USB keyboard and mouse no longer working in Windows 7

Question

At home, I'm using a wonderful (or I do think so) Acer Aspire Z5610. This computer uses Windows 7 Home Premium, for which I've naturally set auto-updates. Unfortunately it seems that, periodically, an update "corrupts" my install and make my USB mouse and keyboard unusable.

The problem is quite simple: after reboot, the USB mouse and keyboard can only be used on the boot screens (as I can change boot options) and on Windows startup mode selection screen (where I can select safe mode or "last valid configuration"). I usually solve the problem by selecting "last valid configuration". But I would prefer to definitely solve the issue.

So, what can I do to make sure the keyboard and mouse work flawlessly?

Thanks

UPDATE My mouse and keyboard are absolutely standard parts, coming with no CD.

• My mouse is a two-buttons with scrollwheel logitech optical mouse, bought around five years ago.
• My keyboard is a standard Dell keyboard (yes, a mandatory Jeff Artwood blog link), with no additionnal keys

UPDATE 2 On logon screen, I tried changing my mouse and keyboard USB ports, by simply unplugging them (well, and obviously replugging them on an other port), and it changed nothing : my mouse didn't illuminate, and the keyboard has no effect on the logon screen. Also notice that, as I can't login using this keyboard/mouse pair, I can't go in device manager when I encounter the issue (but I can in last valid configuration).

UPDATE 3 As no solution worked, I've decided to bounty this question with all my points.

UPDATE 4 As I said before, my mouse is a standard logitech optical mouse. This allows me to see its red LED light up when computer boot. When these issues happen, the mouse light up on BIOS screen, and shut down at Windows startup process (ie at Microsoft logo show). It will usually shut down, and, if working, light up again when mouse cursor shows up on screen.

UPDATE 5 Having tried the headless start, keyboard and mouse are not detected after windows startup if they're plugged after.

Considering all the time invsted looking up into a potential answer, I finally gave up and performed a full Windows reinstall (from the same Acer install that is, I must confess, totally filled with crapware). I also changed the Windows settings to ensure a user is logged in at Windows startup. This seems to solve the issue, however keyboard and mouse are detected only ten seconds after user login.

Answer 1

Did your mouse and keyboard come with driver CDs?

If they did, you could try reinstalling the drivers.

EDIT: Have you tried booting from a live Linux CD and testing the mouse and keyboard then? If they still don't work, then it could be a hardware problem. If you are going to try this, I'd suggest Ubuntu as it has good hardware support.

Answer 2

As I've reinstalled Windows and updated configuration (see my "update 5"), this issue can no more be tested. However, I would really like to thank all those who tried to answer this question.

Answer 3

Have you tried this?

No seriously: The next time your devices won't work try to unplug them and plug them into another USB-Port (i hope we are talking about USB devices?). In that case Windows usualy tries to reinstall the devices using the default drivers.

Answer 4

Try removing the mouse and keyboard from the Device Manager (Windows-R, compmgmt.msc, Enter) and restarting the computer. Windows should re-detect the devices and reinstall their drivers.

Answer 5

Are the USB ports generally working under windows? Maybe it's a problem with chipset drivers.

Have you tried installing Logitech SetPoint drivers? USB to PS/2 adapter?

just some thoughts..

Answer 6

1. check bios setting of motherboard.
2. make sure usb is set at hispeed usb mode.
3. also check out s1 s3 state.

Answer 7

You should find out which update from Windows Update causes the problem.
In any case, you should set Windows Update to manual.
Once found, you should hide it and refuse future updates that cause the same problem.

I once had a computer where Windows was destroyed by a certain unknown update.
Since I wasn't able to locate the problem, I didn't do Windows Update during 6 months, trying again every 2-3 months, until one day Windows Update passed without causing a problem.

You can also get in touch with Microsoft Connect.

Answer 8

Are you running on the original Windows 7 installation that was on the machine when you first turned it on? If you are using the Acer installed OS, there could be random pre-installed software installed that is causing incompatibility.

Did the system come with a keyboard and mouse? Are there special keys on either of these devices? It is possible that there is a management tool or special drivers installed that manage the "special Acer devices". That could be causing a conflict with your USB devices.

You could mess around with this for months, trying to get everything working, or you can go nuclear. Reinstall the OS and limit the software installs. I would try to find an install DVD (ISOs work too) that has not not been "branded" by Acer. Get all the drivers installed and see if that changes how the USB devices operate. It's not an option to be taken lightly and it'll take a bit of time. If the computer allows, I would swap out the hard drive in case something goes screwy. You don't want to be without a computer because of a random error.

Answer 9

Check your BIOS and see that everything is enabled.

Answer 10

I resolved the issue by using windows restore to before the last crtitical update - it's obviously caused by the last windows 7 update - my guess is there's a registry tweek required after windows update.

Answer 11

I've had this issue before and it's usually because of .NET Framework 4 or other.

Just uninstall all things named .NET on your computer and hopefully it will resolve it. Then you can reinstall one at a time and see if it works or not.