home » Questions » Windows does not see the keyboard. Why the keyboard does not work on the computer: possible causes and their elimination. The main reasons why the keyboard does not work

Windows does not see the keyboard. Why the keyboard does not work on the computer: possible causes and their elimination. The main reasons why the keyboard does not work

The computer is a complex machine. Many additional devices can be connected to it. For example, a mouse or keyboard. These are extremely important components that allow you to comfortably work with the operating system. The following will tell you how to connect the keyboard to your computer. In fact, figuring out this is not as difficult as it seems. But users should be aware of some features of the process, since it is not always possible to connect the keyboard to a stationary computer or laptop without problems. So what should you pay attention to?

Different models

The first and most important point is determining the type of keyboard that will be connected. Today there are several models of these devices. The type of component selected will determine how to connect the keyboard to the computer.

You can find the following connection connectors for keyboards:

PS / 2;
Bluetooth.

So how to act in this or that case? What connection features should every user know about?

Not always possible

For example, sometimes it turns out that a particular keyboard model cannot be connected to a computer. This usually means the PS / 2 connector. Why?

The thing is that the corresponding socket for connection is available only on stationary computers. Netbooks, laptops and ultrabooks lack these connectors. Therefore, it will not work to connect the appropriate keyboard. Although there are some techniques that can help resolve the situation.

However, the user should take into account that not always and not all keyboard models are connected to computers. Sometimes the reason for the failure of the corresponding component from work is the inadequacy of the system requirements. You will have to pay attention to them before purchasing an I / O device.

Connecting old keyboards

How do I connect a keyboard to my computer? PS / 2, for example? These keyboards are considered old. And therefore, some modern users do not know how to proceed.

To connect a PS / 2 keyboard to your computer, you need:

Find the PS / 2 connector on the back of your computer. It features a round hole with 6 legs and a lock.
Insert the keyboard wire into the appropriate connector.
Turn on the computer or wait until the device is detected by the operating system.

It is important to note that the PS / 2 mouse and keyboard connectors look the same. Their only difference from each other is the different color of the nests. Therefore, it is important to correctly connect the input devices. Most often, there is a miniature of the keyboard near the corresponding socket. You can connect with the system unit turned on or off.

Through adapter

How do I connect a keyboard to my computer? You can also connect a PS / 2 to the USB connector, but you have to try to do this. Many users don't see any point in this. The fact is that for the successful implementation of the idea in life, you need to purchase a special adapter. There will be a PS / 2 socket on one end and a USB on the other. This is the only way to do what was planned.

How do I connect a keyboard to my computer? If you want to connect a PS / 2 model via USB, you need:

Buy a special PS / 2-USB adapter.
Slide the adapter onto the PS / 2 connector.
Find a USB socket on the computer and plug the keyboard with the adapter into it.
Turn on or restart the operating system.

There is nothing difficult or special. After connecting the keyboard, you will have to wait a bit. The device may not start working immediately, but after a few minutes. This is normal. During this period, there is a search and installation of keyboard drivers. Once the appropriate software is installed, you can use the input device.

Via USB

The most popular and common type of keyboard is USB. It is with such devices that users work most often. How do I connect a keyboard to my computer? This is not so difficult to do.

To use the USB connection, the user must:

Find a USB connector on your computer or laptop. This is a rectangular socket on the panel. Each computer has several of them.
Plug the device connection cable into any of the USB connectors.
Turn on or restart your computer.

Then you have to wait for the drivers to be installed. If the automatic installation did not occur, you need to install the appropriate software yourself. It is either downloaded from the official website of the keyboard manufacturer, or is attached as a kit to the connected device. Driver installation takes just a few minutes and is similar to initializing a regular PC application.

No wires

How to connect a wireless keyboard to a computer? This question interests many users. After all, wireless computer components appear in stores more and more often. There is nothing difficult about that. You just need to follow a short instruction.

So how do you connect a wireless keyboard to your computer? To do this, the user must:

Insert the battery into the keyboard and switch the device state to On.
Plug a special USB receiver into the USB connector.
Install drivers for the connected equipment. You can carry out this venture later. CD with software is included with the keyboard.
Synchronize your device with your computer. To do this, go to the program installed with the drivers, and then select the appropriate equipment from the list that appears.

It's all. The connection is actually not that difficult. In some cases, it is sufficient to simply insert the rechargeable battery or batteries into the keyboard, then plug into the USB receiver and restart the computer. But there is one more scenario.

Without receiver

This is a connection without a receiver. Quite a common course of action. How do I connect a wireless keyboard to a computer without a USB receiver?

To do this, the user needs:

Insert the battery into the input device. Sometimes you need batteries to turn it on.
Switch the device to "On" mode.
Turn on Bluetooth on your computer.
Find your keyboard and sync it with your machine.
Wait for the drivers to be installed. Sometimes you need to install the appropriate programs on your computer yourself.

Now it is clear how to connect a keyboard to a computer in one way or another. As you can see, even a novice user can cope with the task.

Any USB keyboard can suddenly outgrow it - even an ordinary budget one, even with an advanced design, backlighting and a bunch of additional buttons. USB keyboards are not much, but still more vulnerable than PS / 2 keyboards. The list of possible causes of problems with the PS / 2 keyboard is small: as a rule, problems occur either with the keyboard itself, or with the wire, or with the motherboard connector. The range of possible causes of problems with USB keyboards is slightly wider, respectively, due to the USB interface itself. The possible reasons for a non-working USB keyboard and how to get out of the situation will be discussed below.

1. Pull out wire

If the USB keyboard worked successfully, and then at some certain moment stopped responding to input, you should first check if the wire is pulled out of the USB port on the computer. Even if the wire is in place, you can temporarily remove it from the USB port and insert it again after a couple of seconds.

2. Another USB port

If the previous method did not give successful results, you must reconnect the keyboard to a different USB port. This will either reveal that one of, or exclude one possible cause of the problem. After a motherboard malfunction due to a power surge, one or more USB ports may stop working, while others remain working. If the keyboard does not work with any of the USB ports, you need to check the functionality of the USB ports themselves by connecting any other device to them - a USB flash drive, mobile device, printer, etc. If all USB ports on the computer turn out to be inoperative, then the problem will have to be solved with them.

A keyboard connected to USB 3.0 (blue output port) may not work during Windows setup until the drivers are installed on the motherboard. In this case, the keyboard must be reconnected to USB 2.0 (white output port).

3. Reinstalling the driver

If reconnecting to a different USB port does not work, you need to check if the keyboard works in the BIOS environment. The fact of successfully entering the BIOS and navigating the navigation keys through its sections means that the problem has occurred at the Windows OS level. In this case, you can try reinstalling the keyboard drivers. This can be done in the Windows Device Manager. You can get into it in Windows 7 by calling the "Start" menu and selecting "Control Panel".

In Windows 8.1 and 10 systems, the path is shorter: Device Manager is directly accessible from the context menu on the Start button.

Directly in the device manager window, open the "Keyboards" section, on the "HID Keyboard" item, call the context menu and remove the driver.

We confirm the decision.

Reboot your computer.

After restarting, the keyboard driver will be installed automatically.

For certain models of USB keyboards, manufacturers may provide their own drivers for those keyboards. This point needs to be clarified, and if so, then the driver must be installed manually by downloading it on the manufacturer's website or by finding the installation disk in the keyboard delivery kit.

4. Enabling USB keyboard support controller in BIOS

A malfunction of the motherboard (as a result of the same power surge) can cause the USB keyboard support controller to be disabled in the BIOS settings. It is not often, however, it happens that the USB controller for keyboard support at the BIOS level is disabled initially. This nuance will make itself felt only when the need arises for the computer to work in pre-boot mode. Until then, Windows will use the USB keyboard by its own means. Of course, in such cases, you cannot do without a PS / 2 keyboard, and if it is not stored anywhere, just in case, it will need to be borrowed from someone for a while. Alternatively, use a USB to PS / 2 adapter.

What should I do after entering BIOS? In the BIOS settings, you need to find the USB controller parameter for keyboard support. These are usually labeled "Keyboard Support" or "Legasy USB Support". The UEFI BIOS may simply be called "USB Support". After finding, you need to check that the value opposite is not "Disabled" (disabled), but "Enabled" (enabled). The "Enabled" value must also be in the "USB Controller" parameter. For example, in AMI BIOS version 17.9, USB controllers are configured in the Integrated Peripherals section.

5. Defective keyboard

And, finally, the simplest test for checking the operability of the USB keyboard itself is connecting it to another computer device.

Have a great day!

The keyboard is the main tool for entering information, without which it is impossible to work on a computer. Most often, for this device to work flawlessly, it is enough to simply connect it to the computer, and it will install all the necessary drivers automatically. This happens in most cases, but not always. There are situations when, when the keyboard is connected to the USB or PS / 2 connector, it is not detected on the computer and does not show any signs of operation - the indicators are off, and the buttons do not work. As part of this article, we offer instructions on what to do if the keyboard on your computer does not work.

We recommend reading:

Connecting a keyboard to a computer is as simple as possible - just insert its wire into the corresponding connector on the motherboard, and after that the device will start working. There are wireless keyboards, the radio receiver from which is inserted into the USB connector, after which the device works if the distance between the transmitter and the device is observed.

Due to the simplicity of the process of connecting a computer, we can conclude that there are only 2 reasons why the keyboard does not work on a computer:

Mechanical. Problems may arise directly with the keyboard or the wire with which it connects to the motherboard. A broken connector on the motherboard may also be the cause of the malfunction.
Software. The keyboard drivers are installed automatically, but during the installation of any software failures may occur, and this situation is no exception. In addition, problems may not be observed at the operating system level, but in the BIOS, where the corresponding settings for the keyboard are disabled.

Depending on which connector the keyboard is connected to the computer, we offer different solutions to the problems that arise.

What to do if the keyboard does not work on the computer via the USB protocol

The most common interface for connecting a keyboard to a computer is USB. The speed of information transfer from a peripheral device to the computer is sufficient, both via the USB 2.0 protocol and via USB 3.0, so there is no difference in which connector to connect the keyboard.

If the USB keyboard does not work when you turn on the computer, do the following:

It is worth noting that users whose keyboard is connected to the motherboard via USB may have problems navigating to BIOS on the computer's boot screen if they are using an older version of the basic software. In this case, you need to find a keyboard with a PS / 2 connector or use the appropriate adapter.

What to do if the keyboard does not work on the computer via PS / 2 protocol

Keyboard makers are moving away from the PS / 2 connector in favor of USB. It is very difficult to find a keyboard with a PS / 2 connector on sale, but if you come across such peripherals and it does not work when Windows boots, the problem is most likely related to the drivers. To make the keyboard work, you need to do the following:

It is worth noting that a similar problem with keyboards connected via PS / 2 protocol most often occurs due to an error during the installation of the i8042prt.sys or kbdclass.sys driver.

Have you ever had a situation when you, while working at a computer, suddenly noticed that the keyboard refuses to type? It doesn't matter if you are texting on social networks or typing the most important work in your life: thesis, master's degree, or a much more promising professorship. You are wondering why the keyboard on the computer does not work. You reboot the operating system in the hope that everything will fix itself, but no. The keyboard remains unresponsive as before. You start to panic. What to do? Calling a master or buying a new keyboard? And if it's a laptop? There is an exit!

To fix this unpleasant breakdown, you first need to figure out what type of keyboard you have connected.

Computer keyboard connection type

USB keyboard. This type is most often found in our time. USB keyboards use plug-and-play technology, so the connection is the most common problem. As soon as the keyboard stops responding, the first step is to unplug it and plug it back into the USB port of your computer device. Perhaps the contacts just moved away. This usually fixes the problem. But it also happens that the breakdown is not in the keyboard itself. If these actions did not lead to a positive result, there is a possibility that the port itself in the computer has broken. Try connecting your device to another device, or at least to another USB port on your PC. By doing these steps, you can already discard some of the guesses about why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows XP, 7, Linux set up device connection settings in different ways. There is a chance that the problem is in the software or operating system settings.

PS / 2 computer keyboard. This type of connection has been used for a long time and is considered the most reliable, because it does not require the installation of drivers. The keyboard connector has 6 pins for connection. It so happens that if the connector is incorrectly connected to the computer port, one of the contacts may bend. It needs to be aligned for the keyboard to work. If the keyboard stopped working while working on it with the PC turned on, be sure: the problem is in the operating system or software. Perhaps some process is slowing down her work. The main difference between a PS / 2 computer keyboard and USB is that if the device fails, you need to reboot the computer to make it work again. This is not plug-and-play technology.
A wireless keyboard is a modern type of input device, but that doesn't mean it's flawless. It can also refuse to work like other types of devices. You can think for a long time why the wireless keyboard on the computer does not work, but the main breakdowns and problems occur most often in the case when something is blocking the USB receiver. In this case, you need to clear the computer desk of unnecessary things and see if it works now. Basically, the wireless keyboard is the same USB peripheral with the only slight difference: there are no wires here. In this regard, it is necessary first of all to check the blocking of the signal. If no changes have occurred, then you must follow the steps described in the USB computer keyboard.

Troubleshooting the problem via BIOS

You have performed the steps to mechanically fix the problem, but unfortunately it did not help. Panic hits you. Why isn't the keyboard working on my computer? Windows 7 must first be restarted. Perhaps the problem will resolve itself.
Try pressing the Esc button a few times to see if the autostart display menu appears. If there is no response from the program, it is necessary to replace the keyboard - the problem is not in the software.
If the autorun menu works, press the F10 key to bring up the BIOS menu. In the settings, you must set the default values, this is done by pressing the F5 key. Some devices may have different hotkeys.
After making changes to the BIOS, you must reboot the operating system.
If after the actions taken, you still have not solved the problem and ask yourself why the keyboard does not work on the computer, then you need to reinstall the keyboard software in the device manager.

Reinstalling and configuring keyboard software

In the control panel of any operating system in the "Start" menu there is an item "Hardware and Sound", under which there is a view of devices and printers. It is this section that we need. Clicking in the window with the right mouse button, you must select "Device Manager". Do not forget that you must have administrator rights, otherwise you will not be able to change the settings of hidden devices. So, in a new open window, we are looking for the required Keyboards item and are trying to solve the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 7, 8, XP differ slightly in their interface, so the path to the settings menu may differ slightly. Calling the object control panel, you must select the item to reinstall and update the hardware and driver configuration. After restarting the computer, the hardware should work correctly.

The problem of pressing multiple characters with one key on the keyboard

Sometimes, while typing from the keyboard, a situation arises when keys stick and print several characters at once. And the problem is not that you press the keys for too long. The whole point is in the keyboard response settings. To change these parameters, you must manually enter the word "keyboard" in the search bar in the start menu. A new window will appear in front of your eyes, when you open it, you should correctly adjust the delay rate of entering a repeated character. From now on, you will not worry about why the keyboard on the computer does not work correctly.

1 way to fix keyboard inoperability outside the operating system

There are often situations of keyboard failure due to incompatibility of drivers on the operating system. There are different versions of "Windows": 32 and 64 bit. How are they different and why do they need different drivers? The main difference is in the processing of different amounts of RAM. That is why it is necessary to install various types of drivers so that at the most inopportune moment you do not panic about why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8, 7, XP, Linux require different types of software to be installed. But to find out if this is the real cause of the problem, you need to restart your computer and see, by pressing the NumLock and CapsLock keyboard keys, check their performance using the lights up.

2 way to troubleshoot keyboard issues via CMOS

Another way to check if the keyboard is working outside the operating system is to go to CMOS settings and try the keyboard in safe mode. Sometimes the operating system crashes, safe mode will fix this breakdown. If the CapsLock and NumLock keys fail, go to the first method.

Computer device beeps when you type with the keyboard: solutions

Why is the keyboard not working correctly on the computer? There are situations when, when working with a set of symbolic characters, a computer device emits sound signals. In this case, you need to change the keyboard parameters. To go to the settings, you need to enter the word "Keyboard" in the search line.

In the appeared results of the control panel there is an item to change them. You need to follow this link, uncheck the Sticky Keys checkbox next to the "Simplify Typing" item and go to their settings. In the new window that opens, uncheck the box next to Sticky Keys when you press the Shift button five times. We save the results by clicking on the OK button, after which the old keyboard settings window opens automatically. In it, uncheck the box next to the sound switch by pressing the Num Lock button for 5 seconds. After saving the settings, the computer device will no longer emit meticulous beeps.

The numeric keypad refuses to work

Some users, when buying a peripheral device, sometimes wonder why the numbers on the keyboard on the right do not work. On a computer, this situation happens quite often, especially on the Ubuntu operating system. What to do in this case? Try just pressing the two keys combination: Shift + Num Lock. Most often it helps. Chances are that the numeric keypad is configured for mouse control. To disable it on the Windows operating system, you must press the Alt + Shift + Num Lock key combination. There is another, more complex path to go to optical mouse settings. But why make life difficult for yourself when pressing a keyboard shortcut can solve the whole problem?

Why the keyboard does not work on the computer when turned on: solution

To solve this problem, you need to follow these steps:

Check the connection itself. It doesn't matter what type of keyboard: USB, wireless or PS / 2. If the problem is connection or loss of signal, the keyboard will not work.
If the connection is OK, you need to download a new version of the software that is compatible with your operating system and reinstall it for your keyboard.
When reinstalling the driver did not help, it means that you need to configure everything manually through the BIOS, CMOS or "Control Panel".
If it is possible to connect the keyboard to another computer device, check its functionality on it. In each operating system, program settings are found in different paths. It is necessary to know the operating system interface well to solve the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8.1 is arguably the most complex system to configure software changes. But it doesn't take much knowledge to change keyboard settings. You must follow the instructions carefully, and then your peripheral device will work again as quickly as before.

Possible reasons for the inoperability of some keys on the keyboard

There are times when, due to carelessness or carelessness, the user of a computer device spills water, tea or other drinks on the keyboard. And it's good if the owner of the computer did it himself, because he knows where the problems with the peripheral device come from. But when someone else did it and did not admit it, the owner will scratch his head for a long time why the USB keyboard on the computer does not work. But most often it happens that certain buttons stop working. Then it is necessary to disassemble and manually clean the keyboard, and if it has already oxidized, then completely change it. After all, there is little chance that it will now work as before.

Note to users

Now you know the possible causes of a broken computer keyboard. Some users will be new to know that an on-screen keyboard is automatically installed on any operating system. In the event of a peripheral device failure, it will definitely help you.

A breakdown is not the only reason why the computer cannot see the keyboard. It is possible that this problem is a consequence of other processes associated with a crash, breakdown or improper loading of the operating system. However, before rushing to hand over your PC to repair, you need to make sure that you cannot fix this problem yourself.

The main reasons why the keyboard does not work

The keyboard does not work when you turn on the computer, because:

The PS / 2 port (keyboard connector) is out of order.
Incorrect or incomplete connection of the wire pin to the port.
The keyboard itself is damaged (the wire is frayed, the microcircuit is damaged or damp, etc.).
The batteries are dead or the wireless keyboard drivers are damaged.
A virus attack on equipment with its subsequent failure.

First aid

The main thing in this situation is to establish the reason why the keyboard does not work. If the keyboard is connected via a PS / 2 connector, it is important not to mix up the color and make sure its legs are working properly.

First you need to check the mechanical connection of the keyboard to the computer, and make sure that the wire is not damaged. Next, you need to restart the computer and disconnect and then reconnect the wire. For a final conclusion, you can check the keyboard on another PC, and the connector for connecting it using another keyboard.

Checking the BIOS

Another, common and most likely reason for a USB keyboard "breakdown" may be incorrect BIOS settings, or rather, disabling its support. An indicator that the keyboard does not work in the BIOS is also the inoperative state of all USB devices. In this case, questions arise, how to enter BIOS without a keyboard, or how to turn on the keyboard in BIOS? Simple enough. When you enter the OS, you need to start the BIOS, and there in the settings set the value "Enabled" opposite the Legacy USB Support or USB Keyboard Support function.