Keyboard Woes

[onthecut]

Hi Guys

Had a virus type thing find its way onto my machine (bankerfox ?). Used system restore (XP) which appears to have dealt with it ---- but ---- there is now absolutely no recognition of my USB keyboard. All other USB bits working fine, but it doesn't do anything at all when I plug in the keyboard ---- it doesn't say unknown device or any of the usual messages -- nothing happens whatsoever. Any thoughts most welcome !

Mike.

[messerschmitt owner]

Do the lights come on on the dashboard. Have you changed socket for it. Try another keyboard too.

[Dieselman]

Try manually removing or disabling it on control panel or system properties then try it again and see if it sees new hardware.

[bobhalliday]

Hi Onthecut.

Go to Control Panel, System Properties, Device Manager and a lis appears, run down the list and you wil first see a standard keyboard, then at the bottom should be all you USB units listed, check in there to see if any have a question mark.
Also try another keyboard, but it will have to be setup too. Next try and go back to another start point. If all that fails you might have to run XP onto the PC again but you lose all your data then.
Get a real good Virus program, I use AVG paid for version but they have a free one too, My son swears by Panda. DON'T open Emails or any messages you don't recognise EVER!!!

Bob.

[normantilbury]

Have a look in device manager for any entries with a yellow exclamation mark against them! If there are none go the the Usb Section at the bottem and uninstall all of them then right click on the top entry and it will say check for new harware do that and all the usb devices will be rediscovered including your keyboard if you have a usb mouse it will stop working if so push and hold the power button for more than 5 seconds and your m/c will shut down, disconnect any usb items plugged in Power it back up and the nwe hardware wizard will appear and it will discover all your usb ports then plug in any usb items you have one by one waiting until the previous one has loaded its drivers and all should be well.
If no better the virus has caused problems somewhere else and a level 2 reload of Windows is callled for which can be done without loosing any data, give this a try and let me know how you get on.

Norman

[Ciaran]

Hi Mike,

A silly question, but have you tried the keyboard in another machine? Its not unknown for some USB devices to just suddenly die, unfortunately.
Failing that, the advice everyone else has posted regarding Device Manager etc, would be your next step... hopefully its something simpler though.
It could be coincidental timing, even if initial thoughts would logically point towards the virus.

Ciarán

[onthecut]

Hi Guys

Many thanks for all the help and ideas. Have tried all, without success. Tried another known good USB keyboard with no luck either. I have completely uninstalled the whole USB caboodle from the device manager, unplugged evry USB device, reinstalled it, then tried the keyboard as first device. What seems to be happening is that the message comes up that the system has recognised the new kit and installed the software, but then immediately afterwards, it 'recognises it again, installs the software etc. As far as I can see, it winds up as a USB composite device; a keyboard and an HID. all at the same time. The first one in tells me it is working properly (which it isn't !) ; the others say it's not working because the drivers are already loaded (or words to that effect) elsewhere (Error code 38). If I knock off the duplicates, they simply get rediscovered next rebooot. All other USB items seem fine. Likewise and just as well, my old PS2 keyboard is fine !

Mike.

[Ciaran]

Hi Mike,

I'm presuming this is a desktop machine and not a laptop?

Ciarán

[normantilbury]

It Sounds like the virus has done more damage than previously thought! It's possible that a second level repair would work but it may not and you will have to do a fresh install,
First thing you need to do is backup "my documents" and any other data which has not been saved in there and export your address book to a backup medium.

[hobblerian]

Might be a daft question but have you actually run a full virus scan after this infection or just relied on the system restore? Microsoft's free security essentials is pretty decent, or AVG as mentioned also avast or adaware.