keyboard not functioning, lights continuously blinking...

[jessiem25]

Hello all,

I've been troubleshooting the keyboard on an older pc (windows 2000) all afternoon, and have gotten nowhere. The keyboard doesn't work, but no errors come up upon rebooting the machine. Plus, all the LEDs on the keyboard (caps, num lock, etc...) all blink simultaneously and continuously. I've switched keyboards, and the same thing happens. Could this be a sign of a bad ps/2 connection? Is it possible to run the machine with both the keyboard and the mouse on USB connections?

Thanks for your thoughts!

-jessie

 

[pmonett]

I've never heard of a PS/2 connector gone wrong, but hey, nothing is impossible, right ?
In any case, if you have a connector that transforms a PS/2 to a USB, you could try reconnecting the keyboard like that. Given the number of USB mice and keyboards that exist nowadays, the obvious answer to your last question is Yes.

I would also try connecting a different keyboard to the same PS/2 connector. One you know works. That way you could establish beyond doubt that it is indeed a connector issue. Because it could also be a keyboard issue, in which case you'd have to replace the keyboard.

Pascal.

 

[edfair]

Suspicion that you have lost the motherboard. Or a bad contact in the connector.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Tels]

I would agree with Ed, in that a continuous blinking of all the lights on the keyboard seems a little too.. deliberate to be a loose connector, it's as if the motherboard is deliberately putting out those signals, unless the keyboard itself is shot, which is unlikely, since you tried another keyboard I think.?

Since the keyb. controller is built onto the motherboard, you have 2 options: Replace the keyboard with a USB option and hope the problem is confined to the PS/2 keyboard ONLY (likely since no other problems have been noted), or replace the System Board....

Hope this helps & best of luck

Terry-Lee Blay
MCP, A+, Net+, Server+, APS, IBM Thinkpads/Portables
webwarrior@angelfire.com

 

[jessiem25]

Well, after much troubleshooting with several keyboards (both ps/2 & usb), the motherboard was basically toast. I ordered a new one the same day.

Thanks for all your help everyone!