I have a user w/ an old "loaner" machine that we need to clear info off of to return to the owner. I went to boot the machine (Windows 95) and was unable to because it did not recognize the keyboard. So, I tried two different keyboards, even tried other ports, still nothing. I get to the selection areas (select Enter, etc.) and cannot proceed. Am I correct in thinking that the keyboard port is dead/unusable?

Also, my second thought was to remove the hard drive, put it in another machine temporarily (which also has Windows 95) and take the information off of it. I have never tried to do this. I read the sections on slave and master and they make sense, however I am wondering what pitfalls I can expect assuming that I set the jumpers to slave and master correctly?

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the PCGuide Forums z

Setting-up the HDD in the other PC should be quite straightforward as long as (a) it is put in the middle connector on the cable between the MB and the Master HDD, (b) the cable is the right way round (if you have to take it out to get access or to change the cable then put it back in exactly the same way round) and (c) the HDD you move over has its jumpers set to Slave. Try it and see - nothing to lose there - if there's a problem post back.

When you try to boot up, where are you getting the Select Enter, etc instruction from? Are you getting any error messages or beeps? Can you describe the PC a bit more?

I suppose the keyboard problem could be a bad connection or MB since you've tried keyboards that are known to be working and don't have any keys depressed; but there are better hardware gurus than me around to help you out there.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"I can resist everthing except temptation" (Oscar Wilde, I think; and me too!!)

[This message has been edited by Paul Komski (edited 01-26-2002).]

If you cant get a known good keyboard to respond and it is properly inserted in the "keyboard" rather than PS2 mouse location [assuming they are both PS2 devices]..then it could well be the motherboards keyboard controller is bad........OFTEN I see the problem as a user trying to put the keyboard in the mouse slot, which will never work!

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XP didn't save Me !

Hope someone hasn't been swapping keyboards around
while the PC is running.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
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Paul:

Thanks for the help. I'll be doing the transfer today. As far as the PC goes, (the loaner), it's an older Compaq model. The keyboard port is clearly marked (it is not PS/2, it is rather the old form that IBM used, however I have two different adapters which I have tried w/ a newer PS/2 keyboard), and I get no response from it. I have also plugged keyboards into it using a USB port as well. I know the port is working as a USB mouse is recognized immediately on that port (which I was using on that port before the keyboard died and I could no longer boot). As far as error messages, I receive none, rather it's as though the keyboard does not exist.
Originally posted by Paul Komski:
Welcome to the PCGuide Forums z

Setting-up the HDD in the other PC should be quite straightforward as long as (a) it is put in the middle connector on the cable between the MB and the Master HDD, (b) the cable is the right way round (if you have to take it out to get access or to change the cable then put it back in exactly the same way round) and (c) the HDD you move over has its jumpers set to Slave. Try it and see - nothing to lose there - if there's a problem post back.

When you try to boot up, where are you getting the Select Enter, etc instruction from? Are you getting any error messages or beeps? Can you describe the PC a bit more?

I suppose the keyboard problem could be a bad connection or MB since you've tried keyboards that are known to be working and don't have any keys depressed; but there are better hardware gurus than me around to help you out there.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Am I right that this pc is in fact booting-up and getting to the startup screen with your normal desktop display and that you can move the mouse-cursor around? But that you can then do nothing with your "dead" keyboard(s)?

Understanding the intricacies of USB ports is not my strong point - especially setting them up on Win95.

Over to the real experts on this one!

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul

PS BTW What is the Compaq Model and Number??


[This message has been edited by Paul Komski (edited 01-28-2002).]

Ok. I have set the jumpers on the temporary drive to slave. I have tried the "host" drive jumpers at it's original "cable select" setting and at "master" setting. I have double checked the power cable to both (the same one is connected to both---could that be the problem?) and the IDE cable (which is the same one, the mid connection is connected to the "temporary" drive. When I boot, I get the message: "1782-Disk Controller Failure" "No fixed disk present". What could be the problem, and what are my options?

Oh the joys of Compaq http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gifFrist thing,to try is to make sure the cables are all tight and pluged in the right way.Then you might want to try setting both H/D's jumpers to cable select.I don't know your model and number,but you might want to check out the Compaq site
http://www.compaq.com/athome/support/

Good Luck;
DDNC

It appears that the IDE controller for that channel has failed.
Try connecting to the other IDE channel. If that works, then it's new motherboard time.

Thank you very much---that's exactly what a friend told me last night! I greatly appreciate your input. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thank you ski. Unfortunately I don't see a cable select choice on the "temporary" drive as a setting. A friend of mine told me last night that he guessed that the IDE channel is bad and to try another so I'll be trying that next. It's amazing to me how something as frustrating as computers can be so interesting as well--sometimes I just have to keep telling myself that! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif