Using Vista Home Premium which will no longer start. I cannot use the Recovery Disk although I've set the BIOS to boot from the CD-Drive first. I get the message "booting from cd-rom" but then it asks me to press any key to boot from cd-rom. Although I press a key (many keys in fact) it doesn't respond to the key board and goes into the next windows screen which asks for normal boot, safe boot, network boot etc. Again I cannot change the variety of boot because it doesn't know the keyboards there. It counts down from 30 seconds and then I just get blank screen. Any help would be greatly appreciated. MESH pc about 1 year old.
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vista wont start & keyboard not detected
- Thread starter Rows
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks for your response. Yes it is a USB keyboard. Changing the USB port seemed to make no difference at all. Yes I could get into the BIOS to make CD-ROM first boot. I can try one other USB keyboard. Would it be better to use a standard PS2 keyboard? Any idea what's going on? I think I'd just installed SP2. As things stand I cannot do anything.
OK, let's backup one steps.
We know the keyboard and the port it is plugged into works because you can use it to navigate into the BIOS.
So, if you allow the PC to attempt to boot to Vista, not your recovery CD, what happens? (All you state is that "it will no longer start")
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
We know the keyboard and the port it is plugged into works because you can use it to navigate into the BIOS.
So, if you allow the PC to attempt to boot to Vista, not your recovery CD, what happens? (All you state is that "it will no longer start")
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
- Thread starter
- #5
Appreciate your help. PC starts and I get the usual BIOS messages - black screen white text. At the point where Windows starts loading nothing happens. The screen remains black. I get no messages from Vista/Windows at all. After a few minutes I turn off. Next time I turn on I get message "windows failed to start" from the "windows recovery console". However I cannot run the recovery cd because, although the system attempts to boot from the cd, it asks me to "press any key" before it will continue. By now it's no longer detecting the keyboard. So I press lots of keys but it doesn't register and the cd boot never begins.
- Thread starter
- #6
OK, first I would try a ps2 keyboard if you 1) have one and 2) your pc has a ps2 port.
Otherwise, I would unplug the hub and set it aside until you've fixed the problem -- no need for this variable to exist. Plug the keyboard directly into a USB port on the PC. Boot into the BIOS. Choose your option for RESET DEFAULTS, save changes and EXIT.
The system will reboot. Just AFTER the BIOS POST completes and just BEFORE Windows starts to BOOT start pressing the F8 key. Hopefully the keyboard will still be functional at this point and the system will display the advanced boot options. If so, choose SAFE MODE. Let the system boot completely to SAFE MODE. Navigate to DEVICE MANAGER, expand the keyboard option and uninstall any keyboards listed there. Reboot the PC and allow it to attempt to fully boot in "normal mode".
If this doesn't work or you were not able to get the advanced boot options let me know. (You may need to try different USB ports, like if you have a bank on the back and a bank on the front try both banks)
PS -- I am not grasping at straws here...I had this SAME problem with a USB keyboard on my daughter's XP machine.
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
Otherwise, I would unplug the hub and set it aside until you've fixed the problem -- no need for this variable to exist. Plug the keyboard directly into a USB port on the PC. Boot into the BIOS. Choose your option for RESET DEFAULTS, save changes and EXIT.
The system will reboot. Just AFTER the BIOS POST completes and just BEFORE Windows starts to BOOT start pressing the F8 key. Hopefully the keyboard will still be functional at this point and the system will display the advanced boot options. If so, choose SAFE MODE. Let the system boot completely to SAFE MODE. Navigate to DEVICE MANAGER, expand the keyboard option and uninstall any keyboards listed there. Reboot the PC and allow it to attempt to fully boot in "normal mode".
If this doesn't work or you were not able to get the advanced boot options let me know. (You may need to try different USB ports, like if you have a bank on the back and a bank on the front try both banks)
PS -- I am not grasping at straws here...I had this SAME problem with a USB keyboard on my daughter's XP machine.
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
- Thread starter
- #8
Rows - check in the BIOS setup for a setting that is called "USB LEGACY SUPPORT" (or similar), and set that to ENABLED... that should get your USB keyboard working under Vista...
once BIOS is finished, it gives control over to the OS and that means that USB will get activated once the USB drivers are loaded...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
once BIOS is finished, it gives control over to the OS and that means that USB will get activated once the USB drivers are loaded...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
You May Be Unable to Access the Windows Advanced Options Menu When You Use a USB Keyboard
- Thread starter
- #12
Haven't bought PS2 keybord yet.
I got into the BIOS and looked at USB settings. There were 2. One for USB keyboard and one for USB mouse. The options for each were-
1)Operating System (OS)
2)BIOS
I changed both to BIOS and saved. This has given me control of these peripherals after boot. That's progress.
When I turn on now I get "Boot from CD" at the bottom of the screen. I press enter. I get the message "windows is loading files" but when they are loaded nothing happens. The PC simply reboots. I get as far as the "booting from CD" message.
If I press nothing and just wait I get the "Windows Error Recovery" screen which has the following options
1)insert Windows installation disk and restart
2)choose language settings and click "Next"
3)Click "Repair your computer"
Under these there are "Other Options"
1)safe mode
2)safe mode with networking
3)last known good config (LKGC)
4)start Windows normally
I tried LKGC and it just left me with a blank black screen
I still get the impression that the CD isn't actually booting because I never get to see "Repair your computer" at any point, much as I'd like to. Thanks for your continuing interest. How do I get to "Repair your computer"?
I got into the BIOS and looked at USB settings. There were 2. One for USB keyboard and one for USB mouse. The options for each were-
1)Operating System (OS)
2)BIOS
I changed both to BIOS and saved. This has given me control of these peripherals after boot. That's progress.
When I turn on now I get "Boot from CD" at the bottom of the screen. I press enter. I get the message "windows is loading files" but when they are loaded nothing happens. The PC simply reboots. I get as far as the "booting from CD" message.
If I press nothing and just wait I get the "Windows Error Recovery" screen which has the following options
1)insert Windows installation disk and restart
2)choose language settings and click "Next"
3)Click "Repair your computer"
Under these there are "Other Options"
1)safe mode
2)safe mode with networking
3)last known good config (LKGC)
4)start Windows normally
I tried LKGC and it just left me with a blank black screen
I still get the impression that the CD isn't actually booting because I never get to see "Repair your computer" at any point, much as I'd like to. Thanks for your continuing interest. How do I get to "Repair your computer"?
I'd like to know a bit about the history of this machine. I assume it was working properly in the past. How did it involve from working to not working?
What is your Bios telling you about the hard drive? Is set up as a basic IDE, or is it setup as a SATA? Does it even see it?
Have you checked out the RAM?
You can try and use the inbuilt tester but it might have to boot for you to access it, same with any other tools mind you.
Even the hard drive manufacturer free diagnostic programs might not boot, but if they do they would thoroughly check the condition of the hard drive.
If it is not something silly like a Bios Setting (have you tried the Safe defaults?) maybe it something serious like the Motherboard or Processor?
What is your Bios telling you about the hard drive? Is set up as a basic IDE, or is it setup as a SATA? Does it even see it?
Have you checked out the RAM?
You can try and use the inbuilt tester but it might have to boot for you to access it, same with any other tools mind you.
Even the hard drive manufacturer free diagnostic programs might not boot, but if they do they would thoroughly check the condition of the hard drive.
If it is not something silly like a Bios Setting (have you tried the Safe defaults?) maybe it something serious like the Motherboard or Processor?
It looks like it is loading of the HDD, as you get the BCD screen...
as Linney pointed out, what happens when you attempt "Safe Mode"?
I believe there may be something really wrong with your PC, either hardware related or simply a wrong setting in the BIOS somewhere, as booting from the CD should work...
Now, I would continue in this manner...
1. Check RAM from another bootable source, e.g. USB Stick or bootable CD (Memtest86+)...
2. unplug the DVD ROM and try to boot... if it does then your DVD Rom is at fault...
3. unplug the hard drive and attempt to boot from the DVD, if it succeeds then try another HDD...
keep us updated on your progress...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
as Linney pointed out, what happens when you attempt "Safe Mode"?
I believe there may be something really wrong with your PC, either hardware related or simply a wrong setting in the BIOS somewhere, as booting from the CD should work...
Now, I would continue in this manner...
1. Check RAM from another bootable source, e.g. USB Stick or bootable CD (Memtest86+)...
2. unplug the DVD ROM and try to boot... if it does then your DVD Rom is at fault...
3. unplug the hard drive and attempt to boot from the DVD, if it succeeds then try another HDD...
keep us updated on your progress...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
- Thread starter
- #16
Just before this happened I loaded Vista Service Pack 2, but there may be no connection.
I can't get into Safe Mode. If I attempt it loads a screen full of system files, gets as far as crcdisk.sys and then I get a "please wait.." message at the bottom of the screen which doesn't go away.
The Bios lists these hard drives -
SATA Channel 3 HDT76987(blah)
SATA Channel 4 TSSTCorp CDDVDW
SATA Channel 6 ST325 (blah)
SC3 and SC6 are the hard drives, both with 250GB. SC3 has hard disk prority.
Below this it lists -
Base Memory 640K
Extended Memory 4193280K
So it looks as if it can see the hard drives and the 4GB RAM
I can't get into Safe Mode. If I attempt it loads a screen full of system files, gets as far as crcdisk.sys and then I get a "please wait.." message at the bottom of the screen which doesn't go away.
The Bios lists these hard drives -
SATA Channel 3 HDT76987(blah)
SATA Channel 4 TSSTCorp CDDVDW
SATA Channel 6 ST325 (blah)
SC3 and SC6 are the hard drives, both with 250GB. SC3 has hard disk prority.
Below this it lists -
Base Memory 640K
Extended Memory 4193280K
So it looks as if it can see the hard drives and the 4GB RAM
Can you try unplugging all non-essential components (DVD drives, secondary HDs, printers, scanners, sound cards, etc) and booting into Safe Mode. So you're pretty much left with a video card, ram, boot drive and a system board.
If you get into Safe Mode OK you can check the event logs. If there are errors you can deal with them accordingly. If there aren't you can begin replacing items 1 by 1 to see when the boot failure occurs.
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
If you get into Safe Mode OK you can check the event logs. If there are errors you can deal with them accordingly. If there aren't you can begin replacing items 1 by 1 to see when the boot failure occurs.
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
- Thread starter
- #18
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