No error was found... no warning... no new driver...
I'm now thinking about main board error.... could it be..

you say "sometimes" not working?

Do they sometimes not start? or sometimes just stop? How often is sometimes?

You say you used the keyboard/mouse on other machines ok... same cables too?

Do you get a keyboard error during BIOS POST?

Have you checked the Event Manager? Start>Run> eventvwr.msc
again looking for errors

Also just ran across this:

5301 » Your Windows XP keyboard and Mouse DO NOT work when you start your computer?

I have a similar problem that I am trying to resolve.

The keyboard works in the bios ok. When xp starts in device manager there is an error on the keyboard (cannot start error code 10). If I uninstall the keyboard from device manager and reboot then xp starts and the keyboard works. However the next time I reboot I get the same keyboard error. I can then uninstall it, reboot and the keyboard works again!

When the keyboard doesn't work, it still has power. (LED's on the keyboard work). It's a PS2 keyboard - microsoft multimedia.

Also looking in device manager when the keyboard doesn't work, it does not indicate any IRQ conflicts and it has the same config as when the keyboard is working. The bios was originally set to a specific IRQ for the keyboard. I have since tried setiing the port to AUTO in the bios but it has had no affect.

I am using the latest motherboard and keyboard drivers.

Any ideas?

Device Manager Error 10:

This device cannot start. (Code 10)
Device failed to start.
Click Update Driver to update the drivers for this device.

On the General Properties tab of the device, click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooting wizard.

When working properly try this:

Save Settings on Exit (Line 54)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Hi,

I'd previously tried updating the drivers and it didn't work. Also went through the troubleshooting info and again no luck.

I've only just saw your reply so I didn't try the link you suggested ....

but I did find a solution to the problem though.

The mouse I have is a microsoft optical wheel mouse which also came with a usb to ps2 connector. If I plug the mouse into the ps2 mouse port then the keyboard works fine after successive reboots.

All I can assume is that the problem is the order that the drivers are loaded.

Thanks for your help

Karl

Originally Posted by delta7

The mouse I have is a microsoft optical wheel mouse which also came with a usb to ps2 connector. If I plug the mouse into the ps2 mouse port then the keyboard works fine after successive reboots.

I had the exact same issue, and your advice was correct, but I wanted to figure out what was really happening. So after some more trial and error I discovered that the reason I could not use my mouse in the usb port and still have the keyboard work, was a setting in my BIOS. I disabled USB mouse and USB keyboard support, and the problem was as good as gone.

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