Re: Can't install Debian - USB keyboard doesn't turn on until Windows loads
On Thursday, July 10, 2014 7:30:02 AM UTC+5:30, Kitty Cat wrote:
> I have two questions:
> 1. Would anyone be willing to give me a link to a simple USB keyboard that you
> think would work with this machine at boot time? Perhaps on Amazon.com or
> Newegg.com, etc.?
> 2. Do you know of a Debian CD of some type that will load a kernel without the
> need of a key press before the kernel loads? Debian install CD's and Live CD's
> require a key press at boot in order to load a kernel. I'm not sure about Knoppix
> but thought I would ask before wasting a DVD disc to find out that it won't boot.
> Here is what's going on with this machine:
> The USB keyboard that I have is not supported by the motherboard for some
> reason. However, the keyboard does work however after a kernel loads.
> My keyboard is a an AZZA brand, model number KME381U. It has buttons on
> it that will (in Windows) launch a web browser, change the speaker volume, etc.
> The motherboard has no PS/2 connector. I do have a PS/2 keyboard that I
> could use, but there is no place on the motherboard to plug it in.
> The motherboard does not have a clear CMOS jumper that I could find. There
> is a CMOS jumper on the motherboard, however, when this jumper is switched,
> when the computer boots, it puts me directly into CMOS and the keyboard
> did not work while in CMOS.
> I did take out the battery, waited a while, left the battery out, turned on the
> computer with the CMOS jumper moved and wound up back in CMOS but
> the keyboard was still not working.
> I was able to install Debian by changing the windows bootloader to boot the
> Debian installer as I described earlier. Now Debian is the only OS on the
> machine. I was planning to only use this computer via SSH connection. So,
> I only need a keyboard if I want to change CMOS settings or select an option
> from the Grub boot menu.
> So, it appears that my only solution is to get a different USB keyboard for this
> machine.
> On Sat, Jun 28, 2014 at 12:16 PM, Bzzzz <lazy...@gmx.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:57:23 -0700
> "Thomas D. Dean" <tom...@wavecable.com> wrote:
> > Maybe you need to clear the BIOS settings? I have never had to do
> > that.
> From what he said, he's done that (although removing the battery
> don't work, except if you wait for "some time" because of the
> capacitor(s) power backup).
> IF this was done correctly (jumper or short circuit of 2 points),
> we could assume a non-ps/2 machine resetting its BIOS would, by
> default, enable legacy USB; but we can't be sure 100%...
> About the key typing time windows, I've seen BIOSes that only
> left ~1s, which is quite short (addon cards, such as SCSI
> controllers, can also reduce the window).
When I first saw this question, I looked here:
/boot/grub/i386-pc/
and see a module usb_keyboard.mod (and other interesting usb stuff)
That of course leaves the questions:
1. How to get it -- presumably insmod usb_keyboard -- into a grub line
without a keyboard -- probably needs tinkering with it on a different
machine
2. What is it anyway? As usual grub docs are insufficient but the grub mailing list
may help
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