Re: USB keyboard

[ben <benfoley@rcn.com>]

On Sunday 03 February 2002 11:39 pm,  Bruce Burhans wrote:
>     Will my USB keyboard cause problems when I install 2.2r5?
>     I just ordered the CDs from TechBroker! ! ! ! !
>     Now, I just need to order some courage.......
>
> Bruce<+>

most install processes that i've encountered tend to assume that there's a 
regular keyboard during the install process; but then again, i've never done 
an installation with a usb keyboard. current kernels do a pretty intensive 
search of regularly used ports, including usb ports, so it's quite possible 
that it will detect your keyboard and deal with it. for instance, i have a 
usb printer and not only does the kernel see it, but it even sends back the 
serial number of the printer. based on that, i'm assuming that whatever 
kernel comes with the distribution on the disks you're awaiting will do 
something similar with your keyboard. if not, do you have a regular keyboard 
on hand that you could use temporarily to facilitate the installation? if so, 
then you can reconfigure the kernel to read the usb keyboard--a process that 
is not at all as difficult as it sounds--then intall the new kernel, shut 
down the machine and restart to read the usb keyboard. in any event, it's all 
do-able, even though it might not be instantaneous.

hold out for a while, and recheck the list to see if someone else with a usb 
keyboard chimes in. if no-one does, go ahead and try it. the other great 
thing about linux is that it spits back information about anything that it 
can't do. keep a pen and paper on hand and write down anything at all that 
you see but don't understand so that you can reference it later.

from your past posts, i know that you've been reading the list for a while 
and that you're aware that using linux means getting more intimately involved 
with processes of the system that other operating systems pretend you don't 
need to know about. the best thing about using linux is that the user gets to 
be in control of what's going on in the box. the basic philosophy comes out 
of unix, where any application or process is designed so that it achieves 
only it's specific task with as little dependence or influence on other tasks 
as possible. even describing it all in these terms is difficult because one's 
orientation or perspective with regard to viewing the system as a whole is 
completely different when using linux, as opposed to the more prevalent 
closed systems, whether they come from redmond, wa, or cupertino, ca. rest 
assured that there is always a solution. in short, there ain't nohing that 
you've got that linus, or linux hasn't taken into account. 

if you need extra ensurance, email me offlist and i'll send you contact 
information to talk you through the installation. in the meantime, research 
any windon't product that allows you to manipulate disk partitions. foremost 
of all, before you embark on the installation, post details on the list about 
everything you know of your system, as well as everything you know of the 
distribution you plan to install.

i hope this helps.