keyboard/OS malfunction

pedsto · 18 Jun 2020

keyboard will not output key strokes . for every key all I hear is a click. FN sleep key does work. Swapped KBs, same result. Tried different USB port, same result. mouse works fine. When inserting/removing USB cable get expected ka-chunck sound. Unable to enter PIN while booting. Select options produces PIN and P./W icons but nothing happens when selecting.. On screen KB does work. Device Manager KB reports "device working properly" Admittingly cat walked across KB just before this happened but cannot see any key(s) that would produce this problem. Suggestions?.

Caledon Ken · 19 Jun 2020

Open device manager. Open Keyboard section. Display hidden devices. Remove all hidden and not hidden keyboards, reboot.

Are you using restore points, can you go back to before time cat walked on keyboard.

If you are not already Imaging your machine time to start. One product is Macrium Reflect. Free. Widely used on forum.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

pedsto · 19 Jun 2020

Thanks was using on screen KB and reg KB started to work. Don't think I did anything special but will keep your suggestions for the future and also keep cat off KB. Thanks for imaging suggestion.

Caledon Ken · 19 Jun 2020

Imaging is really a requirement.

So many horror stories that are easily rectified with the restoration of an Image. I keep several versions so I can determine exactly what point in time I want to restore from.

Happy to hear your KB is working, another Windows mystery.

W10 Tweaker · 19 Jun 2020

While maintaining a system image should always be a SOP for all Windows users, I have also had success using Windows restore many times. The Windows default setting for system restore is disabled, so you will require to manually enable it and configure it to your liking. I have mine set to create a restore point after every restart.

Many have found it unreliable and not bothered to change the disabled by default condition but unless your PC has failed to recover using a system restore, it's a pretty simple, easy and extra automatic backup that only uses a small amount of disk space. I will always attempt using a restore point before an image backup.

I like both options for recovery.

Enable or Disable System Restore in Windows

pedsto · 19 Jun 2020

I have two users. do you have to do a image/restore for each?

Caledon Ken · 19 Jun 2020

Nope. C: has everybody within it.

Macrium gives you an preset backup to "Create an Image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows".

This backup includes the boot partitions (system reserved, EFI), hidden, recovery and C:

C: has all the users.

Some people split their data away from C: and store on D:. This can be captured by adding to the above or you do a separate back up (Image) of D:.

That is how I do it. Weekly backup of Partitions necessary to restore Windows. My data partition is on a different Macrium definition which allows a different schedule.

By splitting data off my "System" backups are smaller and you can even run one just before a major change, say an upgrade to V2004.