keyboard locks up when computer is idle

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChairShot
  • Start date Start date
C

ChairShot

Hi, I've got some type of IBM machine that
I picked up used at a computer show.
The tower is fairly tall. It was a pretty
expensive machine back in the late 90s.

I have some problems with it. If the computer
sits idle for a while, the keyboard locks up.
I can't type anything in any of my applications.

Also, there is an annoying program in the BIOS
that is run whenever the computer starts. It
usually complains about my not having a mouse
attached to the computer. Obviously, it is too
stupid to recognize that I have a USB lazer mouse.
Any way to stop this?

dos-man
 
Hi, I've got some type of IBM machine that
I picked up used at a computer show.
The tower is fairly tall. It was a pretty
expensive machine back in the late 90s.

I have some problems with it. If the computer
sits idle for a while, the keyboard locks up.
I can't type anything in any of my applications.
Click to expand...

Disable going into Standby or Hibernate mode in the power option
settings in your operating system. You did not mention WHICH version of
Windows or even WHAT operating system you use so no specifics can be
provided. Also check that your BIOS is configured to NOT go into
Standby mode. Sounds like your hardware won't support a USB keyboard
directly from BIOS.
Also, there is an annoying program in the BIOS
that is run whenever the computer starts. It
usually complains about my not having a mouse
attached to the computer. Obviously, it is too
stupid to recognize that I have a USB lazer mouse.
Any way to stop this?
Click to expand...

Because you are using a USB mouse and your BIOS is too old to support
USB legacy devices (keyboard or mouse). The BIOS has no direct hardware
support for your USB mouse so it alerts you that the mouse (on the PS/2
port) is missing. Why throw away the perfectly good PS/2 port and
instead put the keyboard and mouse on the USB port where they conflict
with the traffic for any other USB devices, like a USB printer, USB
modem, etc? Some of the newest computers no longer provide the PS/2
ports for keyboard and mouse so you are forced to use USB input devices.
However, you make it sound like your computer is old enough that there
are PS/2 ports, so there is no point in wasting them. Check your BIOS
to see if it actually has settings to support legacy USB devices; if so,
enable it. Might fix you above problem, too.
 
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