Keyboard not found

Up until yesterday I was dual-booting my pc, running windows xp and kubuntu.  Yesterday I decided that since I was getting a new computer in 2 weeks I'd wipe off kubuntu since this computer is getting passed down to my sister.

Here's where the problem begins.

I went into Disk Manager and cleared the kubuntu partitions, then I proceded to pop open command prompt and extend my windows partition.  Afterwards I just kept using my computer like normal, then today my internet suddenly decided to stop working so I shut down my pc like usual, turned off my modem, turned it back on and watched all the pretty green lights appear again.  When I turned my computer back on, I got an error, and it doesn't let me go back, restart, I can't even turn off my computer.  So of course, I turn off the surge protector since that's the only option I see left.

Now, I figure I should just try to completely reformat again, so I bust out my DVD backup disk.  Then I remember I cannot open my DVD ROM drive by simply clicking the button on my PC... So I insert a CD with windows xp professional edition on it.  Now before anything even happens my computer beeps and a screen saying it cannot detect my keyboard shows up.  To reformat my computer I sort of need my keyboard.  I consider it a valuable tool for pressing buttons like 'd' or 'enter' since my computer isn't powerful enough to read my mind apparently.

I tried unplugging/replugging in my keyboard and mouse but that doesn't work, I even brought out a different keyboard/mouse combo and tried hooking them up and that failed as well.

So, how am I posting this here?  I have a kubuntu disk as well, and since linux is magic my keyboard works when I load it up.  This wouldn't bother me usually, since I have no need for windows, but this computer isn't going to be mine in two weeks, so I really need to fix this "keyboard not found" problem.

That's really fucked up! I don't have any advice, other than to convert your sister to Linux, maybe?

Yeah, that is a possibility, but I'd rather install windows.  She already has enough trouble using windows, and that's with her only using aim, myspace and ms word...

>>3 She already has enough trouble using windows, and that's with her only using aim, myspace and ms word...

Really? Fuck. If I were you, I wouldn't let her near a computer in the first place...

maybe something in the cmos is screwy, try clearing the cmos and see if that works

can you get into the BIOS? try disabling keyboard errors in there if you can

Is there a way to enter bios through my os?  My keyboard doesn't work until It's too late to enter bios the usual way (keyboard is useless until kubuntu starts to load) and I don't know of any other methods.

>>6
well...it's tricky, and no guarantee, but you can do the following:

- look up your bios on the internet and see if you can get a cmos memory map for your particular bios.
- download and make a dos boot disk
- download the program called CMOSSAVE
- get some kind of free hex editor for dos
- boot into dos with CMOSSAVE on boot disk
- copy CMOS into file
- modify file as you need to to turn whatever option off
- copy file back into CMOS

The world needs fewer myspace aim users.

Although a basic KDE install enables all those things: Koffice, Kopete, and Konqueror (for a simple, integrated solution)