Have you tried again with a keyboard that fuctions on another computer, or
tried your original keyboard on another machine that works? That could
narrow this down to a broken keyboard, or some maner of issue with the USB
controller. You also might try resetting the BIOS of your machine, in case
the USB Support for DOS function inside the BIOS has been disabled. The easy
way to reset a Dell BIOS is by removing that little watch battery from its
clips on the mainboard and shorting the connections for a couple seconds
with a paperclip. Dell may also use a jumper to reset the BIOS, but if they
do, it's not clearly labeled. Hope this helps. :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dianne Erdos-Rush
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 6:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCBUILD] I believe I am already subscribed....


Subject: A CONUNDRUM


I have found the definition of a Catch 22.

Am doing a clean XP PRO install on a Dell computer.
The dos screen tells me there is a keyboard failure.  But the lights on the
keyboard are on.  The computer boots from the disk, it goes through its blue
screen uploading the basics, then it gives me the screen asking if I would
like to continue installing XP, all I have to do is click ENTER.  But it
doesn't recognize the keyboard.  There are only USB ports no PS/2 ports on
the tower, I have tried all the possible USB ports.  So the only way I can
see to fix the keyboard error is by hitting enter on the keyboard, but.....
you see the problem? Help. Thanks to anyone who can.... Dianne

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