Annoying computer mystery

[Hawkmoon]

HELP!

I set up a new(er) Windows 7 desktop computer to replace my aging XP desktop. Once the new one was running, I put the old one on another desk and opened it up to vacuum out ten years of accumulated dust bunnies. Now, it boots to the desktop, but it doesn't see the mouse or keyboard. Both are USB devices, and I've tried them in both the front and rear USB ports, as well as trying three different mice.

What could I have done, and what can I try to get it back to functioning? There's still some data I'd like to grab off the old hard drive.

[Ben]

Try booting to safe mode. If that doesn't work, try booting to a linux flash boot drive. If that doesn't work, my guess is you did some hardware damage with the vacuuming.

If the last is the case, you can still get your data by pulling the drive and putting it in a USB enclosure. Plug that into your new computer and copy the data.

[Hawkmoon]

Even more strange.

I tried to get into safe boot. I found that it does see the keyboard and the mouse in setup and diagnostics -- but when it gets to the desktop, it doesn't respond to either. And it won't boot into safe mode. I can get to the screen where I select safe mode, but then when I hit enter all I get is a scrolled directoty of all the files in the system32 subdirectory.

[TommyGunn]

DETCORD.

[Ben]

Even more strange.

I tried to get into safe boot. I found that it does see the keyboard and the mouse in setup and diagnostics -- but when it gets to the desktop, it doesn't respond to either. And it won't boot into safe mode. I can get to the screen where I select safe mode, but then when I hit enter all I get is a scrolled directoty of all the files in the system32 subdirectory.

Honestly, if all you want to do is get files off the old computer, to save yourself the time and hassle, I'd just do this:

https://www.amazon.com/Tool-free-External-Drive-Enclosure-9-5mm/dp/B01M4J94CY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1479529131&sr=8-9&keywords=external+usb+drive+enclosure

The enclosure you get will depend on the drive. Is this a laptop or a desktop? Is it very old? It may use eide connectors instead of sata if old enough.

[lee n. field]

Boot a inux live cd.  There're lots of different ones to choose from.  Copy files to flash drive stick, or whatever.   Junk the junker.

[Brad Johnson]

Sin #2: You moved a computer which had been stationary for several years.

Sin #3: You vacuumed out the debris rathe than blowing it out.

Power it down, unplug it, then very carefully remove and reseat every card and connection. It may or may not work, but it's easy and free so it doesn't hurt to try.

Oh... Sin #1? Never, ever do anything to a functional machine without a known good backup in hand. (Or two, or three)

Brad

[Ben]

Boot a inux live cd.  There're lots of different ones to choose from.  Copy files to flash drive stick, or whatever.   Junk the junker.

I'd originally had that as a suggestion, but (no offense Hawkmoon) then I was thinking Hawkmoon probably isn't up on Linux, so working in Windows with the external drive might be easier and more efficient for him for this one task. Also I was guessing that with no keyboard in safe mode, he probably won't have a keyboard in Linux.

Otherwise I think its a great idea for everyone to be familiar with some flavor of Linux on a live CD or bootable flash drive, and a few basic directory commands, as it's pretty handy for situations just like this.

[Hawkmoon]

Definitely not familiar with Linux. In fact, I had an even older desktop that I had planned to use as a platform to try playing with Linux, but that went belly up and has been sent to the computer graveyard.

[Hawkmoon]

Honestly, if all you want to do is get files off the old computer, to save yourself the time and hassle, I'd just do this:

https://www.amazon.com/Tool-free-External-Drive-Enclosure-9-5mm/dp/B01M4J94CY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1479529131&sr=8-9&keywords=external+usb+drive+enclosure

The enclosure you get will depend on the drive. Is this a laptop or a desktop? Is it very old? It may use eide connectors instead of sata if old enough.

Looks cute, but it's not a 2-1/2-inch drive. Looking at universal external drive cable sets.

[Ben]

Looks cute, but it's not a 2-1/2-inch drive. Looking at universal external drive cable sets.

Hence the part about "the enclosure you get will depend on the drive". :)

[230RN]

I had that problem with XP on my Dell.  Drive would run for a couple of seconds, then just a blank screen.

After sacrificing a couple of virgins and burning a bunch of incense, I discovered it would only boot if all the USB periphs except the keyboard were unplugged, then it would boot.  Then I could plug in the other periphs.  If I tried rebooting with nothing plugged into the USBs, I got a "Keyboard Failure" message, and that's what gave me the hint.

It seems like something in the driver accessing during the boot sequence blocks the keyboard from coming up and it stops with a blank screen. This only started occurring after I hooked up a Brother laser printer through the A-B box to both computers, FWIW.

I now use nothing but "sleep" mode to shut it down to avoid the inconvenience, and I switch my A-B box for the keyboard, printer, and mouse to the other computer (Win 7) just as I click on sleep and let it sit there blinking away happily until I click the A-B box back to that computer and it wakes up.

There was some Sherlocking done to find a solution.  It's not a solution really, but a workaround if the power quits and it has to reboot when the power comes back up.

Terry

[Hawkmoon]

And .............. IT'S ALIVE.

I did say it's a mystery. Once I realized that the keyboard and mouse were functioning when in setup, but failed when it booted to the desktop, I cleverly deduced that the USB port connections weren't totally hosed. Didn't have anything much to lose, so I unplugged the monitor and plugged in a newer one. It initialy booted to the same VGA desktop I had before, then automatically reconfigured itself to what I suppose is the optimum resolution for that monitor (all hail plug-and-play), and maybe a minute later the mouse came alive.

For now I'm going to let it run, at least until I've copied off all the files I need.

Whew!