Boot CD for XP pro with USB Keyboard Support External links Options

[petercherry]

Hi Boot Land,

First post after unsuccesful search for answers - apologies if its not in the right board?

I am trying to create a boot CD for XP pro machine that will allow me to run two DOS exe files (WDIDLE3.exe & WDTLER.exe)to change a WD HD firmware issue. My problem is that the USB keyboard stops working when the Boot CD loads (works fine in DOS but will not respond when DOS prompt appears so i cant run programs).

I have posts on ReadyNAS forum covering what I have tried so far.

http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.ph...94&start=15

I have limited tech skills and have tried the "ultimate boot CD" and also another boot CD without success.

I have been told it may be the Boot CD does not have correct support for the USB keyboard? I have posted machne specs in case someone can help.

Dell 5150 Desktop
Bios Rev AO7 (1/08/07)
Win XP Pro SP3
DVD Drive - DVD+/-RW Philips DVD8701
Bios Settings for DVD drive:-
Controller -Parallel ATA Port - PATA-1 (Pri IDE Slave)
Drive 3 in current set-up (Drive 0 - HDD, Drive 1- vacant bay, Drive 2 - faulty Sony DVD drive, Drive 3 - Philips DVD+/-RW)
Keyboard (new) Dell wired USB SK-8175

Thanks again for any help available - hope I can learn enough to create and edit files and fix this issue on this forum.

[Wonko the Sane]

You have been partially taken off-the-road.

The problem is usually with the BIOS.

There may be a setting in BIOS like "USB legacy support" or a seemingly unrelated one, like "USB IRQ Mode Auto" or "PNP OS ON".

In some cases the BIOS simply fails to provide support for the USB bus connected devices to "legacy" (please read as "DOS") Operating Systems (i.e. Operating systems that do not rely on specific drivers, but rather use the info BIOS *should* provide)

More generally Dell Bioses have been notoriously a PITA when it comes to USB related matters, so your mileage may GREATLY vary.

The fact that the keyboard is wired or not doesn't make any difference, as long as it is connected to the USB bus.

Since most keyboards are "dual mode" USB and PS/2, the easiest is to use an adapter USB->PS/2 (or use of course a good ol' PS/2 keyboard).

Read this, too:
http://www.freedos.org/freedos/news/technote/179.html

There are two (experimental) sources for DOS USB device drivers (including mouse and keyboard):
http://bretjohnson.us/
http://www.dosusb.net/



Wonko

[petercherry]

You have been partially taken off-the-road.

The problem is usually with the BIOS.

There may be a setting in BIOS like "USB legacy support" or a seemingly unrelated one, like "USB IRQ Mode Auto" or "PNP OS ON".

In some cases the BIOS simply fails to provide support for the USB bus connected devices to "legacy" (please read as "DOS") Operating Systems (i.e. Operating systems that do not rely on specific drivers, but rather use the info BIOS *should* provide)

More generally Dell Bioses have been notoriously a PITA when it comes to USB related matters, so your mileage may GREATLY vary.

The fact that the keyboard is wired or not doesn't make any difference, as long as it is connected to the USB bus.

Since most keyboards are "dual mode" USB and PS/2, the easiest is to use an adapter USB->PS/2 (or use of course a good ol' PS/2 keyboard).

Read this, too:
http://www.freedos.org/freedos/news/technote/179.html

There are two (experimental) sources for DOS USB device drivers (including mouse and keyboard):
http://bretjohnson.us/
http://www.dosusb.net/



Wonko

Wonko

Thanks for the response - I have looked at the bios and the only setting available in any menu is to enable or diable the USB controller. I hear what you are saying about Dell Bios - very basic.

I will try and flash an older bios to see if it has legacy support.

petercherry

[MedEvil]

AS ar as i know ,without legacy support, one can't use a USB Keyboard in BIOS.

[petercherry]

OK so I guess this means if the USB keyboard works in Bios (mine does) it should have legacy support in the Bios. If this is the case perhaps the BIOS is not the problem.

Unfortunately this puts me back to the start - my keyboard works in bios but not when the system boots to DOS from the ultimate boot CD or another boot CD I have tried from this site.

http://www.cryptohash.com/index.php/2010/0...-gp-wd2002fyps/

I cant use a PS2 keyboard as suggested by Wonko as the Dell 5150 doesnt have a PS2 port.

Can anyone think of other solutions?

petercherry

[MedEvil]

Do you have another computer, a desktop machine which has not trouble with named boot-cd?
If so, you could remove the HDD from the NAS, put it into your desktop machine and flash the firmware there.

[Wonko the Sane]

The missing "legacy support" does not mean that BIOS does not "connect" to the USB keyboard, it means that BIOS does NOT "export" to legacy operating systems (please read as DOS) the necessary "hooks" for it.

For the record Wonko also suggested that you try adding DOS USB drivers for keyboard (and also gave links to where to find them).

Wonko