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Question

Keyboard commands not recognized on PC wakening

Jun 25, 2014 12:00PM PDT

I have an HP desktop with Windows 7. Sometimes when my PC is sleeping I press the escape button and the computer wakes up but any key I press after that like typing my password in, or if take the password requirement away, no key for letters or numbers will work either on the browser, excel, or word. The mouse does continue to work. I have to restart the computer by engaging the power button to get the keyboard to work again. Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
So this is new behavior?
Jun 26, 2014 2:33AM PDT

Given how Windows gets dinged up over time, you can try using HP's own set of drivers, BIOS defaults and then a total wipe and restore to factory as a last resort. If the problem remains then it's a hardware issue.
Bob

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Fairly new problem
Jun 26, 2014 4:26AM PDT

This problem started a few months ago and was very occasional. Now it is happening daily. Amazing that it has actually gotten worse. Someone thought it might be related to virtual memory.

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I'll go with not a virtual memory issue.
Jun 26, 2014 6:44AM PDT

Unless someone has tampered with that. If someone did then they could change it to stock or to something else and back to stock to fix that.
Bob

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Answer
how is the mouse and keyboard connected?
Jun 25, 2014 2:00PM PDT

If it'd not direct, but through an adapter which doesn't really convert PS/2 to USB or vice versa, but only makes the plugs correct, then you get this problem.

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Keyboard commands not recognized on PC wakening
Jun 26, 2014 2:28AM PDT

The keyboard is connected to its own round port. It came with the computer. I've tried using another keyboard connected to a USB port but had the same problem. The mouse is connected to a USB port.

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And this wasn't a problem in W7?
Jun 26, 2014 11:19AM PDT

I suppose it's possible you set the wrong keyboard when installing the Linux version, but I'd be more suspicious of the HP BIOS program. See if there's an update to the BIOS. Search engine on your model and Linux and see if others have the same problem.

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2 kybds & mouse don't work intermittantly
Jul 13, 2014 1:07AM PDT

I have one kybd connected to usb port and one connected to ps/2. Sometime one will work and the other one won't. They alternate. Sometimes they both won't work and I have to reboot. Now the mouse won't work on occasion as well & I have to reboot. Any ideas??

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Answer
check the caps
Jul 14, 2014 1:10PM PDT

errant alternating current leaking past bad caps can cause this problem too. google "bad caps".

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Motherboard issue
Aug 1, 2014 1:19PM PDT

Well, I think my PC keybd and mouse problem may be gone. Initially, the keybd would not operate on wakening. After a month or so, the mouse started doing the same thing. Only a reboot would bring them to life. A week or so later, even the reboot would take 3 tries before they came to life. During all this time I had tried other keybds and mice, run anti-malware software, registry cleaners, uninstalled and reinstalled all drivers and USB ports, run memory and BIOS diagnostics, replaced the CMOS battery, and all to no avail. Finally, I pulled by hard drive out of the tower and placed it in another. The problem seems to be resolved since I've had no incidents today. I'm assuming the problem was in the motherboard. Since it progressively got worse over time I would guess it was a hardware problem on the motherboard as opposed to firmware but I'm no tech expert. I'm just hoping I'm done with this problem.

Anyone out there know how expensive a motherboard is?

Thanks for everyone's input. Happy

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using PS/2 ports?
Aug 1, 2014 1:35PM PDT

sometimes that PS/2 part on the motherboard can become loose and need resolder on the bottom. Sometimes just putting a solder iron against each pin at the bottom enough to melt it and then let it cool back solves the problem. Otherwise you use USB ports for keyboard and mouse.