I have a Windows 98 computer which stopped accepting input from the keyboard (in the middle of the day). I have tried turning the computer on and off (several times) and tried a different keyboard. When the computer boots, the lights flash on the keyboard but then the computer only opens to a cursor on a blank, black screen after waiting for me to select safe mode on that menu screen. I am thinking this is more than a keyboard problem, but maybe someone can help. Thanks.

Where during the boot sequence does the keyboard stop responding? Can you get into the BIOS?

This (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23896&highlight=flashing+AND+cursor) thread seems like it may be a similar problem that may help.
What are the machines hardware specs and how old is the machine?
Was any new hardware and/or software added just before the problem?
Have you tried using a boot disk to get into dos mode?

Welcome to the PC Guide!

Yes I agree with you, the symptoms sound to be something other than the keyboard.

Prolly going to need a bit more information to pinpoint it.
What OS are you using?
Has it been playing up at all recently (& symptoms / funny noises?)
What PC is it - specs

As I understand so far, Its booting up fine (ish) to a safe mode option screen. This will ask you if you want to boot into safe mode / VGA mode / normal.. Have you tried safe mode? Is this when you get the black screen? No other error messages?

Thoughts.. Screen is showing a menu, not graphices card or bios. Not loading up Windoze which I would guess to be a failed / failing hard drive. Confused Windoze would normally give you an error message of some sort.

Somewhere to start at least :)

Edit.. well remembered Pave.. I would have expected a message on screen for that Live n Learn hu!

Have you tried a boot floppy?

If you can boot to a floppy and have the keyboard function in DOS then it is a Windows problem. If you can get the boot disk to work then you can try running scandisk from it. There are also a few other utilities you could try...but find out if it will work first.

Thanks for the tips. This is a great forum. When I go to that job tomorrow morning, I will test them all!