About Gary Housknecht Expertise common keyboard shortcuts; internet keyboard functionality; use shift key to undo caps lock; reassign key functions; wireless keyboard questions
Experience 10+ years PC software and hardware tech support.
Expert: Gary Housknecht Date: 1/13/2005 Subject: keyboard mouse connection
Question I have just bought a wireless keyboard & mouse. I installed a wireless keyboard/mouse& it worked fine for a short while. Then just stopped, I tryed to use my PS/2 original keyboard & mouse as I was in the process of trying to install a dvd rewriter. For some unknown reason my pc seems unable to detect either the keyboard or the mouse. The pc boots up & when I click the keyboard/mouse it works once, then freezes up. When I installed the wireles keyboard/mouse it recomment the any similar drivers were removed. Could you offer any help to resolve this problem. I am running windoes 98
Answer If you are able to open Control Panel, go to 'System' then 'Hardware' then 'Device Manager'. Find the keyboard and choose to remove it. Then totally power down.
Next, use a can of compressed air to blow out the the PS2 input to be sure there is no debris (and look at it with a flashlight to be sure). Insert your old PS2 keyboard plug firmly then boot the PC.
Windows should see the keyboard and install a driver for it. If this works, I would suggest there might be something wrong with the wireless set you have or at least a compatibilitly problem.
You didn't by any chance accidentally disturb the PS2 i/o port inside the box when you were trying to install the DVD did you?
If the above does not work OR you are unable to use a mouse or keyboard to enter Control Panel, just try to make sure the PS2 input is clean of debris like I mentioned above and try the old PS2 keyboard. After all this and nothing works you'll need to take it to a local tech for a fix.
