I have a Dell 530S and while trying to boot up this morning it said keyboard failure. I have tried another keyboard that works on the other computer and still keyboard failure. Any advice out there???
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1. Unplug ALL USB things.
2. Plug the Dell USB keyboard into the port Dell told me to use.
3. Unplug the AC and then press and hold the power button for 60 seconds.
Release the power button, apply AC and test.
4. If this is some Dell model with a PS/2 connection I may have to set the BIOS to ignore keyboard errors. You didn't supply a link to the manual for the machine's BIOS so I didn't read it.
Bob
1. That's clearly an error from the BIOS. That's quite nearby now: just press F2 if your keyboard functions and your in the (BIOS) setup to do what is adviced above. Does that work?
2. What happens if you press F1 to continue?
3. Does your PC have a PS/2 port for the keyboard? That's the purple one shown in http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:PS2_Ports_ATX.jpg (the green one is for a PS/2 mouse)? If so, try a PS/2-keyboard in stead of a USB keyboard. Does that work?
Kees
It's not clear why you can't use the other rear port (see Bob's link to the manual below). But let's accept that. Then, it seems, you need to find a repair shop to find what's wrong. Maybe a USB-hub going into one of the other ports is a good solution (they should be usable somehow, I think). But maybe something on the motherboard is broken and none work any more.
Kees
I think you are new to PCs in that you didn't write if your Dell has PS/2 ports and not a word about BIOS settings. I don't think we'll solve this today at this rate.
--> For example I know that this error can happen if I plug the keyboard into the wrong USB port but no where do you mention you checked that out.
Bob
A few Dells require the keyboard to be in 1 or may 2 of the available ports. Since it's your machine and you have access to the Service Tag you have fastest access to Dell.com and the setup manual.
I can't guess this one for you but it sounds like the USB Keyboard is plugged in the wrong port.
As to the BIOS, since you don't know it, how do you get help when it needs a change?
Bob
He wrote in his first post: "while trying to boot this morning". He didn't write "I plugged the keyboard into another USB port yesterday evening and now, when trying to boot this morning". Which makes me think (but it's just an assumption) that the keyboard is still connected to the same USB port as it was yesterday. And that was the correct port.
But, of course, it's possible he forgot to tell the first half of the story.
Kees
I had this same error on one of my customer's computers and couldn't find a solution anywhere on the internet. After trying the keyboard in every USB port, removing the battery, replacing the MB, substituting hard drives, RAM and the power supply with no luck, I was about to give up. I then closely examined each of the USB ports and noticed that one of the two front ports had the little solid part missing. I don't know what that piece is called, but it fits into the empty slot in the male USB plugs. I disconnected the cable connecting these ports from the motherboard and the computer booted right up. In place of the "keyboard failure" error there is now a "front cable disconnected" error which you can bypass by hitting the F1 key. I have yet to see if this message can be disabled in the BIOS.
The computer only started once (not sure how) with the front cable disconnected because the start button works through this cable. I had to repair the damaged USB port by straightening the four prongs which were smashed down and reconnect the front cable. The front USB ports can be disabled in the BIOS, but I have also covered them with tape so that the customer does not damaged the port again. The computer is now fine.
Leave it to Dell to come up with a setup where a damaged USB port, which is not even being used, will prevent the computer from starting. Then again, their crappy products do keep me busy 
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