Uninstalled Windows USB controllers; Can't use keyboard/mouse in OS


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Uninstalled Windows USB controllers; Can't use keyboard/mouse in OS


    I have a Windows Pro desktop full of USB 3 (only, save the two PS/2) ports that are now useless. I uninstalled a couple USB controllers, both with "Windows" in their name, after following some Microsoft advice that I hoped would fix some problems I was having with some devices not working. Figured they would be reinstalled automatically upon start up. No, I didn't back anything up. Stupid, yes, but I digress... I can't fix anything by logging into Windows because the USB ports won't work--can't use my keyboard or mouse to login. I can use my peripherals in the BIOS and recovery mode, though.

    I tried multiple restore points, but I keep getting error 0x80070057. I'd really like to use this option if there's a workaround.

    I tried installing drivers manually through the recovery command line, and I thought I was successful, but nothing happened. Either I didn't install the right ones or I didn't install them properly. This might be the wrong track since I think the drivers were by Windows, not by my mobo manufacturer.

    Sfc scan shows nothing's wrong.

    I even bought a PS/2 keyboard thinking it'd work without a problem, but apparently I'd have to fix some registry keys to use it! Scratch that, I DID fix those registries (offline I changed System32/config/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Services/i8042pt/Start from 3 to 1...but I was advised to use CurrentControlSet, not ControlSet001, which I couldn't find), and I verified it because they remained edited after restarting, but it still didn't work! I'd like to have not spent my money in vain...so a fix to this would be much obliged as well.

    I'd really rather not reinstall or reset Windows. I'd also like to not spend any more money This whole thing has become a project of projects. I think I tried some other things, but I don't remember. Might not have even approached those other solutions properly. This is my first ever time having to post on a forum for a computer problem. Hope you guys can help... I'd appreciate it.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,680
    X
       #2

    Reinstall Windows. Use the manufacturer's recovery partition. That puts everything back to its brand-new configuration.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    margrave55 said:
    Reinstall Windows. Use the manufacturer's recovery partition. That puts everything back to its brand-new configuration.
    Thanks, but I'd rather not lose my data. Also what do you mean by manufacturer's recovery partition? Like a factory reset?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #4

    I haven't used a PS/2 keyboard in years. In the past, if I used one, it was plug-and-play. I don't recall which version of Windows I tried it on. (Never 10, I believe.)

    One suggestion from Do PS2 Keyboards work on Windows 10 - Super User:

    1. Open Regedit.
    2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > i8042prt
    3. Set the default value for "Start" to 1.
    4. Restart your machine.

    All that I can add to that was the the key is present in my Windows 10 installation, and its value is 3.

    Best of luck.

    If you don't have a backup for critical data, I suggest that you do it now. I'm not sure what the easiest way to do that from a PC with an OS that is essentially unusuable. If it was me, I probably use my USB bootable version of Acronis True Image (not freeware) to image the OS drive, defects and all. Maybe use a Linux distro on a USB drive to at least copy the data?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the suggestion, I might just copy all my necessary data over or something like that, but I don't have the time at the moment. I'll leave that for my last effort.

    I was trying to edit the registry offline, so there was no CurrentControlSet, but there was ControlSet001. It didn't work. There was no other control set.

    I would very much like to try remotely controlling my computer with my laptop, but I have not set anything up on my desktop to accomplish that. Is there some sort of way I could use portable applications, or change some relevant settings to accomplish this in the recovery cmd?
      My Computer


 

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