Keyboard plug in problems

[brendamm]

All of the sudden, my keyboard will only work if it is plugged into a spot in the front of my computer. I've had the computer and keyboard and it has always worked just fine in the back. I'm having several computer problems and want to reinstall Windows. But, when my computer goes into what I think maybe DOS mode(sorry I'm not too computer literate), I have no keyboard to make the selection for it to reinstall Windows and it goes onto Windows. The keyboard returns when Windows has started up.

Thanks for any help on this!

Brenda

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

I am guessing that you have a USB keyboard?? Have you tried a PS/2 keyboard instead. USB can be finicky, particularly during startup. If you are not sure, USB has a flat connector and PS/2 have a round one. You should have a PS/2 port on the back of your computer. If you don't have a PS/2 keyboard handy, you can pick one up pretty cheap (less than $5) and it would be handy to have around for this kind of problem.

If you don't have a USB, post back with whatever info you have on your system so we have more to work with in trying to help you.

[brendamm]

Thanks, Budfred, for your help. It is a USB. I will look into getting a PS/2.

Brenda

[Budfred]

If you know how to do it, you could also check USB settings in the BIOS, but my guess is that it would be easier to try the PS/2 board first and see if you can fix things with that. It is possible that this problem is related to your other issue, but hopefully not.