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

[PhilMc]

After posting I realized you asked if safe mode worked. No it didn't. It hangs while loading. Thanks!!

[Geek-9pm]

For the benefit of all reading this thread,
Here is what safe mode means.



http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm
Getting into Windows Safe Mode.

If it stalls in safe mode, after loading several things, it may be a hardware failure or a very complicated  configuration. Often a special graphics device.

Bust could be anything.

[PhilMc]

I was wondering if buying a "Recovery Disk" would also repair this problem. I can order one for $26 and have it shipped for free. The site says it is for my exact computer. I don't know if these disks do repair or just allow you to recover your files somehow. Is there a site where it is cheaper/free? Is there somewhere I can download and burn it myself? Or booting from a flash drive with the repair files on it? Will someone who knows take a look at what they have to offer and tell me if it is worth a try? I would post a link but I've already pissed off Allen so you can figure it out if you think real hard ( ok, just add ".com" to what I am looking for)   Thanks, Phil

[Geek-9pm]

This link is a photo for Dell XP SP3 Install CD.
Edit. they will not allow a link to the image.Sp here is my own photo.

http://geek9pm.com/png/recovery_cd.png

I have purchased just like this off of eBay and they appear to be legitimate discs that were made for war by the manufacturer. If you go to Dell and ask for a single CD they will charge about $25. On eBay vendors are selling them for about $10 each plus shipping charges. Look around and you might find one or two that have free shipping. There is no problem using these discs, if you have the Certificate of Authority. you should have no problem using one of these CDs on a stock Dell Computer. If you change the motherboard the certificate is not valid.

[patio]

Using the Dell restore CD will wipe all your data...

Clik Here...[  for info on hooking it up as a slave drive beforehand.../url]

[PhilMc]

Really? Even if you choose the repair option?

[patio]

You can't run a Repair Install from almost all OEM CD's...

[PhilMc]

I checked out ebay and the disks on there are not specifically "XP Media Edition". Does that matter? I do have a Win XP Home SP1 disk from an OLD Inspiron 1000 lap top. Could that cd possibly repair my machine? I think I tried it once but don't remember the outcome, but it's still broke so I guess not. What about the bios approach being discussed earlier? We got away from that subject without me ever figuring out how to actually get into the bios portion. How hard is it to reinstall/  update the bios and is there any reason to think it will work. BTW, I'll GIVE this Belkin KVM switch to anyone who can solve my problem. It worked great until I tried to do without it!!

[patio]

Media Edition CD's are extremely rare....an XP CD will not do it i'm afraid.

[Allan]

This is at least your fourth copy of the same post. STOP

[PhilMc]

I don't know what you are talking about. I posted this here (XP forum) and the hardware forum because I think it relates to both. I DID NOT post this 2 more times on this site. You, sir, are a nuisance. If you would spend more time helping people and less time fabricating untruths, this and a lot more threads would be closed and just here for reference for other people having this issue. Personally, I think you know a lot less about computers than the rules of the forum.  There, now run out and delete the thread so NOBODY gets any benefit from this exchange.

[Allan]

I don't know what you are talking about. I posted this here (XP forum) and the hardware forum because I think it relates to both. I DID NOT post this 2 more times on this site. You, sir, are a nuisance. If you would spend more time helping people and less time fabricating untruths, this and a lot more threads would be closed and just here for reference for other people having this issue. Personally, I think you know a lot less about computers than the rules of the forum.  There, now run out and delete the thread so NOBODY gets any benefit from this exchange.

Sorry - my post was not directed at you. There was a spammer who was posting in dozens of threads including this one, but his account and his posts have since been deleted. Sorry for the confusion.

[PhilMc]

I'm sorry, too. I have been trying to keep my nose clean so that I am following the rules. I take back the personal attacks and thanks for leaving the thread up.

[patio]

You may want to contact MS for a replacement Media Center CD....they may be your only hope.
When it came out consumers were rarely issued a CD so they are indeed rare.

Best of Luck...

[Geek-9pm]

About XP Editions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_editions