Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions OT - USB keyboard not working with laptop?

Hey folks, I'm up at the inlaws and helping my mother in-law work with her newer laptop she bought at Best Buy recently. It is a Toshiba Satellite with widescreen.

Anyway, she works in a law firm and really doesn't like the keyboard, at least she has not gotten used to it yet. So we headed off to Wally World (Walmart), ok Tom T. no wise cracks. Anyway, we bought a USB keyboard, brand Micro Innovations.

I can't seem to get the laptop to recognize the keyboard. Normally with USB, once you plug in the device XP recognizes it fine. According to the instructions, sometimes you have to install the software first, which I tried, reboot, then once everything is up, plug the USB back in. Still, I'm getting nothing for response.

I wonder if I have to disable the laptop keyboard some how, but can't figure that out yet.

Any help would be appreciated..

Randy

So far I have also tried to go the keyboard mfg's website and download the latest drivers, still no luck. I did find a website from a Google search where another person had tried 3 different USB external keyboards, and none of them would work with his Toshiba laptop running XP.

I can't believe that USB is not detecting these keyboards. hmm

Hi, This is Matt.

Have you tried going into the BIOS and enabling USB keyboard support? That should do the trick. Also, have you tested the keyboard on another computer to make sure the keyboard is ok? You could have also just got a defective keyboard. If all else fails, you could always try to call Toshiba tech support, and see if they have any suggestions.

Thanks Matt,

I'll check that, I know the 3USB ports on the laptop are fine as I've hooked other items to them. I'll see if there is something specific in the BIOS to keyboards. Funny, I worked for 3 years on our corporate help desk and I always ruled out the simple things, like checking the keyboard on another computer. Hmmmm, maybe I should try that first.

I'll keep you and Dennis posted....

Randy

Wise Crack.

well checking the BIOS proved no help, there was no options in the BIOS for anything even related to USB, let alone keyboard settings.

Anyway, it appears to be just Toshiba laptop related, as the keyboard did work with another desktop I tried it on. In further searching on Google, it appears others have had issues with Toshiba laptops not accepting an external USB keyboard of various brands, even serial connections. Oh well, off to find another option for her.