PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

[hottroc]

Hi,

A strange keyboard problem.....

When I boot up, my PS2 keyboard works and I can press F2 to get to the UEFI bios. The keyboard works within the UEFI BIOS to navigate and select etc.
Then later (or if I don't press F2) during the Windows Boot Manager stage the keyboard does NOT work and I have to wait 30seconds for the default timeout. It also does NOT work during Windows Error Recovery, meaning I would be unable to select Safe Mode if necessary.
....then once Windows starts the keyboard works again, and is fine throughout the normal Windows use.

Why does it not work during the Boot Manager phase and how do I fix it?

The keyboard worked fine with my old (Asrock) motherboard including at the Boot Manager stage. It also worked with this motherboard at first, but then I did some updates from the Asrock site and I think a INF or BIOS update may have changed something.
Another possibility is that I also changed my mouse around the same time and Microsoft update then installed what I thought was the mouse software (it's a MS USB mouse), but turned out to be Mouse and Keyboard software which seemed to wipe out my Intellitype. I've tried uninstalling it and reinstalling the Intellitype but the problem remains.

Any suggestions welcome as long as they are not to get a different keyboard. I like this one and as I said I'm pretty sure it's not the keyboard itself at fault.

EDIT - OK just to test, I borrowed a different PS/2 keyboard (different make and model)....and the result was exactly the same. Works in Windows but not in (real-mode?). I think the next stages are either repair of Windows or reverting to older BIOS, INF or ME. Which of these is responsible for devices during the Boot Mgr phase (that's real-mode right?).

Thanks,
hottroc
PS I had to update the BIOS to support 4th gen processor.

Asrock H87M
Intel i5
Bios 2.20
Windows 7 64-bit

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

Well, a bit disappointed to have no replies after over 200+ views.

However, after much reading of many similar topics where people have had similar keyboard problems with other Asrock mboards, and lots of subsequent trial and error changes, I have discovered that if I set Legacy USB Support to Disabled then my keyboard becomes fully functional again, ie the problem disappears.

I'm surprised because we are talking about a PS/2 keyboard not USB.

Anyway I don't really know what this Legacy USB Support setting does?
Can someone advise a) What counts as a Legacy OS b) Why the setting effects PS/2 keyboard c) What the setting does (in detail) and what other devices would/should/does it effect how and when?

Finally, is there a BIOS update on the horizon to fix this? Or is there another way to fix the problem (maybe editing the Registry to load a keyboard driver or something) without other side effects?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

[profJim]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

Welcome to the forum.

A web search using: what is usb legacy support might provide some helpful information.

I think that it has to do with enabling or disabling additional checking for older usb 1.1 compatibility while posting and booting.

I've seen reports that say that with usb legacy support disabled, it eliminates some problems when overclocking and testing with LGA775 systems.

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

Thanks for the response. I read some of the links from the search you suggested. Although I understand the words they say it still doesn't make sense in the context of MY issue and leaves several gaps in knowledge. And there is also a variety of interpretations as to the function of the setting......

Some talk about support for USB devices in OS's (or OS context environments) without USB support, others about supporting old 1.1 USB devices..... so which is it, or is it both?

Secondly all the references are talking about USB devices, NOT PS/2 so why is it applying to my problem.

Also I read that "USB 2.0 is forward and backward compatable with USB 1.1. You can use 1.1 devices in a 2.0 port, it just won't run at 2.0 speed, it'll revert to the 12Mbps max of USB 1.1." so why if my device (keyboard) was effected by the setting why did it just not still work, even if a little slower?

And finally why is it that DISABLING the setting has improved my situation? It is supposed to help not hinder.
Just to note also that setting to "Auto" did NOT improve my situation. Why not? What does Auto actually do?

I'm also wondering what the setting does to my Asrock board in more detail than I can find so far. What specifically does it do? ("provide support" is NOT really what I'm looking for)
Some references have said that USB devices will not work outside of Windows if the setting is Disabled (yet my USB mouse seems OK! - ***EDIT, oh no it doesn't, see edit below***) which is worrying.

The most important thing I'm hoping for is that disabling the option will not stop my external HDD from working when I'm trying to image my drive (which is an "external-to-windows" operation if you know what I mean) as this is my primary backup method. I won't know until I try.

And also,..... is this the expected behaviour or is this a bug in the BIOS? And will there be a fix, ie updated BIOS, from Asrock to cure it?
IMHO it's a bug, cos I need my PS/2 keyboard and USB devices, both, enabled in all situations which is presumably the purpose of the feature.

One other thing not explained elsewhere is why the keyboard worked before (ie prior to my BIOS or INF update or whatever)?

EDIT - Oh, so after a reboot I went into BIOS again and realised this time my USB mouse is not working in the BIOS! Great. So it seems you can have PS/2 OR USB but not both! Great! Shame that they didn't think of that when they (along with other mboard manufacturers) decided to only include one PS/2 port, else I could have continued using my PS/2 mouse that I had to swap. This deffo must be a bug. Come on Asrock please provide an update to fix this, as it worked previously, so something you changed recently in the BIOS or INF code?

[profJim]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

from Download Microsoft IntelliType Pro 8.2 Keyboard Software for Windows - 64 bit from Official Microsoft Download Center:

With IntelliType Pro 8.2, setup automatically detects your keyboard model. If you have more than one keyboard attached to your computer, each keyboard model can have different settings. PS/2 devices are no longer supported in IntelliType Pro 8.2.

The following information is from my Gigabyte P35 user manual:

Legacy USB storage detect

Determines whether to detect USB storage devices, including USB flash drives and USB hard Drives during the POST. (Default: Enabled)

It makes sense to me that our systems will POST faster with this setting disabled.
I would be very surprised if usb drives would NOT work with this setting disabled once we are in windows.
If you want to flash the bios from a usb drive before starting windows, this setting will need to be enabled.

You can also contact ASRock tech support using this online form: ASRock > Support Request Form

Let us know if you find any additional information.

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

PS/2 devices are no longer supported in IntelliType Pro 8.2.

No, but I'm using version 7.1 of Intellitype Pro (64-bit version) which DOES support PS/2 devices and my keyboard. It's what I have been using with this keyboard for an eternity so I know it is not the issue.

I would be very surprised if usb drives would NOT work with this setting disabled once we are in windows.

Once in Windows has never been the problem.

If you want to flash the bios from a usb drive before starting windows, this setting will need to be enabled.

Yes and there are plenty of other instances where this will be a PITA. This needs fixing.

You can also contact ASRock tech support using this online form: ASRock > Support Request Form

My first port of call. Their responses so far, with about 3 days between each, have been suggestions of things I've already tried such as "try with a USB keyboard" etc. Er that's not the point, it should work with a PS/2 keyboard, AND I don't have a USB keyboard anyway. Let's hope they eventually find a solution.

Let us know if you find any additional information.

I'm hoping they will help me with a BIOS fix, I can't see there being any other solution.

[profJim]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

I doubt that any motherboard manufacturer would make the time to code and test a fixed bios version for "older" motherboards unless they found that there was a very serious problem. Maybe they already have an "unpublished" beta bios that might work.

Send a private message to ASRock TSD - Emily include a link to this thread and ask her to reply in your thread.

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

OK, thanks for the advice, hopefully Emily will be able to help. It is an older keyboard but has always been fine as a Standard PS/2 keyboard, and the fact that this also happens with another keyboard (not so old) makes me think this is a general PS/2 port problem with the specific BIOS version rather than specific keyboard.

I don't mind a Beta BIOS if that's what it takes.

EDIT, Just to add, remember this was working with this same board before I updated the BIOS (assuming that's the culprit). So Asrock were already supporting the keyboard on this motherboard! Also it could be argued that with the setting disabled and the keyboard working it is the modern USB mouse that isn't being supported! I'd also remind you that, with USB Legacy Support on Auto both the keyboard AND mouse are working in the BIOS stage at the same time. So whatever drivers are in use then are supporting both devices. Just needs loading at the next stage!

[profJim]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

You're welcome.

We need detailed information about ALL OF THE HARDWARE in your system.

We can best help you after you create a detailed hardware list in the System Specs
portion of your forum profile at the bottom of the profile page or in your forum signature.
Be sure to include brand names and model numbers.
When you are done editing or creating your hardware list, save the settings.

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

Oh, I thought I already did that when I signed up, but it appears to have gone missing, so I've saved it again.

I'm awaiting a reply from Emily.

[hottroc]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

I've received no reply from the PM I sent Emily, is there something else I need to do? Is there anyone else from Asrock I could try?

Also, does anyone know if it is safe for me to downgrade my BIOS to an earlier version? They have 2.10 and 1.70 on the Asrock website, but 1.70 doesn't support the latest processors like mine but I could try 2.10.

Thanks.

[hottroc]

[profJim]

Re: PS/2 keyboard not working during Boot Manager screen

Glad to hear that the problem is solved.

Many problems can be caused by usb hubs.

Stupidity? Not at all.

Ignorance is not a sin.....but stupidity is.

Thanks for the update.