Yet Another Geek Thread - Weird Keyboard Problem

[crokett]

The computer I got to be my NAS box is a Dell PowerEdge that I got free because of a keyboard problem. I was told that when Windows starts to load, it sits at the slidy bar screen until you pull the keyboard plug, then plug it back in. The keyboard works fine in BIOS and/or during the text portions of the Linux install that I played with. I tried booting a Linux Live CD (fully capable OS that loads from a CD) and it hung during loading also.

Having to reseat the keybard plug is not a big deal for me since once the machine is up it won't be rebooted too often. However I was thinking (besides bad system board) possible causes might be IRQ conflict, except with modern PCs that is rare (and there is nothing in any of the PCI slots). Any other ideas?

[Hellrazor]

Try a USB KB/Mouse combo and see if it goes away.

[LinuxRandal]

Try a usb keyboard, or better yet, as a nas box, and since X (if needed, but normally not on a server) cab be run remotely, after initial setup, remove the keyboard entirely.

[Alex Franke]

Same thing happened to me last year, actually. I just assumed there was a problem with the electronics or the cable and bought a new one.

[jonmulzer]

Yep. First things first, are you using the same keyboard they were? Are you using USB or the other plug I cannot think of the name of at the moment and am too lazy to Google? I would wager either a bad keyboard or a bad receptacle.

[crokett]

I am using a different keyboard. One of mine that AFIK is good. It has been sitting in a file cabinet for a year or 2. The one I have plugs into the PS/2 port. I don't know what kind he used. I will try to find an adapter and/or a USB keyboard. I'm just wondering why it works fine in BIOS but not when you load a driver. Weird.