boot - Keyboard works on start up, but stops functioning as soon as the bios load

08
2014-07
  • Luan Nico

    I have quite an unusual problem. My keyboard works fine on the OS and during start up, so I can easily hit Del to enter bios or F8 to choose disk. In either those screens, however, the keyboard (and mouse, because my bios support that) suddenly stops working, even the leds (if on) shut down, and I can't do anything. Any ideas? My BIOS is Gigabyte UEFI DualBios. This problem started out of nowhere, as it worked fined last time I entered...

    My question is indeed a duplicate of this one, but the answers there don't quite help me because I don't have a PS/2 keyboard, or any other, for that matters. The thing is, it worked before, so I don't think it is an incompatibly with the keyboard or USB port. And I googled a lot before asking, but most posts out there are from people who can't use the keyboard on start up and bios, and not only on bios, so that is why I asked here. I'll try I different keyboard as soon as I get my hands on one, but I was hopping that someone could shed a light in the meanwhile.

    And yes, it doesn't work only on the bios and bios boot selection screen.

    • Answers
  • Big Chris

    If you disconnect the BIOS/CMOS battery and the mains supply for a few minutes this will cause the BIOS to forget most of its settings and can often resolve many issues with mouse/keyboard not working in BIOS or boot device/priority problems.


    • Related Question

    Laptop keyboard stops working soon after boot
  • Carbonara

    I have a Benq Joybook 5000 which is coming up for 6 years old now. It will boot fine but after between 1 and 5 minutes after boot the keyboard will stop functioning along with the mouse pad and all other buttons. The only way to switch it off once this has happened is to hold down the power button.

    Once i've done this then the laptop will refuse to boot, the BIOS doesn't even start up but the lights and fan come on. If the laptop is left for an hour or so then it will again boot but the keyboard issue returns as above.

    EDIT 01-10-09

    After trying out a few of the suggestions below it would seem that the problem is hardware related. I've done a memory test using Memtest which passed OK. I've now booted from a Linux live cd, then opened up a word processor to leave the cursor flashing in an empty document. After 5 minutes the keyboard and mousepad etc stopped working again, same problem as in Windows but the computer itself has not crashed or locked up, the cursor is still flashing in the document. The computer seems fine in all other respects apart from the fact that the keyboard and mousepad stop working.

    I've also plugged in a USB mouse after the keyboard and mousepad have stopped functioning and it worked fine.

    Any suggestions further to this would be welcomed.


    • Related Answers
  • sgmoore

    If it lockups up and only starts working after leaving it for a while, it sounds like it is over-heating.

    If you go into the bios, does it have an option to show you the cpu temperature and fan speed. Also if you leave it in the bios for about five minutes does it lock up?

  • jrb

    not much to go on, but here's a couple of things to try..

    • try an external mouse / keyboard. same issue?
    • try a live boot CD.. e.g. xp install cd, ubuntu. do you see the same issue if you leave the device on for a while?
    • has the bios battery gone flat? try replacing it?
    • search the manufacturer's website for bios and firmware updates for the laptop