USB keyboard works in bios, but stops working when installing XP sp2. PS/2 not an option

Question

All, I have an old (2007) computer (Dell Optiplex 745) on which the hard drive failed completely. I have a new hard drive, formatted to NTFS but otherwise blank.

• The USB keyboard works fine in bios.
• I do not have a PS/2 keyboard, nor is there an PS/2 slot on the computer.
• I have confirmed that legacy support for USB is enabled in the bios.
• When I attempt to install XP (from an Sp2 CD), the keyboard completely stops working. I can't hit "enter" to install XP, or anything else.
• I've tried other keyboards: all have the same issue.
• I am using the usb dual slots next to the ethernet port, but I have tried every slot on the front and back of the computer.
• I can successfully run Knoppix from DVD without keyboard issues.

I've seen other people online with the same problem, but no solution.

1. How can we resolve the keyboard issue so I can install windows?
2. If one isn't possible, how can I install windows XP to the drive from another machine and then move it to the computer I need it in?

Assistance gratefully appreciated.

Edit: I don't have an sp3 disk, I wish I did.

I would put 7 on it, but it's going to a field employee who REALLLLY doesn't get computers. He can handle XP and the minimal programs that are required, and frankly he retires in a few years so I'm not even going to try to convert him unless I have no choice.

Answer 1

I have just faced the same challenge with Dell Inspiron 530.

All you need to do is to find PS/2 keyboards and PS/2 to USB adapter. This combination worked for me.

Answer 2

You need XP drivers for the USB controller. XP doesn't support that out of the box as XP is older than the hardware.

Knoppix has those buildin so that is why it works on Knoppix.

You might have more luck with a XP, slipstreamed with SP3.
It is just possible that SP3 adds the extra driver you need but that is not guaranteed.
If SP3 doesn't work either then your only option is to build your own slipstream XP with the extra drivers added.

Why are you using XP by the way ? It is obsolete and out of support.
That hardware will run Linux or Windows 7 just fine. It is even 64bit capable.

P.S. There is on on-board PS/2 connector, but you need a custom Dell PS/2 bracket with matching cable because Dell uses a non-standard connector.

Answer 3

Results:

Slipstreaming with USB drivers = fail. Slipstream disk worked, but keyboard was still not recognized. As barlop pointed out, there are no keyboard specific drivers to install, so all I could include were the generic USB 2.0 and 3.0 drivers.

SysPrep and drive cloning = fail. SysPrep ran for 14 hours and never finished. After googling the error, I restarted and tried again... 3 times.

Give up an install Win7 = success, except that now I have to deal with training someone who could barely turn on his old XP computer. I know some of you say a little training will solve the challenges, and 99% of the time i'd agree with you, but this is the 1%. I fully expect to be "fixing" ID10T errors on a near weekly basis for the next 3 years.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions even if they didn't work. :)

For the certain people who had less patience, you might stop to remember that everyone has to learn at some point, so glib answers or referring some on to tech documents that are over their head are not helpful, particularly when the writer of the question has been polite and clearly attempted to research and resolve the problem before posting here. To those that were helpful, thank you.