Can't Reinstall XP Pro

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

<tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>
> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>
> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>
> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks.

Purchase a cheap, temporary PS2 Keyboard. Or if there is a USB to PS2
converter
on your mouse, use that for the keyboard. I always keep an old PS2 mouse
and
keyboard stored in the closet for just such reasons.

If your in the market for a new mouse, many new USB mice come with a USB to
PS2 converter.

moncho

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

<tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>
> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>
> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>
> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks.


The BIOS should have a setting for USB Legacy mode. Turn it on.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:18:39 GMT, "moncho"
<moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:

>
><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
>> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
>> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>>
>> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
>> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
>> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>>
>> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
>> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
>> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
>> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>>
>> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
>> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>>
>> Any thoughts? Thanks.
>
>Purchase a cheap, temporary PS2 Keyboard. Or if there is a USB to PS2
>converter
>on your mouse, use that for the keyboard. I always keep an old PS2 mouse
>and
>keyboard stored in the closet for just such reasons.
>
>If your in the market for a new mouse, many new USB mice come with a USB to
>PS2 converter.
I have about six PS2 keyboards but, unfortunately, there's no PS2
socket in the 9100!

BTW, I did see the XP startup load a USB keyboard driver...

Tom

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

<tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:atmdh1148ek6vuqt7nrm9lfr8brohv11ej@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:18:39 GMT, "moncho"
> <moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:
>
>>
>><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>>news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
>>> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
>>> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>>>
>>> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
>>> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
>>> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>>>
>>> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
>>> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
>>> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
>>> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>>>
>>> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
>>> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>>>
>>> Any thoughts? Thanks.
>>
>>Purchase a cheap, temporary PS2 Keyboard. Or if there is a USB to PS2
>>converter
>>on your mouse, use that for the keyboard. I always keep an old PS2 mouse
>>and
>>keyboard stored in the closet for just such reasons.
>>
>>If your in the market for a new mouse, many new USB mice come with a USB
>>to
>>PS2 converter.
> I have about six PS2 keyboards but, unfortunately, there's no PS2
> socket in the 9100!
>
> BTW, I did see the XP startup load a USB keyboard driver...

Sorry, did not realize that.

I did a google search and found this on Dell's support site.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?b...

They had the same problem with an Inspirion 5000.

Have you tried using a different USB port?

moncho

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:14:26 GMT, "Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net>
wrote:

>
><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
>> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
>> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>>
>> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
>> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
>> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>>
>> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
>> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
>> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
>> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>>
>> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
>> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>>
>> Any thoughts? Thanks.
>
>
>The BIOS should have a setting for USB Legacy mode. Turn it on.
>
Thanks Tom but nothing in the BIOS about USB legacy, which I remember
my 4300 had. Cheers, Tom

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:28:12 GMT, "moncho"
<moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:

>
><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>news:atmdh1148ek6vuqt7nrm9lfr8brohv11ej@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:18:39 GMT, "moncho"
>> <moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>>>news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
>>>> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
>>>> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>>>>
>>>> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
>>>> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
>>>> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>>>>
>>>> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
>>>> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
>>>> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
>>>> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>>>>
>>>> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
>>>> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>>>>
>>>> Any thoughts? Thanks.
>>>
>>>Purchase a cheap, temporary PS2 Keyboard. Or if there is a USB to PS2
>>>converter
>>>on your mouse, use that for the keyboard. I always keep an old PS2 mouse
>>>and
>>>keyboard stored in the closet for just such reasons.
>>>
>>>If your in the market for a new mouse, many new USB mice come with a USB
>>>to
>>>PS2 converter.
>> I have about six PS2 keyboards but, unfortunately, there's no PS2
>> socket in the 9100!
>>
>> BTW, I did see the XP startup load a USB keyboard driver...
>
>Sorry, did not realize that.
>
>I did a google search and found this on Dell's support site.
>http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?b...
>
>They had the same problem with an Inspirion 5000.
>
>Have you tried using a different USB port?
>
>moncho
Well spotted Moncho! I moved the keyboard to the top-right USB socket,
(looking at the rear) and I'm in business! Many thanks, Tom

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

<tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:tqtdh19s323lni88odb5tbfron8bk7m8j1@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:28:12 GMT, "moncho"
> <moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:
>
>>
>><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>>news:atmdh1148ek6vuqt7nrm9lfr8brohv11ej@4ax.com...
>>> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:18:39 GMT, "moncho"
>>> <moncho990009@somehownowhere.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>>>>news 8edh15ep597jfl05b3h35r9gg54i87igr@4ax.com...
>>>>> Yesterday I was on the phone with Dell tech support for two hours.
>>>>> Objective was to reinstall XP Pro on my new 9100. Couldn't do it...
>>>>>
>>>>> Problem is that when the reinstallation CD has booted and invited you
>>>>> to "press enter to continue", "R for recovery console", "F3 to exit",
>>>>> the USB keyboard is dead; Nadda.
>>>>>
>>>>> We played around in the BIOS, resetting to factory defaults, disabling
>>>>> the diskette drive, even popping the battery - nothing. Tried a
>>>>> Microsoft USB keyboard I happen to have spare. Nothing. Both keyboards
>>>>> work fine other than at the critical point above.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tried two reinstallation CDs; one original Dell sent and one I cut
>>>>> from the Dell support on the hard drive. Same result from both.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any thoughts? Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>Purchase a cheap, temporary PS2 Keyboard. Or if there is a USB to PS2
>>>>converter
>>>>on your mouse, use that for the keyboard. I always keep an old PS2
>>>>mouse
>>>>and
>>>>keyboard stored in the closet for just such reasons.
>>>>
>>>>If your in the market for a new mouse, many new USB mice come with a USB
>>>>to
>>>>PS2 converter.
>>> I have about six PS2 keyboards but, unfortunately, there's no PS2
>>> socket in the 9100!
>>>
>>> BTW, I did see the XP startup load a USB keyboard driver...
>>
>>Sorry, did not realize that.
>>
>>I did a google search and found this on Dell's support site.
>>http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?b...
>>
>>They had the same problem with an Inspirion 5000.
>>
>>Have you tried using a different USB port?
>>
>>moncho
> Well spotted Moncho! I moved the keyboard to the top-right USB socket,
> (looking at the rear) and I'm in business! Many thanks, Tom

Welcome. Glad I can help.

Boy do I love Google.

moncho

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

> Have you tried using a different USB port?

Funnily enough I was helping someone out with a "similar" problem on a
laptop the other day - a PCMCIA network card was just not getting
recognised for some reason, until I suggested he try the other slot...

Computers are sent to confound and confuse us at times :-}

--
Please add the word "newsgroup" in the subject line of personal emails
**** My email address includes "ngspamtrap" and "@btinternet.com" ****

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

tom,
So Dell tech support didn't suggest this? Guess this wasn't on their
flow chart. Moncho, thanks, good thing to know.
Paul

<tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:tqtdh19s323lni88odb5tbfron8bk7m8j1@4ax.com...

snipped

> Well spotted Moncho! I moved the keyboard to the top-right USB socket,
> (looking at the rear) and I'm in business! Many thanks, Tom

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hi Paul. Nope. They were amazed when I emailed them the solution,
"they" being Dell France's off-shore tech support team in Morocco(!).
Tom
On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 14:48:12 -0400, "Paul Schilter"
<paulschilter@comcast dot net> wrote:

>tom,
> So Dell tech support didn't suggest this? Guess this wasn't on their
>flow chart. Moncho, thanks, good thing to know.
>Paul
>
><tom_nospam_ba@pobox.com> wrote in message
>news:tqtdh19s323lni88odb5tbfron8bk7m8j1@4ax.com...
>
>snipped
>
>> Well spotted Moncho! I moved the keyboard to the top-right USB socket,
>> (looking at the rear) and I'm in business! Many thanks, Tom
>