Mouse & Keyboard stop working, tried everything

[TacticaLGS]

Hello, first of all I'm not at the house where the PC with the problem is anymore, so I wasn't able to ask Dell support because you need a code from the side of the tower.

I was using my PC like normal (just 3 weeks old) from Dell, which does not have PS/2 ports for keyboards/mice by the way. I needed to transfer a file onto my PSP, so I plugged the USB cable in, turned on the connection via the PSP and then everything went wrong. The keyboard stopped responding (lights didn't turn on either, eg caps lock) and the mouse didn't work either (optical light still on though).

I turned the computer off and restarted, that didn't help. I restarted again and tried Safe Mode, but because the keyboard wasn't working I couldn't open it.

I then took the connections out, turned the computer off, then put them back in. Still no luck.

Weird thing was, my speakers are USB connection and they worked fine when I restarted (Vista opening tune came out of the speakers) so I assume its not the USB connections but the computer itself?

Hopefully someone has the answer :S

 

[G0AOZ]

If it's only three weeks old then you shouldn't be messing with the innards as it may invalidate your warranty.

However, I'd suggest trying the mouse and keyboard on another machine, one that also uses USB K and M.

Leave the machine completely switched off and disconnected from the mains for a couple of hours. Then try plugging K and M back into the original sockets. Some peripherals are finnicky about being moved into different USBs. I'd suggest plugging in K and M when the machine is switched off and disconnected from the mains.

When power is applied to the motherboard, even though you haven't hit the power-on button on the front, watch to see if the l.e.d.s on the keyboard light up.

If no joy, you may need to try clearing CMOS but this will involve opening the case. I'd suggest you check with Dell before doing this.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[TacticaLGS]

Ok thanks I will try it when I go back.

Out of interest, what is CMOS and how would I clear it?

 

[G0AOZ]

CMOS: Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. A low powered device which will hold your system settings, like which drive to boot from first, date, time, and other important basic data to allow the machine to initially start up. Data is held within this device by a small battery, usually a round lithium button cell mounted on the motherboard. Very occasionally, settings can get corrupted, and motherboard factory defaults can be restored by removing power to the CMOS device. Most motherboards will have a 3-pin header marked CMOS NORMAL/CLR. To clear the settings and restore back to factory defaults, switch off the computer, then move the jumper from NORMAL to CLR (CLEAR) for a few seconds, and then back again to NORMAL. Power up computer. You will probably find the date is back to 01-01-2002 and time to 00:00:00. Adjust these settings and any others as required.

Hope that helps...


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[TacticaLGS]

thanks.. turns out all I needed to do was unplug the power again (tried it twice already..) and now its working again.