Can not log on to XP because mouse will not work

[PhilMc]

Hi all, hope someone can help. Here goes. I have a Dell DM051 that I was using a Belkin KVM switch on. I removed the switch and connected everything back to the computer and everything appears to work fine except the mouse. When the computer starts up and gets to the windows XP log on screen, I cannot move the pointer over to my icon to select my user so that I can enter my password and continue. So, there I sit, on that blue XP log on screen, looking at the pointer that I can't move, beside the icon that I cannot select to continue.  Any ideas??     And while I do appreciate all help, please don't ask if the mouse is connected or stuff like that. I've tried several ideas from diffrent mouses to removing jumpers and batteries, etc. What I need is good advice from someone who knows computers. Thanks in advance,   Phil

[Allan]

Please don't post the same question more than once.

[PhilMc]

Is that all you've got to say? All I'm trying to do is solve this problem and I'm trying to get advice from as many people as possible and THIS IS ALL YOU GOT???

[Geek-9pm]

You can log on and work in XP without a mouse.
Use the keyboard.
Tab goes to the next item in a group.
Enter moves you onto the next page.

http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut/windows.htm

[BC_Programmer]

I already responded to your first thread. Pretty much what geek-9pm posted (keyboard navigation) as well as some advice on how to possibly restore mouse functionality.

Is that all you've got to say? All I'm trying to do is solve this problem and I'm trying to get advice from as many people as possible and THIS IS ALL YOU GOT???

posting your question more then once implies that your question more important then those other people who only posted their question a single time. In that vein, what would happen if <everybody> posted more then once in a similar attempt to get the most exposure? Suddenly the separate forum sections are now redundant.

[rthompson80819]

The first or second line in every forum is "please read this first" and this is one of the guidelines.

# Do not make multiple posts in different areas for the same issue. That merely confuses things and they will probably be deleted.

Allan's post was not at all out of line.

[PhilMc]

Come to find out the key board does not work now. It worked to enter setup and the number lock is lit but after XP loads it stops responding. Guess that doesn't surprise me since it was ran through the KVM switch also. I Think at this point my only option is to boot from a repair CD, but my XP is Media Edition and I don't have the disk. BTW, I tried safe mode and that hangs half way through. Any ideas from this point?   Thanks for taking the time to read. This is so frustrating.

[Geek-9pm]

I have a Dell DM051 that I was using a Belkin KVM switch on. I removed the switch and connected everything back to the computer and everything appears to work fine except the mouse.

The mouse may have been damaged.
Inspect the Keyboard connector for bent pins.
Try a USB mouse. Try another keyboard. The desktop you have is typical. Most desktops can damage the PS/2 devices if the connection becomes broken while power is on. The thing below is used to adapt PS/2 to USB and extend the life of any PS/2 mouse and keyboard.


What I am saying is the IME this is almost always damage done to the PS/2 devices. They are notoriously vulnerable. I buy PS/2 mice is lots of ten. No joke. The USB devices are much more robust.. It is a design weakness  in the PS/2 interface. You can only safely plug / unplug A PS/2 connector when power is all the way off.

To find out if it is Windows or the hardware, try to boot a live Linux CD, like Linux Mint or Ubuntu and see if it finds your keyboard and mouse. If it does, then yes, you are right, the windows drivers got nuked.

[PhilMc]

Probably should have already said this but both the mouse and the keyboard are USB connected devices. The computer doesn't have the round ports at all. You must use the USB kind.  Thanks!!

[Geek-9pm]

Probably should have already said this but both the mouse and the keyboard are USB connected devices. The computer doesn't have the round ports at all. You must use the USB kind.  Thanks!!

OK
Next step. You BIOS will allow windows to find the USB devices if it is set properly. Go into the BIOS and check to see how it handles Plug and Play.

[rthompson80819]

Uh, Geek, if neither his mouse or keyboard work, getting into BIOS may be a problem.

See if you can borrow a mouse and/or keyboard and see if that helps any.

[Geek-9pm]

Uh, Geek, if neither his mouse or keyboard work, getting into BIOS may be a problem.
See if you can borrow a mouse and/or keyboard and see if that helps any.

Current version of the Dell BIOS finds a USB keyboard. If it works at all.
Dell sells cheap USB keyboards to their customers.
Here is one complaint:

I've gone through two of these keyboards since I first bought one. The good thing is that they are cheap, but in being cheap they also do not hold up to the duress of animals or family members who like to eat at the computer.

found on
http://reviews.dell.com/2341/310-8038/reviews.htm

[PhilMc]

The key board works during boot (I can hit F8 and F12 and get a response). The problem is with Windows XP. When it gets all loaded up and ready to log in to, thats when it won't respond. The numb lock stays lit but the key board won't do sh_t. Sorry, couldn't resist!!  Thanks, Phil

[Geek-9pm]

There is an option in BIOS for plug and play. Did you flop it?
Did you remove ALL other USB devices?
Did you try ALL USB ports?
The Dell computer running XP can lose the keyboard  if the ports have changed, other devices are plugged in, wrong driver loaded mad so om.
When Windows comes up, it expects the same port and driver it had last time.

Been there, done that. Took me over an hour to get Windows to find the USB keyboard and mouse on a Dell. Once I got it, it stayed. Be patient.

You keep trying different ports, turn the PC all the way off. Start again. Unplug and re plug the USB key bard. Try another keyboard.

Did you say you can boot into safe mode?

Important. It is OK to plug in USB devices with power on. NOT for PS/2 as mentioned earlier.

Don't use external USB Hubs. Don't use front panel USB. But sometimes they work. It is a Mystery.

[PhilMc]

I fooled around in set up but didn't figure out how to get in to bios.I could see the version and all that but could not figure out how to get in.  I dug up the original mouse that came with the machine and it worked to let me open the password box and I thought I was in but the mouse made the key board freeze!! Numb lock lite still on but no response at all from ANY key, I tried them all.   SO, if one works, the other quits!! Can you believe this crap!! I think this must be because the KVM switch had a port for mouse and key board but only 1 USB for each computer. I can't remember if I uninstalled the software for the switch.  I tried again to plug everything into the KVM again but that didn't work,either.   Thanks  Phil