Windows XP SP3 Keyboard stops working

Question

Here's the strangest thing I have yet to see in 20+ yrs of computer repairs. My in-laws Windowsx XP SP3 has stopped recognizing keyboards. The keyboards work fine in the BIOS, during the boot select process to boot normally, etc. but once Windows comes up it will not recognize any USB keyboard. The USB mouse works fine, have tried different USB ports, different keyboards, etc. nothing works. I can log into the machine via VNC and use the remote keyboard just fine, but not connected locally. Tried a system restore, it says nothing changed.

I am about to just re-install Windows at this point, except I am afraid it will happen again. I have googled for this and it is not unheard of, but I have not found any solution other than nuking it. Anyone have any ideas? I have re-installed the USB drivers for the M/B. Gone into devices and deleted them for a re-install, etc. Keyboard works off a Linux live boot CD, and in the BIOS setup so it is not a hardware issue, and I have tried a few keyboards all of which I know are good and work fine on other systems.

Answer 1

One thing you can try:

Log in using the username your inlaws use on the machine (if you can), then go into Control Panel and select Keyboard. When the dialog comes up, go to the Hardware tab and make sure under devices there is something listed similar to Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard (This may vary some). If it's listed there, see if it shows any errors where it says status down below the device list.