Help! Windows won't install my keyboard....

Soldato
Joined
20 Jul 2004
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Location
Dublin, Ireland
First off....yes i am typing this on another computer :P

Ok here's my problem, i unplugged the keyboard from my computer because i was setting up a new box i put together, got that done, and plugged back in my keyboard into my main box.

Windows (XP, sp2) proceeds to ask for device drivers (for a USB keyboard?) so i click on automatically find software..... "Windows can not find software for you hardware device"....... oh ******

I have managed to get windows to install drivers for a HID compliant device by pointing it at the windows\system\drivers folder, but the keyboard remains dead. So i uninstalled that.

I can not get windows to install the correct driver either manually or automatically.

Anybody got any ideas? could somebody list the files used as driver if they have a bog standard generic USB keyboard.

Also tried a PS/2 keyboard, window flat out refused identiy it..."Unkown Device"


I'm lost here, normally i can fix thing like this through shear persistance and luck, but maybe i'm missing something fundemental. Thanks in advance, this driving me nuts

Nate
 
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Tried an alternative USB port? Sometimes just using another port works when the initial port fails
As you probably know, P/S2 had to be done before switching on or you may end up damaging something. I blew up my P/S2 KVM by plugging it in while the pc was powered on
 
Thanks for your replies gentlemen, i Have tried rebooting with the Keyboards attached, detached, and in different ports. I have even downloaded the generic microsoft driver too, no go . Windows refuses to install the keyboard driver for it.

I cant believe i'm heading for a complete reinstall because of this, but i am gonna nuke windows if cant solve this soon, it doing my head in.

Any Ideas welcome at this point,

Nate
 
Mp4 said:
Have you enabled for usb keyboard to be used in an OS in your bios?

That isn't an available option in my bios menu (Gigabyte DS-3), Only have options for Usb On or off,USB 2 on or off, Mouse support and Keyboard support. All of which are enabled.

Good suggestion though thanks, keep the ideas coming Gents, However I do suspect this has something to do with the way windows handles USB drivers, rather than a hardware issue.

Nate
 
When you go to install the drivers are you just point it to a location on your hdd? or do you have the winxp cd in the drive?

Also check in device manager that nothing is causing a conflict
 
Mp4 said:
When you go to install the drivers are you just point it to a location on your hdd? or do you have the winxp cd in the drive?

Also check in device manager that nothing is causing a conflict

Nothing Seems to be causing a conflict, just the USB Keyboard with the little yellow excalmation mark.

I have let it automatically search for drivers(with the XP disk in the drive), i have manually pointed it too the xp cd, the windows folder, the windows system32 folder, the windows\system32\ drivers folder.

The only device it found that it said was compatatible was a "HID human input device" which does not work. It found this in the windows\system 32\drivers folder. Windows Left to it own devices will not find a compatible driver at all.

A keyboard is so bloody basic it shouldn't need an external driver.

Could you do me a favour and list the files your keyboard uses for drivers?


Nate

Edit:- Indeed, should have stated earlier that this is XP with sp2 intalled and fully updated in windows update.
 
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In my Device manager > HID (Human interface Devices)

Saitek Gamers keyboard
USB Human interface devices x 5 – 4 of them disabled (as it fubars some games)
 
burnsy2023 said:
Try pointing the driver to:
mouclass.sys
mouhis.sys

In the system32\drivers folder

Burnsy

Hmm Windows will only allow you to point to a directory or and *.INF file, when installing a driver, i can not specify driver files directly, as you indicate.

To reiterate, i have the generic microsoft *.inf driver file for a generic keyboard, but that won't install either.

To correct what i have stated before hand, the only compatible(in windows eyes) driver i found was in the Servicepackfiles/i386 folder in windows, it then started to look for files that are contained in the windows/system32/drivers folder. This then instaled a driver, that does not work, for a HID device.

I thank you for your help Gents

Nate
 
Fixed!, Don't know really how exactly, but it involved overwriting Sp2 files with files from the XP cd.

Sorry for taking up your time gents, but as i said before, i usually fix things like this by accident, and once again luck was on my side!

Thank you all for you Help

Nate
 
Firstly, I've had a few drinks and was pointing you to mouse drivers rather then keyboard ones, so I apologise :o


However, can't you specify a inbuilt driver through hardware update wizard? Specify "I'll choose the driver to install" and then goto "Microsoft"?

Try ticking and unticking the "show compatibile hardware" box.

Tried that?

Burnsy
 
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