Keyboard and mouse locking up at initial logon

[Pepper]

OK, this is a weird one.

I had the opportunity to swap out from a Pentium D on a 945 chipset to a Core 2 duo on a 965 chipset. Swapped the hard drives over, worked out the issues with the chipset drivers, everything works great except for one thing.

I use one of the old IBM PS/2 "Model M" keyboards. The nice sturdy one with the clicky keys, weighs about 15 pounds. In fact I have several of these around. I can't stand using any other kind of keyboard, by comparison they all seem cheaply made and flimsy.

With any of the IBM keyboards attached, the machine will boot normally and come up to the logon screen. Upon touching any button on the keyboard, it becomes unresponsive and the mouse also locks up. The keyboard works fine in BIOS, but locks up after Windows (Vista x64) is running.

Right now I'm using a crappy Dell PS/2 keyboard and it works fine. But I'm at a loss as to why the IBM keyboards get stuck.

Of course, there is absolutely nothing in the event logs to tell me what's happening.

 

[Pepper]

OK, I found a workaround, but I shouldn't have to do this.

I found a PS/2 to USB adapter and plugged the keyboard into that. It appears to work fine. I haven't yet tried this configuration without the dell keyboard on the PS/2 port though. Both keyboards are working simultaneously.

 

[navychop]

This is truly odd. I've had MBs refuse to accept USB keyboards, and I've had din to ps2 problems. This one seems truly odd.

If the IBM does not work with the Dell disconnected, then the IBM is not sending something to the MB. Try another IBM?

 

[Pepper]

I tried five of them and three different keyboard cables with the same results.

Before leaving for the day I pulled the Dell PS/2 keyboard and the IBM via USB was still working. I'll check in the morning if it survives a reboot.

 

[Pepper]

It gets even weirder.

Upon powering down the machine, the IBM keyboard is non functional. I end up having to leave the dell keyboard attached, and do a ctrl-alt-del reboot once after the initial post, then the USB attached IBM keyboard will work.

 

[snathanb]

The old IBM keyboards PCB controller draws far more current than newer ones, the new motherboard probably can't handle the draw.

See the following article....

IBM PS2 Keyboard Modification

 

[Pepper]

ah, that's a great article, and the exact keyboard I'm using, thanks for the link!

 

[navychop]

Yes, a great article and now I feel foolish I did not consider the possibility of higher draw.

 

[snathanb]

Yes, a great article and now I feel foolish I did not consider the possibility of higher draw.

It's the first thing I thought of once he said it would work with a PS/2 to USB converter. USB provides a little more uummph on the current side than a PS/2 port.