SexPistoL

After a couple of day's searching the net, trying to find a solution and changing various settings in my bios useing an old PS2 keyboard. I can't enter my bios or safe mode useing a USB keyboard. This seem's to be a common problem with USB keyboards and I was wondering if anyone here has a workround for this?

Mobo: MSI 865PE Neo2-P Platinum Edition, socket 478 P4.
Bios: v3a (latest from MSI)
keyboard: Saitek Gaming keyboard (USB)

I have tried a USB - PS2 adapter with no joy. All USB devices are enabled in the bios and there is no problems working in windows. The keyboard is recognised in "Device Manager" and the keyboard's software is installed correctly. I also tried it without the software installed but with the same results.

I hope there is a workround as this is a great keyboard, but it is a bit bothersome swapping keyboards whenever I want to make a change in safe mode or bios.

"Any ideas?"

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PangingJr

look in your BIOS to see if there is an option such as "Legacy USB support",
if so, set it to Enable or try Auto (if available).

SexPistoL

Hey m8,
yea it is, I hope the solution is a simple bios option like that, thx for your reply, I hope you have a few more tips

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PangingJr

how about the option called Port 60/64 emulation? then this option also needs to be enabled, and have you tried another USB keyboard?
i personally also use a USB wireless keyboard, but haven't had this problem yet.
but anyway, if you can't find a solution to it, i'd say don't worry about that, just make sure that a PS/2 keyboard is available in the case that you need it for using at the BIOS setup program, and if the keyboard still won't work under DOS (even after you've enabled the legacy USB support)
then you will need the PS/2 keyboard when running program in mode DOS, and may need it to install Windows anyway.

Judas

I had an issue with a few of the USB keyboards, however, i've had only but good luck with the most recent Microsoft 2000/4000 USB keyboards with newer motherboards.

One thing to note is the fact that you CANNOT sometimes hold or push keys on the USB keyboards while booting up in an attempt to getting into the bios options, you must wait for the keyboard to be fully initilized before hitting the DELETE or other keys (it's kinda weird like that).

Lastly, i'd fire off an email to the motherboard manufacturer to see if they officially support USB keyboards.

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SexPistoL

[QUOTE=PangingJr]how about the option called Port 60/64 emulation? then this option also needs to be enabled,

I'll have to google that..........Ive not seen it in my bios thx again for the tip.

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SexPistoL

Lastly, i'd fire off an email to the motherboard manufacturer to see if they officially support USB keyboards.[/QUOTE]

Hey m8 it's on it's way cheers for the tip.

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PangingJr

i usually start tapping the hot key that is used for entering BIOS setup program just after the BIOS bootup beeps

Judas

i've done that.. and it's still disabled my keyboard until windows has fully loaded and installed the driver for it "again"..

I usually have to wait for the LAST second i can hit the delete key or else USB KB goes dead.

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SexPistoL

My USB keyboard wont respond till windows has completely loaded.....

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PangingJr

how's it going, have you gotten any reply from them?

SexPistoL

Noooooooooo,
you know better than that m8 i'll be waiting till the next bank holiday for a reply

I wont give up trying to find a solution if........ there is one, thx for you help I greatly appreciate it.

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SexPistoL

Problem solved

I have searched all over the net to find this solution, on some pretty obscure sites inc;- MSI's forums, Intel's, saitek's and even USB Man's forum !!! All with no joy, or so I thought !

Then I remember reading (God knows where) that if an external USB hub was used between a USB Keyboard and the mobo, then bios will not detect it ! (Even though, "legacy support" and "all USB devices" was enabled in the BIOS.)

Even though this was not the case, I did have an extension cable on the keyboard ! So once I removed the extension and plugged the KB's cable directly into a USB slot in the mobo, rebooted, hit the "del" key, I got straight into the BIOS.......

I don't know if this solution is for all USB keyboards or just for the "Saitek gamers keyboard," but it's worth trying for other makes aswell.

Thanks for the help PangingJr and judas, much appreciated

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Judas

i never thought of asking if there was a usb exstension or hub between the keyboard and computer. When it comes to the keyboard, the most IMPORTANT method in which to interface aside from the monitor being 2nd, these 2 things should ALWAYS be directly connected first and then if they work, try with other additional extensions.

IMO, i've never had good results with extensions on important devices.

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snowalker

I've been around this issue for a while and finally I got an easy solution to access Safe Mode using a USB Keyboard. The solution is to change the Boot.ini to Safeboot. You can setup this within System Configuration Utility.
For this, type msconfig in run console, click boot.ini, select the last line (the longest line) and click on Safeboot. After you restart (is required anyway) the pc, the computer will go automatically in Safe Mode, without any keyboard intervention. Of course you'll need to deselect Safeboot after you make the changes in Safe Mode.
More details and explanation in my last post:
How to acces safe mode boot with a USB keyboard

Have fun

Matth

One point on USB-PS/2 adapters, they are NOT universal, they only work with a device that supports USB/PS/2 combo mode, and in some cases, only with the device they are supplied with as there seems to be more than one way that combo mode can be wired.

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