Member Avatar for timbit_queen

A few months ago my rabbit chewed the wire. I bought a plug and play usb keyboard and it didn't work. Thinking it was a malfunction of the keyboard I exchanged it for another. None of them work. I'm using windows xp. The wizard is no help for it states can't find the necessary software to complete the installation. After looking around I realized my drivers for a keyboard have vanished. I tried downloading a few but couldn't find the right one. I'm now using the on screen one too type and I ABHOR it, it's taking forever to just type this. I'm not very computer savvy, so please explain at a kindergartner level. Please help? I'm begging lol.

I can't roll back the driver, I don't have any keyboard drivers. Under device manager there isn't a window key nor a keyboard option either. I have mice or monitor options but nothing for keyboard. I do know a while back that I did have one listed here. Just don't know where it went to. Under keyboard properties - hardware there is nothing listed.

System restore was the very first thing I tried. Didn't work either [​IMG]
Thanks for trying to help, I appreciate it.

Edited by Dani because: Formatting fixed
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Brief, practical checklist for the exact situation described by (USB keyboards not working, no "Keyboards" node in Device Manager, System Restore failed). This complements ’s note about chipset drivers and ’s experience with reformatting — reformat should be the last step. The list below groups cheap, low-risk checks first, then Windows-level fixes that often restore a missing keyboard driver without wiping data.

Hardware quick checks (determine hardware vs. Windows problem)

  • Power off, move the keyboard to a rear motherboard USB port (do not use a hub or front-panel port), boot and press Delete or F2 repeatedly to try entering BIOS/Setup. If the keyboard works in BIOS, the USB hardware is fine and Windows drivers/registry are the issue.
  • If it does not work in BIOS, try another keyboard on a different PC and try any available PS/2 keyboard (round connector). If none work in BIOS, the motherboard/ports or the keyboard itself is at fault.

Windows-side steps (can be done using the working mouse + on‑screen keyboard)

  1. Open Device Manager (Control Panel → System → Hardware → Device Manager or right-click My Computer → Manage). Use View → Show hidden devices.
  2. If a Keyboards entry appears: right-click → Uninstall, then Action → Scan for hardware changes and reboot.
  3. If Keyboards is missing: Action → Add legacy hardware → manually select from list → Keyboards → choose HID Keyboard Device or Standard PS/2 Keyboard and finish, then reboot.
  4. In Device Manager, under Universal Serial Bus controllers: uninstall each USB Root Hub / Host Controller one at a time and reboot so Windows redetects them (temporary loss of USB devices may occur).
  5. Install the motherboard chipset drivers from the board maker’s support page (identify the board by the silkscreen on the PCB or with a system-info utility mentioned earlier in the thread). If an XP CD is available, run sfc /scannow from Command Prompt to restore missing system files.

Final notes
Back up important files before major repairs. A Windows repair (in‑place) install restores drivers without erasing user data; full reformat is a last resort. Borrowing a cheap PS/2 keyboard or having a local tech identify the motherboard often gets the machine usable quickly. These steps aim to show whether the fault is BIOS/hardware or Windows driver/registry so a reformat can usually be avoided.

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

i would try installing chipset drivers for your motherboard

Member Avatar for timbit_queen

Ok, I'd love to try that. How do I do it? lol :)

Member Avatar for caperjack

make and model of the conputer,what version of windows its using [post it and can help find the drivers ] if its a brand na,me will help narrow down the search for drivers .go the website of the maker of the conputer and check ot support ,you will need to input the model of the computer to get to the correct drivers

Edited by caperjack
Member Avatar for timbit_queen

ok thanks, I'll try that. Hopefully I can find it since my pc was built for me at a mom and pop shop. I didn't purchase it out of a box lol.

Member Avatar for Deep Modi

This happens with me once when i am using XP sp2,
When I reformar my PC at the time I don't know the reason why it won't work, at that time My Desktop is not able to recognize any thing via USB Port.
(keyboard, Mouse, USB Drive etc...)

So I reformat as Factory way as told one of my friend and it's working,

So from this conclusion I will like to say while formating or by mistaken you have deleted important driver., If so then Get your driver back from microsoft or you can do from filehippo too as it include almost all driver on their site, [Note: Driver Depend on your System, If you are using SP2 then you to installed driver, if SP3 then no need of driver you just need to reformat.]

But before this you must contact with the nearby computer shop.
Best of luck !!!

Member Avatar for caperjack

ok,since it a custom build you could use Speecy to give the info needed ,like make and model # of the motheboard
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Member Avatar for timbit_queen

Thanks so much to both of you. I'd like o try eveything else first before I bring it in for a reformat. Actualy I would probably just buy anoyhertower instead. I'll let yas know how I make out.

Member Avatar for timbit_queen

Sorry 'bout the above typos, they come so easily with onscreen keyboard.

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