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I can boot into Vista just fine, but the mouse and keyboard (both USB) are not working. However, they are both working fine up until Vista boots. Immediately after boot, the found new hardware dialog pops up for the mouse with option to find drivers and install them (the keyboard doesn't register at all). But it's a catch 22, I can't select an option!

Both stopped working about a week ago after a dodgy hard disk was plugged into the PC. I'm assuming that was the cause of the problem, since they haven't working since then. I've tried system restore, but all checkpoints I've tried have resulted in failure (with the helpful Microsoft error message "Catastrophic Failure"). Safe Mode results in the exact same scenario as booting normally.

Is there a way to set an option to force Vista into automatically installing drivers without prompting, but in such a way that it can be set before boot?

I'm willing to entertain any and all solutions. I need to get at my disk fast.

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  • Is there a way to set an option to force Vista into automatically installing drivers without prompting, but in such a way that it can be set before boot? Yes, and it is the default setting. Did you change it? I had the same problem with Windows XP a couple of years ago. The principal should be the same with Vista; you should check the registry to see if the driver-signing setting (\Software\Microsoft\Driver Signing and \Software\Microsoft\Non-Driver Signing) is set to 0.
    – Synetech
    Oct 15, 2013 at 17:43
  • Oops sorry, I'll take a look at that post. Also, the default auto install option was not changed manually.
    – RTF
    Oct 15, 2013 at 18:36

1 Answer 1

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First, try booting into safe-mode. Windows should load generic drivers for the mouse and keyboard and they should stick when you reboot into normal mode.

If you have a special kind of mouse/keyboard for which Windows keeps ignoring the generic drivers and tries to load advanced drivers, then you can try the System Recovery Options.

  1. Reboot
  2. Press F8 to access the Advanced Boot Options (figure 1)
  3. Select Repair Your Computer

    It should bring you to the System Recovery Options screen (figure 2)

  4. Select Command Prompt
  5. Mount the registry hive

    1. Locate your normal Windows installation (you can use the dir command, but you may be able to use Explorer (explorer) to find it). It will usually be a different drive letter.
    2. Navigate to the registry folder. If your Windows installation is in d: during recovery, then you would use this command in the command-prompt:

      cd d:\windows\system32\config
      
    3. Mount the registry hive (we’ll use z as the temporary branch):

      reg load hku\z software
      
    4. Run the registry editor (regedit)

    5. Navigate to HKEY_USERS\z\Microsoft\Driver Signing Check if the Policy value is 0. If not, set it to 0 (automatically install drivers)
    6. Repeat for HKEY_USERS\z\Microsoft\Non-Driver Signing
    7. Unmount the hive with this command:

      reg unload hku\z
      
    8. Reboot and check that it installs the drivers without prompting you


Figure 1: Screenshot of Advanced Boot Options screen

Screenshot of Advanced Boot Options screen

Figure 2: Screenshot of System Recovery Options screen

Screenshot of System Recovery Options screen

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  • That's outstanding. I haven't tried it yet, but I won't be able to until tomorrow morning. However, I've been having trouble getting into the advanced boot options menu under normal circumstances. I've tried hitting F8 like a mad man but it does nothing. Is there an alternative key? I have an installation disc though, and I can access the command prompt by booting from that, if that's appropriate?
    – RTF
    Oct 15, 2013 at 19:11
  • No, there isn’t a different key, but have you tried simply holding the key down? As soon as you reboot and see the BIOS screen, just hold F8 down; it should fire continuously. If that doesn’t work, then yes, the installation disc also has an option to get you to the recovery screen.
    – Synetech
    Oct 15, 2013 at 19:54
  • This didn't work unfortunately. Thanks anyway.
    – RTF
    Oct 16, 2013 at 8:09
  • Didn’t work how? Were they already 0?
    – Synetech
    Oct 17, 2013 at 0:41
  • I actually don't know. It's not actually my PC and someone else took over troubleshooting the issue. All I know is that it didn't work. I think whoever is looking after it now is gonna do a repair install. I don't think the owner has any installed software that can't be re-installed on the fly when they need it. Thanks for the detailed answer though.
    – RTF
    Oct 17, 2013 at 14:51

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