Help me get my kid's computer running again.

[TR Custom Parts]

Win 98. When booting up it gets to the screen where you have to type in a network password, (he had it networked to mine before we moved) You can't type in the password AND the mouse is frozen. Was working perfectly before. The keyboard lights for caps, etc, keep blinking .

I have tried to get it to start in safe mode without any luck and also tried to boot it with an emergency disk but it says something about an I/O error and to remove the disk and hit any key to continue, just don't get any response from the keyboard!

Yes, I checked all the connections! What would cause both the keyboard and mouse not to respon? Thanks for any help!

 

[tjthorson]

Keyboard and mouse plugs switched?

Bad keyboard

Bad mouse

Some setting in BIOS changed to lock the keyboard?

bad sockets on the motherboard

It doesnt sound like a software problem - sounds like hardware...

 

[SuperSix]

May be a cooling problem - it's locking up at the log-in screen.
Check you cooling fan on the processor and make sure it's spinning, or not all covered in dust.

Does the NUM-LOCK light go on and off if you hit the NUM LOCK key?

Are you SURE you have the keyboard and mouse plugged into the right sockets?

|-------------|
| |
x x |
| |


Keyboard is the left-most x, mouse is the right x.

 

[bandwidthpolice]

Mine was locking up constantly. I ended up wiping the HD and installing a new OS. I think you could do the same and just reinstall Win98 also. I had deleted too many programs and stuff and I'm sure I goofed something up along the way.

 

[TurboJim]

Originally posted by BuickGn Boosted
Win 98. When booting up it gets to the screen where you have to type in a network password, (he had it networked to mine before we moved) You can't type in the password AND the mouse is frozen. Was working perfectly before. The keyboard lights for caps, etc, keep blinking .

I have tried to get it to start in safe mode without any luck and also tried to boot it with an emergency disk but it says something about an I/O error and to remove the disk and hit any key to continue, just don't get any response from the keyboard!

Yes, I checked all the connections! What would cause both the keyboard and mouse not to respon? Thanks for any help!

I recently had this problem with my in laws PC running Me. Father in law bought a digital camera w/USB plug and one time plugging it in he said it blew the PC away. For some reason it "lost" the correct video driver, and that was what locked the machine. I got to it and installed the correct video driver, alls well right? yup, till you reboot. It forgot again. Running msconfig and disabling all startup programs and reloading the driver fixed it. I forget which program was causing the problem, but it wasnt a "normal" program. I wound up fixing it for good with a format and install of XP Pro. I spent a few hours on it prior to reinstall and got no where with respect to fixing whatever program screwed it all up. A guy I used to know fixed PC's for a living told me once, if I cant fix it in 1/2 hr, I reinstall. Thats how I handled Win95, but hate to be beaten. Although even in 98 I usually wind up reinstalling as well. Matter of fact, this machine is due for a format/reinstall, just gotta get a DVD burner to get my pr0n off it. (Already burned like 20 CD's ) As its getting real tempermental with BSOD's and whatnot.

 

[lp2]

To test if a format will help, try to get into the bios before the system boots.. or just start pounding keys that make the keyboard light up (caps lock)..

If you can get into the bios and the keyboard works, its the operating system.. if you can't.. well, its not the operating system.

As suggested previously, make sure you have the mouse and keyboard plugged into the correct slots. If they are usb, try different slots or unplugging other devices.

Good luck.

 

[turbojimmy]

Sounds like the keyboard or mouse. Since they both are on the same "circuit" so to speak, a problem with one will hose the other. The I/O error while trying to boot from the rescue disk is a good indication of a hardware problem. Try booting up without the mouse, and if that doesn't work try without the keyboard. Obviously you won't be able to log in normally in either case, but you'll be able to get further into the boot-process than you would be able to before if one of the devices is bad.

Good luck,
Jim

 

[JerrysGN]

i agree, SIMPLE test , try to put his compter in the place of yours (since you know all of your hardware is good. Or Put your Keyboard/mouse in place of his. and try it.


Does the 3 lights on the keyboard flash the whole time or only when you get into windows?

Try unplugging his mouse and booting with no mouse.....

if the lights are not flashing when the machine is booting except when its detecting the keyboard when you initially start it, when you see the now starting windows 98, press the F8 key immediately and see if you can toggle through the options, you will know if the K/B is working, even try booting into Safemode and see if it could be an installed software causing this issue if it all works in safemode.

IMHO

 

[wallyp]

If its a Gateway it may have a password activated in the
gateway setup, this will disable the the keyboard and mouse
until the proper keys are entered

 

[SuperSix]

<seinfeldmode>Dontcha hate it when you try to help someone via a bulleting board and they don't respond/answer?</seinfeldmode>

 

[TR Custom Parts]

OK OK! I am responding! Little busy today, had to go into work on an emergency call, went to both Home Depot and Lowes, raked the front lawn and also mowed it with the new lawn mower I bought today, ceramic tiled a floor and walk in closet, washed both SUV's, put a bunch of stuff in the attic and now working on putting together cold air kits.

Anyhow, I got it going. Grabbed an extra keyboard from work and then the mouse still wouldn't work. Ended up checking the battery in it, (Logitech cordless) and duh, it was corroded. New battery solved that problem. Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

 

[SuperSix]

 

[ChrisCairns]

Originally posted by BuickGn Boosted
OK OK! I am responding! Little busy today, had to go into work on an emergency call, went to both Home Depot and Lowes, raked the front lawn and also mowed it with the new lawn mower I bought today, ceramic tiled a floor and walk in closet, washed both SUV's, put a bunch of stuff in the attic and now working on putting together cold air kits.

Whoooaaa.

I got tired just READING about what you did today.