New XP Pro instal - keyboard no worky at boot, cant enter admin password, stuck!

[MikeG.]

Hi all!

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 running XP Pro - just did a re-instal a few days ago after removing Boot.cidox with Kapersky TDDS Killer.
Dell PS/2 keyboard & Dell USB mouse

I used the computer for several days with no problems, ran great!

I decided to put an Admin password on the computer (in 'Set Up') to keep my grown kids off it.

Big mistake I guess. During boot, and at the Admin logon the keyboard does not work.
It also did not work in safe mode, but did work in Safe Mode with Networking earlier in the day.
Edit: My keyboard works on other computers, tried that already. Tried both USB & PS/2 keyboards on the problem Dell.

I am stuck at Admin Login at boot up before Windows opens.
Black & white screen with command prompt for Password. Key board wont type.
I have a screen shot, but couldn't insert the image in this post.

Screen says: Keyboard Failure
Enter Password


How can I proceed?
Thanks Mike G.



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[Geek-9pm]

Find another keyboard.

[MikeG.]

Yes, I have several keyboards, USB & PS/2 none work on the dell machine at boot up, but all work on my newer HP computer.
This seems to be a driver or settings issue, not the keyboard itself.

[Geek-9pm]

And ypou tried other USB ports? Power off for each  attempt?
You can contact Dell and explain the problem. They  have a method for forcing the BIOS to use the default values.
BTW: A USB keyboard may fail when other USB devices are connected tot he motherboard. This happens when you forget which USB was for the keyboard. I may take several power on cycles of the BIOS to 'find' the keyboard.

[Allan]

Can you get into the bios?

If not, pull the ac power cord from the wall and remove the battery from the motherboard. Press the power button a couple of times and let the unit sit for 10 or 15 minutes. Then replace the battery and reboot. Does either the ps2 or usb keyboard work now?

[MikeG.]

Thanks for the replies.

I will try the keyboards again with power cycle between each one - not sure I did that.
I have to force shut down from the screen I'm at.

Until yesterday I could get into BIOS no problem, now that I have set an Admin password (not in user accounts, but in Set Up) I can't get past the screen asking for the Admin Password. On boot up the computer goes straight to that screen I attached to my post (Im not navigating there manually) asking for the password even when pressing F2 - F8 - F12 keys at boot up.

[Allan]

Okay. Let's see what happens after the bios resets.

[MikeG.]

Thankyou guys,

I will follow your sugestions, post back ASAP.

Again, thank you for your time!

[DaveLembke]

I almost wonder if his cmos battery is weak... looking at the screenshot its complaining about keyboard but also bios level password questions to the user.

I'd check to make sure the battery is a strong 3 volts and not borderline. 2032 batteries are easy to get if you need to replace it. They are in electronic, photo, and battery sections of stores. Given the age of this computer it might be a tired battery. A tired borderline battery can cause all sorts of weird behavior like what you have.

[MikeG.]

Okay, removed the battery, waited 15 minutes, re-installed battery.
Attached power cord to PS and the computer started up all by itself.
Went  straight to the screen shot I have attached.

I have not tried power cycles with differing keyboards yet, but will right now.

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[Allan]

You don't need to reset the bios more than once (what you're referring to as "power cycles"). The purpose of doing that was to reset the bios to default and you've successfully done so.

Can you get into the bios (does the system accept the keyboard input at boot)? As soon as the system boots start tapping the F2 (function)  key. If you can get into the bios, disable "quick boot" and enable "usb on boot" (the settings may not say exactly that, but look for something close).

If you cannot get into bios, try Dave's suggestion and replace the mobo battery.

[MikeG.]

I have now reset the BIOS once, replacing the older battery with a newer 3V battery.

No matter which F keys I press at boot, I get the same screen shot I attached to my above post.
If, I reboot a second time with power button on front of desktop (leaving BIOS battery in of course) & pressing F2 ('setup' on my Dell) I get the screen I have attached to this post.




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[Geek-9pm]

Inside of Dell 3000

[BC_Programmer]

You need to use a PS/2 keyboard, as it seems Legacy USB is not enabled.

here's the thing though- from the sounds of it, previously you hot-plugged PS/2 and USB keyboards to try to find one that worked.

Try shutting the machine off, plug in a PS/2 keyboard, and then power up.

If you still get keyboard failure, and have a second PS/2 keyboard to try, power down, unplug the current one and plug in the new one.

if it still fails, it's possible that hot-plugging of PS/2 keyboards has destroyed the PS/2 controller or nearby circuitry.

[MikeG.]

Back of PC has 4 LEDS - A B C D.
D is amber, not green.



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[BC_Programmer]

The manual for the Dimension 3000 doesn't list All Amber lights in it's diagnostic code lights.

Manual is found here.

[MikeG.]

Thank you all.

I have powered down - unplugged keyboard - plugged in new keyboard - powered up
with three different keyboards that all work on my HP & a custom PC I have, but won't work on the Dell I'm having the trouble with.
 All I get is beeps from the PC when pressing certain keys.

Control/Alt/Delete from the keyboard restarts system (edited), but I cant enter text  while I'm at the screen I posted.

Thanks for the manual link.

So if I have circuitry that is not working, due to me hot plugging keyboards.

[BC_Programmer]

Control/Alt/Delete from the keyboard restarts windows, but I cant enter text.

It was my understanding that you cannot even get the machine booted, let alone start windows?

[Geek-9pm]

if it still fails, it's possible that hot-plugging of PS/2 keyboards has destroyed the PS/2 controller or nearby circuitry.

Worth repeating. You should not hot swap a PS/2 keyboard. USB does not has this problem.

[MikeG.]

Um sorry,  I mean I never get to the regular windows user logon page. Al I see is the DELL page.

I get the first black screen that says DELL (Edit) with a progress bar under it, in the top right corner it says:  entering set up.  Then it goes straight to the screen I posted above.
I don't have to press any F keys to get to the second page asking for password, it's automatic.

[MikeG.]

I only get 2 screens, I have attached them in the order they appear.

When I power up, this is all I see.

Skip to next post, the top photo is wrong.

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[MikeG.]

Here are the two screens I see.

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[Geek-9pm]

I will send you  PM. 

[BC_Programmer]

Now even I'm confused ! the Windows XP Splash screen/Progress bar indicates the system posted, and yet the images  are of a BIOS password prompts which will appear before Windows is ever given control.

OK, I see from the new images that it is the Dell BIOS startup, not the Windows XP Splash screen, now I can wrap my head around it a bit better.

I'm starting to wonder if perhaps the passwords are, for some reason, stored separately and not "battery-backed"? In which case clearing the CMOS would do nothing. The Manual has an appendix about 'forgotten' BIOS passwords- I think it's safe to say you've not forgotten it but not being able to type it is as good a reason. According to it (Page 86 of the aforementioned manual) you should be able to reset the password by moving a jumper on the motherboard. The Manual shows a image that should help you find it- it is labelled "PSWD" on the motherboard. Effectively you move the jumper from the two pins it is on of the three to the "other side" of the three pins. (rather than connecting to pins 1 and 2 it will connect pins 2 and 3). if they are in fact stored separately- which appears to be the case, given it still prompts for the password, you may be able to clear the password using this method to allow it to continue to boot.

One other thought is whether anything might be causing the keys to stick down? "Keyboard failure" will be shown for stuck keys or keys that are pressed at power-up, for example.

[MikeG.]

Thank you gentlemen,

PM received - thanks

I do have the password, but just can't type it.
I will be glad to try moving the jumper on the MB.
Let me read up & go work on it.
I have been reading the manual, but hadn't seen that yet.

Is there any way to net work the keyboard function (remote assistance) from another computer before windows runs?
The other option I have (?) is to pull the drive and put it in another computer with functioning keyboard, remove the password, and re-instal into the Dell I'm working on. Providing the keyboard failure is not part of the drive ?

[BC_Programmer]

Is there any way to net work the keyboard function (remote assistance) from another computer before windows runs?

No.

The other option I have (?) is to pull the drive and put it in another computer with functioning keyboard, remove the password, and re-instal into the Dell I'm working on. Providing the keyboard failure is not part of the drive ?

The password will be on the system board, not the Hard Drive, as would any failure of the keyboard controller.

[Geek-9pm]

I think what you have is a BIOS password. It comes in before Windows becomes active.  As mentioned elsewhere, the BIOS password requires lyou to open up the machine and clear the CMOS. The CMOS is a set of registers independent of Windows, and is used to store the parameters for the basic system. It also holds a password, if present.

That reminds me, there was a case of where a computer got a 'mystery' password and the manufacture had to instruct the user how to get rid of it. But hat was very rare.

Still, you may yet have to contact Dell to see if they have any  ideas.

[MikeG.]

Gentleman, following instructions on page 86 of the DELL Dimension user manual, I moved the jumper on the MB and the password was removed. I am now at BIOS.

Is there anything I need to do at BIOS now, or just exit?

Thank you all very much.

[MikeG.]

Okay, I exited BIOS.

Windows is running!
 

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[Geek-9pm]

So now all is good?

Passing note. This thread is for an older model Dell. The instructions of password removal are different on newer computers. For obvious reasons.

[MikeG.]

Yes sir, on restarting I was not asked for a password this time (after moving jumper) and Windows loaded and is running like new.


I cannot thank you guys enough!

I will have to find a more "analog" way to keep my grown kids off my computer besides setting a password in setup.

Mike G.

[Allan]

Happy to hear you've got it all sorted out. Good news.

[SuperDave]

You could set up accounts for your children with restrictions.