It took me 20 minuts to type this, grrrrrr

[MiStA PePPa]

ok, for abut 2 weeks I have been using the on screen keyboard. my keyboard just doesn't work. I know the problem is not the hardware or the ports because i have trid an older one and it has the same effect. I CAN us it for bios, so it has to be driver related. I checked the device mgr and it said that the driver was missing or corrupt. dled a updated 1 from the web, but wen i install i get an error saying "this is not a current operation system"

Now the device mgr says something about the registry. damaged file or something. I'm thinking virus because, while I have windows loaded, i can still use the seep and power buttons on the kb.

tried reinstalling after deleting the kb
tried defrag
reg cleaner
anti virus

nothing

found some similar problems via Google, and most of the solutions require the original OS cd. dont have one ad I really dont want to wipe my hdd and buy windows.

[MindlessOath]

do a restore!  

if you dont have a restore disk then i suggest you find your serial number using magic key finder or something of that nature (its not illigal) it will find your key and then download windows and install using your own key.

i do belive microsoft will be offering windows vista as a download later on if you purchase a key from them.

anyways, this is perfectly legal to use your own key to install any copy of windows, hell you paid for it right!

[MindlessOath]

other than that, try a usb keyboard or and a PS/2 keyboard.

[MiStA PePPa]

tried different ports, no go. will check out magic key

[MiStA PePPa]

ok i have my key, never done a restore. so how do i do that? or am i able to just repair that part of windows.

when i reinstall windows, does that wipe out my hdd?

[MindlessOath]

well... you have to get a copy of windows somehow. you can download this or borrow the media from a friend or family. make sure you get an retail copy so you are able to enter in your own serial number - if you find a copy of windows with a serial number already with it, DONT use it! that would be illigal, and it wouldnt be a good idea at all because of windows WGA, etc, but you can use the media to install using your own key.

after you get that media then reinstall it, it will whipe everything out so backup what you need asap. (people should do that anyways on a regular basis if things are importaint).

i dont know of any way to fix your problem besides this... if you want to check the microsoft knowledge base and fine a possible registry fix, that would be the best thing, but good luck in that.

until then use charmap and the mouse should work faster (mabe?).

you can try the recovery counsel if you know how to use it, just get a windowsXP cd or download and make one and use it from there.

i always restore machine to fix software issues - mabe its lazy, but it works  i dont like to take forever for finding a fix that someone else f'ed up.

[Javaman]

does it work in safe mode?

[MiStA PePPa]

doest work in safe mode, Im sure its an os problem.

i will probably just reinstall. I have an old hdd from my mothers dead comp i just put in (post problem) so i will save everything i need on that, disconnect it and redo windows on the master hdd. hopefully this wont cause any problems.

[MindlessOath]

anything really importaint try to copy to disk/cd

[MiStA PePPa]

Well it has been 20 days since I broke the shit out of my computer.

First, the keyboard wouldnt work. Then, I saw an error during a boot that said something about my hal.dll. That it was missing or corrupt. I began to think that the method of fixing the problem was just a mere recovery. So, I went to the recovery sheet to do just that, recover. I was a bit disturbed to find out and quickly remember that I had turned the restore points off. Stupid mistake that had to do with space problems and what not.

Anyway I found out on the internet, that I could do a repair install of windows if I just had the windows cd. Something I was not lucky enough to be rewarded with because of my immaturity in the computing world. I bought a prefab Emachine. Shame surrounds those words.I knew what I had to do, I had to get one of those cool holographic whoring cd's, the windows cd.

I tried searching the net for ways to download windows. One site had instructions on how to create and burn your own windows setup cd. Creating text files that say no more that the word "windows" in them and renaming the file with quotes so the extension would stay the same. Copying files I had no idea existed. Burning with odd programs that had way to many features. All, to find out it doesn't work. Heck, I even downloaded  the full version of windows via bit torrent, complete with instructions on how to illegally activate it. I still had my own key though. (thanx MO) All that did, was boot to some command prompt that did nothing.

I decided to look on the internet for info on this hal.dll. I found a site that offered it for download. great. Nope. After replacing the file, I couldn't even boot windows at all. My keyboard problem was now a system problem.

I have a friend, who was fortunate enough to receive a windows cd with his prefab machine. At last, after a week of burning cd's and punching my screen, I was going to be able to repair my windows, along with the file that made my keyboard poop out. Nope, he couldn't find it. I gave in, I went to Wally World and bought it.

After getting a weird look from some bimbo on a cell phone, I finally made it out of the store and back home, at 2am I might add. I tried to install windows on my hdd, but the installer could not detect a previous version of windows on it. It had to run a check to see if my system had what it took to run windows xp. Of course. I press enter to continue. "please insert the windows cd into the cd-rom drive". "IT IS IN THE STUPID DRIVE YOU *bleep*SS HOLE!" I had to reinstall windows completely, on an hdd that I took from my mothers broken prefab. So, now I have a new install of windows on a hdd half the size of my original. Oh well.

I decide I better download some drivers and update windows. But guess what? More problems. windows can't recognize ANY of the system devices, including the ethernet controller. No internet. Then, the luckiest thing that has happened for 2 weeks. On my old hdd, I find a folder labeled "drivers" in my windows directory. Nvidia saved all the drivers for everything on the Nforce mobo. All in one installer. Ethernet works. Router is an ass. I can't get my router to allow my computer to connect. Internet connection control panel only tries to set up 56k dial up. I had to do a direct connection to my cable modem before it would work.

Drivers, updates, activation, all done. I decide to watch a DVD I rented. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A DVD PLAYER. I have to download VLC player and use that. So I get to watch Pan's Labyrinth. (good movie, very weird) Now I sit here after 20 days of madness with a fresh install of windows and a new respect for my keyboard.

[MindlessOath]

lol, we all learn from this kind of experiance! so look to it as a good experiance that was a little crazy.

always backup your data, and dont be afraid to restore your system whenever something goes wrong, cause it will likly fix everything, but make sure you have drivers before doing so

i found that it was really annoying when restoreing a pc, without drivers.

[MiStA PePPa]

i found that it was really annoying when restoreing a pc, without drivers.

Amen