keyboard stops responding?

[kré]

after a random amount of time using windows, have seen anywhere between 2 minutes and half an hour, my keyboard stops responding, completely. the only way to get it going again is to reboot. i'm running winXP and have made no changes around when it started happening (2 or 3 days ago).

any suggestions?

[Turtle_Wrangler]

Is this a laptop keyboard, more specifically a dell model?
I had the same problem with my Inspirion 2650... it sorta fixed itself though...

[thingy]

I don't remember ever seeing any options in BIOS/windows etc to power down keyboards/ps2 ports/usb ports on machines, so the only things that really spring to mind are bad connector (computer doesn't like it being disconnected/reconnected) or conflicting interrupts/other resources?

[DOGG]

Originally posted by thingy
conflicting interrupts/other resources?

Yep that could be it. Back in the 56k days windows decided to share one IRQ between my modem and mouse. The modem would only work while the mouse was in motion.

[DrDivad]

cordless keyboard used to have issues on USB port, jsut how you describe

[sortius]

try swapping ports, keyboards, etc... try using your keyboard in another machine... if you're still getting the same problems on both ports, etc... might just be winXP gheying stuff up... maybe a corrupt system file (which you'll probably never find).

I also suggest doing a search on any issues between:

Keyboard and MBD
Keyboard and WinXP
WinXP and MBD

that should cover all your bases... for such a simple input device, there's so much that can go wrong...

[mccorski]

Ditto for all the other comments!!


Is it USB or PS/2??

Look at the drivers of the k/b, these can be fun with all the extra function options they come with now.


Check the ports if it is USB and check the USB drivers.
If USB, check the ver on the M/B v that of the k/b.

Do any other devices fail when the k/b dies??

[kré]

it's not a lappy or a usb or a wireless keyboard.

i actually did a fresh install of windows today for other reasons however the problem remains. i've tried two different keyboards and both have the same problem.

could it still be in addressing conflict or something like that even though it's only started happening in the past few days?

[DOGG]

Run msdiag32 that should tell you of any conflicts. Check the IRQ stuff. IRQ sharing is supposedly normal. XP is built for it. However my experiences tell me otherwise.

[kré]

cheers, will do when i get home

[DOGG]

Oops its msinfo32 not msdiag32. try that

[Quoka]

I tend to fry a heap of keyboards. Something to do with a high static charge.

Try taking the plug out and tapping it against the metal of your case. Its sounds simple but often works for me.