Keyboard won't work in Windows 7

I don't mean to be rude, but are you reading my posts thoroughly? You keep making suggestions that require keyboard input.  My keyboard DOESN'T work!

And now the same thing has happened on my work laptop!! I'm now writing from my iMac.

To review - keyboards (plural) show up properly as attached devices, but cannot input.  Even were I able to de-install/reinstall device drivers, if that's the problem, why would it be the SAME problem on different keyboards?

I CAN'T reboot in Safe Mode because the keyboard doesn't work - so NO F8 key.

The same problem now affects 2 different computers - computers that don't communicate with each other.

Either this is viral or it's a system problem.  Others who have had this problem and reported it in this forum have never reported back with "It's fixed!" I'm going to search the rest of the Internet and see if this problem has shown up elsewhere.  I can't believe it's either isolated or rare, at this point.

The original keyboard is an HP USB Multimedia Keyboard. Then I tried an older Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro. In Devices, the system shows them - and says they're working properly - but nothing happens when I press the keys. The only time they keys responded is when I was testing them with the HP diagnostic software.

Troubleshooting shows no errors.  How do I access the Device Manager if I'm unable to type in Device Manager in the Start search box?

I also tried an old PS2 keyboard through that port. Still nothing. It seems like, on some deep system level, the computer is refusing to recognize any keyboard input.

I'd love to try it in Safe Mode - but I can't get to Safe Mode because the keyboard is not registering with my computer, so F8 gets me nowhere.

While I appreciate your suggestions and links, I can't open them on the problem computer as I can't sign in to my email - no way to enter passwords.

From other posts on this forum, I'm not the first or only person to encounter this problem. I think a fax for this would be pretty vital to other Windows users. Please see if you can come up with some other approach that might work - one that doesn't require me to use anything but the mouse to implement.  Thanks!

Hello Rickelly,

Welcome to Microsoft Community Forum.

Before we proceed I would require some more information to assist you better.

1. What is the make and model no of the keyboard?
2. Does it also give you any kind of error message?
3. Do you remember making any changes to the system prior to this issue?
4. Is the keyboard not working on all the applications?
5. When you say "When I try to use the keyboard in any other application, no letters", which other application are you referring to?

I would suggest you to try the following methods:

Method 1:

Run the hardware troubleshooter and check if it helps.http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-the-Hardware-and-Devices-troubleshooter

Method 2:

**Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager?**If yes what is the Device Error code?

Step1:

How to open Device Managerhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-Device-Manager

To see Hidden Devices (Non Plug and Play Drivers) you will need to refer these steps.

a) Select View

b) Show Hidden Devices.

It is necessary to do this every time you open Device Manager if you need to see them.

Step 2: If there is yellow question marks in device manger

Please refer to the following steps to un-install & reinstall that device drivers from device manager:

1. Click on Start and in Start search box type in "Device Manager" and press Enter.
2. In Device Manager, double click **on that device.**3. It will show you the device driver name, select that device and then right click on it.
3. Now select properties.
4. In the properties window, under Driver tab, click on Uninstall button.
5. After the uninstalling the drivers restart the computer and check with the issue.

Additional information:

Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly.http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-driver-hardware-isnt-working-properly#update-driver-hardware-isnt-working-properly=windows-7

Method 3:

Step 1: Boot the computer in Safe mode and check if the issue persists.

Safe mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. Startup programs don't run in safe mode, and only the basic drivers needed to start Windows are installed.

Refer to the link below on instructions to get In Safe Mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7

Step 2: If the issue does not persists in Safe Mode then perform a clean boot to check if any third party application is causing the issue, as clean boot helps in eliminating software conflicts.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After troubleshooting, refer to this section ‘How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting’.

Hope this resolves the issue. If issue persists, you can write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

Happy New Year!

Thank you

I have similar problem.  My laptop keyboard won't work once windows 7 loads.  It's a home computer.  I see the code 19 in the device manager

My problem.  I have 2 user accounts that you can select when windows loads.  One is for my kids which had limited rights - and my login which has administrator rights.  Problem.  Mine has a password and I'm unable to type the password on the windows screen because my keyboard doesn't work and the onscreen keyboard won't load either.  The speech recognition wont work either.   When I attach a keyboard to the usb port, that is also unresponsive.  I only have an external mouse working.

I can get into reg edit by booting up with my Windows 7 disk and I also have a repair disk but that was made 4 years ago.  I know - bad me !  I also don't have a recent restore point.  Again - big lesson learned on my part. 

My biggest question is how do I - can I - remove the password for my administrator account in order to get into that part of the windows user login so I can go into device manager and remove the keyboard driver to see if that works.   I need the step by step registry codes.  It's been 13 years since I've been in the tech field so a lot of my knowledge has been forgotten.  But, I am up for working in the registry.

Again - I see lots of questions on this particular subject, no real help in getting around the non working keyboard issue.

Hello Rickelly,

Thanks for your quick reply,

Are other USB devices are working on your computer?

To boot the computer in safe mode, you don't require a keyboard. Once your computer boots to the desktop, you will use On-screen keyboard using the mouse.

To open Onscreen keyboard follow the steps:

1. Click on Start button.
2. Then click All Programs.
3. Click on Accessories.
4. Click on Ease of Access, and then clicking On-Screen Keyboard.

Refer the link: Type without using the keyboard (On-Screen Keyboard)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/type-without-keyboard#type-without-keyboard=windows-7

Then using the onscreen keyboard, he may follow method 1 and method 2 mentioned in the earlier post.

Follow the steps to un-install and re-install USB controllers.

1. Click on Start button,
2. Right Click on Computer.
3. Select Properties.
4. System Widow will be open.
5. Under System window on Top left corner you see Device Manager Option.
6. Click on Device Manager. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation using On Screen Key board.
7. Device Manager Window will be open.
8. In Device Manager, double click on the Keyboards.
9. It will show you the device driver name, select that device and then right click on it.
10. Click on Uninstall button.
11. After the uninstalling the drivers restart the computer and check with the issue.

And also update the latest chipset driver from computer manufacturer website.

Please reply back with the required information, in order to help you to fix the issue.

Thank you.