Re: Wireless keyboard no support in DOS

[Bill Blanton]

"Joe" > wrote in message ...
> Hi,
>
> I recently bought a wireless keyboard and optical mouse package from
> Radio Shack (Compaq). Installed the drivers. It works alright, a
> couple instances of the mouse becoming inactive (place the mouse in
> the charger base for a moment re-activates it again). What was a
> surprise though, is that there is no DOS support. The keyboard just
> doesn't work. Not the case with the old regular keyboard. Usually, I
> often restart into DOS, use SMARTDRV, and clear the cookies, history,
> TIF, and TEMP folders. Then run a SCANDISK/all. Or, have at hand a
> few other important DOS features. With all the knowledgable folks
> that post to this newsgroup, maybe you will have some suggestions for
> wireless keyboard capability in real DOS mode. Thanks, for all help.
>

If it's a USB keyboard/mouse then go into the BIOS and see if you have
a setting to enable "legacy mode" support for USB devices. If not, you may
have to update your BIOS, or may be out of luck unless you can find
drivers,

[Richard G. Harper]

Can't be done unless the manufacturer supplied DOS-mode drivers.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
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"Joe" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I recently bought a wireless keyboard and optical mouse package from
> Radio Shack (Compaq). Installed the drivers. It works alright, a
> couple instances of the mouse becoming inactive (place the mouse in
> the charger base for a moment re-activates it again). What was a
> surprise though, is that there is no DOS support. The keyboard just
> doesn't work. Not the case with the old regular keyboard. Usually, I
> often restart into DOS, use SMARTDRV, and clear the cookies, history,
> TIF, and TEMP folders. Then run a SCANDISK/all. Or, have at hand a
> few other important DOS features. With all the knowledgable folks
> that post to this newsgroup, maybe you will have some suggestions for
> wireless keyboard capability in real DOS mode. Thanks, for all help.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Joe :o)

[Bill Blanton]

"Joe" > wrote in message ...
> On Mon, 23 May 2005 23:29:41 -0400, "Bill Blanton"
> > wrote:
>
>>"Joe" > wrote in message ...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I recently bought a wireless keyboard and optical mouse package from
>>> Radio Shack (Compaq). Installed the drivers. It works alright, a
>>> couple instances of the mouse becoming inactive (place the mouse in
>>> the charger base for a moment re-activates it again). What was a
>>> surprise though, is that there is no DOS support. The keyboard just
>>> doesn't work. Not the case with the old regular keyboard. Usually, I
>>> often restart into DOS, use SMARTDRV, and clear the cookies, history,
>>> TIF, and TEMP folders. Then run a SCANDISK/all. Or, have at hand a
>>> few other important DOS features. With all the knowledgable folks
>>> that post to this newsgroup, maybe you will have some suggestions for
>>> wireless keyboard capability in real DOS mode. Thanks, for all help.
>>>
>>
>>If it's a USB keyboard/mouse then go into the BIOS and see if you have
>>a setting to enable "legacy mode" support for USB devices. If not, you may
>>have to update your BIOS, or may be out of luck unless you can find
>>drivers,

> Going into the BIOS, and under 'INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS' there was an
> option for 'USB Keyboard Suppot'. After enabling that option and
> re-booting, there is now keyboard support in DOS.

Thanks for the feedback. Just curious.. what brand BIOS?

Just to add.. enabling USB <legacy> support in the BIOS doesn't load
any DOS drivers. Basically, it causes the BIOS to emulate certain USB
devices (mouse/keyboard) through the PS/2 ports. Also, it's not always
a BIOS option, even if your motherboard supports USB.

"Universal Serial Bus PC Legacy Compatibility Specification"
http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/usb_le9.pdf
(dated, but it gives a good overview)

Universal Serial Bus Devices Do Not Work in Safe Mode
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=195241

And! Glad you got it working :)

[glee]

"Bill Blanton" > wrote in message
...
> "Joe" > wrote in message
...
> > Going into the BIOS, and under 'INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS' there was an
> > option for 'USB Keyboard Suppot'. After enabling that option and
> > re-booting, there is now keyboard support in DOS.
>
> Thanks for the feedback. Just curious.. what brand BIOS?

Sounds like it may be an Award BIOS.......

....glen
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm