Are Dell keyboards weird? Won't work with my non-Dell PC
By
FryGuy,
Posted on: 2010-03-30 15:45 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Curious.
We went through a round of musical chai... keyboards at work and never had an issue like this. I didn't really pay attention to the keyboard brands but, since we have 3 Dell systems, I'm pretty sure there were Dell keyboards getting juggled around. I know our server has had at least 4 keyboards hooked up to it since it gets hand-me-downs if someone's keyboard is wearing out and the server happens to have a less-than-crummy one. It's an IBM system and I'm pretty sure it has had Dell, Microsoft and Logitech keyboards on it.
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I used a Dell keyboard for years with a series of non-Dell Frankenputers with no problems.
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Which Dell keyboard is it? There are several models with various extra functions.
What type of connector does it use, USB or PS/2?
If it is a USB keyboard your BIOS may not detect it correctly causing it to hang during the boot process.
If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.
Black Pebble is my new hero.
Quote:
It's a USB. Model # RT7D50|
Originally Posted by Texas Justice
Which Dell keyboard is it? There are several models with various extra functions.
What type of connector does it use, USB or PS/2? If it is a USB keyboard your BIOS may not detect it correctly causing it to hang during the boot process. |
Looks like a basic keyboard....smaller than usual actually (kinda compact and cool).
How does one get the BIOS' attention? Yell really loud? "Hey you..BIOS! Wake up!"
I normally wouldn't make a big deal of something like this (keyboards are rather cheap) but money is tight around these parts lately...
(Or will be soon)
I love this keyboard model. We've started using Dell's in the School District I work in and these are the keyboards that come with our computers. Basically just a standard USB keyboard with no frills.
I love the design with all the extra plastic outside of the keys cut off.
As far as the BIOS, it varies depending on computer manufacturer and BIOS manufacturer. Usually you press F1, F2, F10, Delete, or another key as the computer is booting. You "should" see a message about what key to press to get into Setup when you start the computer.
Once you are in, it again will vary as to what setting needs to be changed to allow your BIOS to recognize the USB keyboard. It may even need a BIOS update to enable you to change that setting if it's even available then.
Of course, if you don't know what you are doing specifically, I wouldn't go changing any settings in the BIOS and especially not flashing the BIOS with a newer version. You can really mess things up in there and messing up a flash gets really bad.
Get a professional to look at it. Most should only charge a very minimal fee to look through the BIOS to see if they can get the keyboard to be recognized or to flash the BIOS.
And by "get a professional to look at it" I don't mean taking it to Best Buy, CompUSA or similar.
If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.
Black Pebble is my new hero.
Quote:
Now that I think about it, I do have an acquaintance I can seek out to look at it personally. Thanks.
|
Originally Posted by Texas Justice
I love this keyboard model. We've started using Dell's in the School District I work in and these are the keyboards that come with our computers. Basically just a standard USB keyboard with no frills.
I love the design with all the extra plastic outside of the keys cut off. As far as the BIOS, it varies depending on computer manufacturer and BIOS manufacturer. Usually you press F1, F2, F10, Delete, or another key as the computer is booting. You "should" see a message about what key to press to get into Setup when you start the computer. Once you are in, it again will vary as to what setting needs to be changed to allow your BIOS to recognize the USB keyboard. It may even need a BIOS update to enable you to change that setting if it's even available then. Of course, if you don't know what you are doing specifically, I wouldn't go changing any settings in the BIOS and especially not flashing the BIOS with a newer version. You can really mess things up in there and messing up a flash gets really bad. Get a professional to look at it. Most should only charge a very minimal fee to look through the BIOS to see if they can get the keyboard to be recognized or to flash the BIOS. And by "get a professional to look at it" I don't mean taking it to Best Buy, CompUSA or similar. |
What is the keyboard plugged into? Make sure to plug it directly into one of the ports on the machine itself. Don't plug it into a hub. See if that make it work better. The BIOS may not be able to see the keyboard if it isn't directly attached to the computer.
The really unfortunate thing is that some BIOS versions simply won't work with a USB keyboard, and will cause it to hang during the boot process.
If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.
Black Pebble is my new hero.
I was given a brand new Dell keyboard and since mine is showing some wear I thought I would just plug it in and go.
I guess not...my PC wouldn't even boot up with the thing attached. I then put my old one back on and booted up. (The screen resolution was all screwed up too) I was hoping I could plug in the Dell keyboard at this point...but it just doesn't work at all.
Maybe the keyboard is just broken? Seems unlikely...it was packed in the box and everything when I got it.