.
What do you think? (PS - Please don't tell me to buy a new computer. I
have a
newer one. I want to keep this old one.) Thanks, Barbara

Mart,

Yes I was able to hit F8 and get into Safe Mode and then I was able to go
into Word Perfect and type with the keyboard, so yes the keyboard did work in
Safe Mode.

This Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work) uses a USB - the part
on the keyboard that connects to the back of the computer has a oblong square
connection. My newer computer with Windows XP uses a round purple connection
- I guess that's a PS2? So I was not able to connect the old keyboard to my
new computer or vice versa. However, I did buy a new USB keyboard (with
square connection) and connect it to the Windows ME computer and the new
keyboard didn't work either.

Optical or infrared?? I don't know. The Windows ME keyboard is the standard
keyboard that came with a package deal - it's a Compaq computer 5000 series
with 256 megs RAM that I bought brand new about 7 or 8 years ago from the
store.

Batteries? I have never used batteries or put batteries in the keyboard. I
just looked at it and I don't see anywhere to put batteries.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Barbara


"Mart" wrote:

Details of the keyboard - or at least its connector might help.

Does it use a ps/2 connector or a USB connector?
Is it an optical or even infrared keyboard? (contains or uses batteries -
flat batteries?)

Does the keyboard work in Safe Mode, even if it doesn't work in Normal Mode?
To boot into Safe Mode, Keep stabbing the F8 key (or the Shift key) whist
your computer boots-up, or press and hold the Ctrl key during boot-up.

N.B - If you can't perform the previous suggestion then you've either got
another faulty keyboard, keyboard cable/plug, "a bad connection on the
computer." or possibly a hardware problem with the computer itself.

Finally, does the 'suspect' keyboard(s) work with your "newer computer"?

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
I have Windows ME on my older computer - the keyboard works fine for a
couple
of months, then it won't work for another couple months, then all of a
sudden
it works again, and so on. Right now its not working again. I bought a new
keyboard - no luck. I reinstalled Windows - still no luck. I figure it
must
be a problem with the Windows system or a bad connection on the computer.
What do you think? (PS - Please don't tell me to buy a new computer. I
have a
newer one. I want to keep this old one.) Thanks, Barbara

OK Barbara, as your keyboard(s) do not use batteries then that is one
potential problem out of the way!

However, I think you've lost me a little bit. Can I take it that the
"Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work)" does actually work in Safe
Mode, but NOT in Normal Mode?

Can I also take that "the new keyboard (which) didn't work either" does work
in Safe Mode too?

If so, it sounds like the keyboard(s) themselves are OK and you appear to
have driver issues. You may therefore have to re-install your keyboard
drivers - after first uninstalling in Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs
and/or removing them in Device Manager. I would expect that Compaq should
have supplied the correct driver with the original keyboard as they are
probably not MS's own drivers. You *may* need to consult your User Manual
for detailed advice.

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
Mart,

Yes I was able to hit F8 and get into Safe Mode and then I was able to go
into Word Perfect and type with the keyboard, so yes the keyboard did work
in
Safe Mode.

This Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work) uses a USB - the part
on the keyboard that connects to the back of the computer has a oblong
square
connection. My newer computer with Windows XP uses a round purple
connection
- I guess that's a PS2? So I was not able to connect the old keyboard to
my
new computer or vice versa. However, I did buy a new USB keyboard (with
square connection) and connect it to the Windows ME computer and the new
keyboard didn't work either.

Optical or infrared?? I don't know. The Windows ME keyboard is the
standard
keyboard that came with a package deal - it's a Compaq computer 5000
series
with 256 megs RAM that I bought brand new about 7 or 8 years ago from the
store.

Batteries? I have never used batteries or put batteries in the keyboard. I
just looked at it and I don't see anywhere to put batteries.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Barbara


"Mart" wrote:

Details of the keyboard - or at least its connector might help.

Does it use a ps/2 connector or a USB connector?
Is it an optical or even infrared keyboard? (contains or uses batteries -
flat batteries?)

Does the keyboard work in Safe Mode, even if it doesn't work in Normal
Mode?
To boot into Safe Mode, Keep stabbing the F8 key (or the Shift key)
whist
your computer boots-up, or press and hold the Ctrl key during boot-up.

N.B - If you can't perform the previous suggestion then you've either got
another faulty keyboard, keyboard cable/plug, "a bad connection on the
computer." or possibly a hardware problem with the computer itself.

Finally, does the 'suspect' keyboard(s) work with your "newer computer"?

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
I have Windows ME on my older computer - the keyboard works fine for a
couple
of months, then it won't work for another couple months, then all of a
sudden
it works again, and so on. Right now its not working again. I bought a
new
keyboard - no luck. I reinstalled Windows - still no luck. I figure it
must
be a problem with the Windows system or a bad connection on the
computer.
What do you think? (PS - Please don't tell me to buy a new computer. I
have a
newer one. I want to keep this old one.) Thanks, Barbara

"Barbara" wrote in message
...
Yes I was able to hit F8 and get into Safe Mode and then I was able to go
into Word Perfect and type with the keyboard, so yes the keyboard did work in
Safe Mode.
((..omitted..))

Did I understand correctly that the machine is an older model?

If so, and the keyboard is USB, and it's working in SAFE mode, the BIOS is
probably set up to emulate a PS/2 keyboard from a USB one. The setup option
often looks something like "Keyboard [Legacy mode/USB]" or "Legacy Keyboard
[on/off]" or "USB Keyboard [PS/2 Normal]" or something like that.

I've run into a couple of cases where the Windows drivers and the BIOS legacy
keyboard support got in each others way. Symptoms were usually lost keystrokes
under Windows, except in safe mode, where everything worked. Turning off
legacy support cleared up the problem, but it had the down side that if you
wanted to boot to safe mode you had to remember to stop in BIOS on the way and
turn legacy support back on, THEN when booting to normal stop again and turn it
off.

Your symptoms sound something like an extreme form of this.

- Bill

Mart - Correct - The Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work) DOES
work in Safe Mode but not in normal mode. I did not try the NEW keyboard in
Safe Mode - I have already taken it back to the store for a refund.

There is NO DRIVER for the keyboard from Compaq. Is there any other way to
fix the keyboard, maybe within the Windows system??

Thanks so much,
Barbara

"Mart" wrote:

OK Barbara, as your keyboard(s) do not use batteries then that is one
potential problem out of the way!

However, I think you've lost me a little bit. Can I take it that the
"Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work)" does actually work in Safe
Mode, but NOT in Normal Mode?

Can I also take that "the new keyboard (which) didn't work either" does work
in Safe Mode too?



If so, it sounds like the keyboard(s) themselves are OK and you appear to
have driver issues. You may therefore have to re-install your keyboard
drivers - after first uninstalling in Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs
and/or removing them in Device Manager. I would expect that Compaq should
have supplied the correct driver with the original keyboard as they are
probably not MS's own drivers. You *may* need to consult your User Manual
for detailed advice.

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
Mart,

Yes I was able to hit F8 and get into Safe Mode and then I was able to go
into Word Perfect and type with the keyboard, so yes the keyboard did work
in
Safe Mode.

This Windows ME keyboard (the one that doesn't work) uses a USB - the part
on the keyboard that connects to the back of the computer has a oblong
square
connection. My newer computer with Windows XP uses a round purple
connection
- I guess that's a PS2? So I was not able to connect the old keyboard to
my
new computer or vice versa. However, I did buy a new USB keyboard (with
square connection) and connect it to the Windows ME computer and the new
keyboard didn't work either.

Optical or infrared?? I don't know. The Windows ME keyboard is the
standard
keyboard that came with a package deal - it's a Compaq computer 5000
series
with 256 megs RAM that I bought brand new about 7 or 8 years ago from the
store.

Batteries? I have never used batteries or put batteries in the keyboard. I
just looked at it and I don't see anywhere to put batteries.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Barbara


"Mart" wrote:

Details of the keyboard - or at least its connector might help.

Does it use a ps/2 connector or a USB connector?
Is it an optical or even infrared keyboard? (contains or uses batteries -
flat batteries?)

Does the keyboard work in Safe Mode, even if it doesn't work in Normal
Mode?
To boot into Safe Mode, Keep stabbing the F8 key (or the Shift key)
whist
your computer boots-up, or press and hold the Ctrl key during boot-up.

N.B - If you can't perform the previous suggestion then you've either got
another faulty keyboard, keyboard cable/plug, "a bad connection on the
computer." or possibly a hardware problem with the computer itself.

Finally, does the 'suspect' keyboard(s) work with your "newer computer"?

Mart



"Barbara" wrote in message
...
I have Windows ME on my older computer - the keyboard works fine for a
couple
of months, then it won't work for another couple months, then all of a
sudden
it works again, and so on. Right now its not working again. I bought a
new
keyboard - no luck. I reinstalled Windows - still no luck. I figure it
must
be a problem with the Windows system or a bad connection on the
computer.
What do you think? (PS - Please don't tell me to buy a new computer. I
have a
newer one. I want to keep this old one.) Thanks, Barbara

William - Yes - This computer is about 7 or 8 years old - a Compaq I bought
new from the store - a Presario 5000 series with 256 megs RAM.

If like you say -- "the BIOS is
probably set up to emulate a PS/2 keyboard from a USB one." -- how did it get that way? Since the keyboard works for a couple of months then it stops working again, then all of a sudden starts working again. I haven't changed any settings. It just starts working and stops working on its own.

Can you explain in simple terms "legacy support" - what is it and how do I
turn it off? I'll check and see if that's the problem.

Thanks,
Barbara

"William J. Leary Jr." wrote:

"Barbara" wrote in message
...
Yes I was able to hit F8 and get into Safe Mode and then I was able to go
into Word Perfect and type with the keyboard, so yes the keyboard did work in
Safe Mode.
((..omitted..))

Did I understand correctly that the machine is an older model?

If so, and the keyboard is USB, and it's working in SAFE mode, the BIOS is
probably set up to emulate a PS/2 keyboard from a USB one. The setup option
often looks something like "Keyboard [Legacy mode/USB]" or "Legacy Keyboard
[on/off]" or "USB Keyboard [PS/2 Normal]" or something like that.

I've run into a couple of cases where the Windows drivers and the BIOS legacy
keyboard support got in each others way. Symptoms were usually lost keystrokes
under Windows, except in safe mode, where everything worked. Turning off
legacy support cleared up the problem, but it had the down side that if you
wanted to boot to safe mode you had to remember to stop in BIOS on the way and
turn legacy support back on, THEN when booting to normal stop again and turn it
off.

Your symptoms sound something like an extreme form of this.

- Bill

"Barbara" wrote in message
news
William - Yes - This computer is about 7 or 8 years old - a Compaq I bought
new from the store - a Presario 5000 series with 256 megs RAM.

If like you say -- "the BIOS is
probably set up to emulate a PS/2 keyboard from a USB one." -- how did it
get that way? Since the keyboard works for a couple of months then it stops
working again, then all of a sudden starts working again. I haven't changed any
settings. It just starts working and stops working on its own.

If it's that old, the battery backup for the CMOS may be out or on it's way out
and the setting isn't being preserved correctly. These days that setting would
be in ESCD FLASH, but for a machine that old, it may be in CMOS.

Can you explain in simple terms "legacy support" - what is it and how do I
turn it off? I'll check and see if that's the problem.

"Legacy support" basically means "make new stuff look like old stuff." Since
older operating systems had/have no idea how to support an USB keyboard, the
BIOS gets in there and takes the new device, a USB keyboard or mouse, and does
some magic* to make it appear to the operating system that it's a PS/2 mouse.

The glitch here, though, is that ME does support USB (1.1 anyway) so, depending
on how well the BIOS legacy support is implemented, you may get conflicts
between the BIOS and the OS trying to deal with the keyboard. This really
shouldn't happen, but sometimes it does anyway.

The other glitch which sometimes occurs is that the BIOS software which
supports the USB to PS/2 translation gets conflicts with the operating system.

In most cases where I've seen this, though, the keyboard isn't totally dead,
it's just very unreliable while in the OS. But works perfectly in BIOS or Safe
Mode.

What you'd need to do is go into your BIOS setup screens by pressing the right
key as the system powers up. On many machines it's DEL or ESC, but Compaq, as
I recall, uses an odd key to do this, but it may say which one while booting.
I don't remember which one it is right now. And on some older (this MAY be old
enough) computers, there wasn't even a BIOS setup. Rather, you used a floppy
which booted into a BIOS setup routine.

Anyway, once you're in there you're looking for something that mentions either
"Legacy keyboard" or "USB keyboard" or something like that. For the first, it
would probably have an ON/OFF selection. For the second it might have a "Legacy
/ OS" selection. It's just about always paired with the same selections for
the mouse. Whatever it is, you need to turn it off, then see if ME picks up
the keyboard as USB rather than PS/2.

You might want to check this whole thing first by trying a for-real PS/2
keyboard first. Most machines of that period (and even today) would have a
PS/2 keyboard and mouse connector along with USB connectors.

- Bill
_____________
* "magic," of course, being an obscure technical term meaing "it's too much to
explain in this context."

William,

I tried your directions and by hitting the DELETE key, I was able to get
something that said Compaq Corporation for Setup Utility. I scrolled over to
Advanced then Device Options. The USB Legacy Keyboard Support was on Enable.
I changed it to Disable ( I know that's not what you said but I did it anyway
to see what it would do.) Then I shut down the computer and restarted it. It
started in Safe Mode and I hit Restore Desktop. Again, the keyboard worked in
Word Perfect, but I think that's because it was in Safe Mode.

I then shut the computer down and restarted it and the keyboard now does not
work again.

I tried restarting it and hitting the Delete to get back to that screen
again that says Compaq Corp. for Setup Utility but it won't go into the Setup
Utility now. I've tried several times hitting the Delete key but it just
starts up normally so I can't get that screen back again. I've also tried
hitting F8 to get it to the Safe Mode screen but that doesn't work now either.

Yes I did try connecting a PS2 keyboard - there is a connection for it - but
the computer won't start at all. It freezes during the startup.

Well I think this old computer is about ready for the trashcan. If you have
anything other ideas I'll give it one more stab.

Did you say all of this is because the battery needs to be replaced?? Or did
I misunderstand. Where do you get a battery for a computer?

One other question, unrelated if you know. When I was doing a Windows Update
on this old Windows ME computer a few days ago, I think I saw something pop
up on the screen that said Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows ME/98
for updates. Does that mean that if I need to reinstall Windows on this old
ME computer, there will be no Windows Updates available to download?

Thanks,
Barbara




"William J. Leary Jr." wrote:

"Barbara" wrote in message
news
William - Yes - This computer is about 7 or 8 years old - a Compaq I bought
new from the store - a Presario 5000 series with 256 megs RAM.

If like you say -- "the BIOS is
probably set up to emulate a PS/2 keyboard from a USB one." -- how did it
get that way? Since the keyboard works for a couple of months then it stops
working again, then all of a sudden starts working again. I haven't changed any
settings. It just starts working and stops working on its own.

If it's that old, the battery backup for the CMOS may be out or on it's way out
and the setting isn't being preserved correctly. These days that setting would
be in ESCD FLASH, but for a machine that old, it may be in CMOS.

Can you explain in simple terms "legacy support" - what is it and how do I
turn it off? I'll check and see if that's the problem.

"Legacy support" basically means "make new stuff look like old stuff." Since
older operating systems had/have no idea how to support an USB keyboard, the
BIOS gets in there and takes the new device, a USB keyboard or mouse, and does
some magic* to make it appear to the operating system that it's a PS/2 mouse.

The glitch here, though, is that ME does support USB (1.1 anyway) so, depending
on how well the BIOS legacy support is implemented, you may get conflicts
between the BIOS and the OS trying to deal with the keyboard. This really
shouldn't happen, but sometimes it does anyway.

The other glitch which sometimes occurs is that the BIOS software which
supports the USB to PS/2 translation gets conflicts with the operating system.

In most cases where I've seen this, though, the keyboard isn't totally dead,
it's just very unreliable while in the OS. But works perfectly in BIOS or Safe
Mode.

What you'd need to do is go into your BIOS setup screens by pressing the right
key as the system powers up. On many machines it's DEL or ESC, but Compaq, as
I recall, uses an odd key to do this, but it may say which one while booting.
I don't remember which one it is right now. And on some older (this MAY be old
enough) computers, there wasn't even a BIOS setup. Rather, you used a floppy
which booted into a BIOS setup routine.

Anyway, once you're in there you're looking for something that mentions either
"Legacy keyboard" or "USB keyboard" or something like that. For the first, it
would probably have an ON/OFF selection. For the second it might have a "Legacy
/ OS" selection. It's just about always paired with the same selections for
the mouse. Whatever it is, you need to turn it off, then see if ME picks up
the keyboard as USB rather than PS/2.

You might want to check this whole thing first by trying a for-real PS/2
keyboard first. Most machines of that period (and even today) would have a
PS/2 keyboard and mouse connector along with USB connectors.

- Bill
_____________
* "magic," of course, being an obscure technical term meaing "it's too much to
explain in this context."

"Barbara" wrote in message
...
I tried your directions and by hitting the DELETE key, I was able to get
something that said Compaq Corporation for Setup Utility. I scrolled over to
Advanced then Device Options. The USB Legacy Keyboard Support was on Enable.
I changed it to Disable ( I know that's not what you said but I did it anyway
to see what it would do.)

Actually, that is what you wanted to do. But...

Then I shut down the computer and restarted it. It
started in Safe Mode and I hit Restore Desktop. Again, the keyboard worked in
Word Perfect, but I think that's because it was in Safe Mode.

From what you say next, I think you're right.

I then shut the computer down and restarted it and the keyboard now does not
work again.

I tried restarting it and hitting the Delete to get back to that screen
again that says Compaq Corp. for Setup Utility but it won't go into the Setup
Utility now. I've tried several times hitting the Delete key but it just
starts up normally so I can't get that screen back again. I've also tried
hitting F8 to get it to the Safe Mode screen but that doesn't work now
either.

Something new.

Yes I did try connecting a PS2 keyboard - there is a connection for it - but
the computer won't start at all. It freezes during the startup.

You'd disconnected the USB one, I assume?

Well I think this old computer is about ready for the trashcan.

You may be right. I don't recall ever seeing one do just what you're
describing. I'm sorry I hadn't thought what I'm about to say all the way
through, but with the machine that old it may be that it won't operate the USB
keyboard for BIOS without that setting enabled. Still, you should be able to
get in with a PS/2 one and set it back to enabled. For that matter, you should
be able, especially with that setting turned off, use the PS/2 keyboard in
BIOS, Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

But...

If you have
anything other ideas I'll give it one more stab.

If you didn't already, pull off the USB keyboard, attach the PS/2 one and try
to get into BIOS again. You might take off the mouse too, for the BIOS
exploration anyway.

What kind of mouse (PS/2 or USB) do you have, by the way?

Did you say all of this is because the battery needs to be replaced??

The comes-and-goes aspect might be due to the battery needing to be replaced.

Or did I misunderstand.

Perhaps partially, but pretty close.

Where do you get a battery for a computer?

For a Compaq, and an old one at that, I couldn't be sure. I usually get them
at Radio Shack or, if that fails, a jewelers. You'd want to pull the old one
first and take it with you. On MOST (repeat MOST) computers it's a coin style
battery, like a very large watch battery. Maybe dime to nickle size. But I've
seen some with actual watch batteries, some with the battery under a chip, and
some even with a pair of AA Duracells.

When you did the "shutdown," it powered off? If the battery is gone, and this
setting is even in CMOS, you'd have lost it when it powered off. Probably
better to restart rather then power down.

One other question, unrelated if you know. When I was doing a Windows Update
on this old Windows ME computer a few days ago, I think I saw something pop
up on the screen that said Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows ME/98
for updates.

Correct.

Does that mean that if I need to reinstall Windows on this old
ME computer, there will be no Windows Updates available to download?

I installed ME on a laptop about three weeks ago. Then downloaded all the
updates. I expect the update site will be fully functional for a year or more.

A question: Can you tell me the exact model and date of manufacture of the
computer? We've got a number of quite old Compaqs doing data collection and
terminal server duty at work. I may be able to find a similar one and do some
experimenting myself.

- Bill