Keyboard inactive after boot up

Start windows in safe mode to check if its caused by some s/w upgrade.

So, after you restarted, now the keyboard is working ok? Subsequent reboots show the keyboard is still working? "Initial boot up" meaning first time powering on a brand new machine? When a keyboard is plugged in to a different USB port (unless this is ps2?) it will often take an extra 15 seconds or so to detect the device and load up the drivers. If that isn't the case, then it could be caused by a loose physical connection. If it was s/w upgrade of some sort, I would imagine the issue would be consistent, but that isn't the case, right?

The keyboard problem is after bootup from any power on start - every time.
A restart or cycle through sleep mode initiated by the mouse clears the problem - every time. This is a consistent problem and seems to have nothing to do with keyboard connection etd.

Ok, couple of things. First off, from a cold boot can you press del or whatever key gets you in to the BIOS, or F8 for startup options? Just trying to see if it works ok prior to Windows to determine whether it is a potential driver or BIOS issue. If the keyboard doesn't work from cold boot even pre-Windows, then I would start with a BIOS update (check the motherboard manufacturer). If after Windows loads is the only time the issue shows up, then update the chipset drivers (again from the manfacturer's website) to hopefully get the latest USB controller drivers (this is a USB keyboard, right?).

Is your keyboard wireless?

After repeating several days in a row, the problem failed to happen today at power on. Stand by and I'll see what happens from here. Thanks for your suggestions - I'll keep them just in case. (USB keyboard - yes)

Larry

No. USB type. Note my response to brandoncatz. Today the problem didn't occur so stand by and see if it has cleared somehow.
Larry

Sounds good. Try those few things I suggested and let us know what happens.