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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: MisterJohnnyT on Wed, 16 February 2011, 09:45:49

Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: MisterJohnnyT on Wed, 16 February 2011, 09:45:49
So, I got my g80-8113hrbus from ebay and decided to install Cherry's software.  I installed V5.7 in English on Windows XP Pro.  Now, when I try to boot up, I get "UNABLE TO LOAD OPERATING SYSTEM."  Besides installing the software, I also ps2 hotswap-connected the keyboard/trackpad before restarting.  Now my computer is broke, and the windows xp recovery cd is not helping, nor is fixboot/fixmbr.  

Any suggestions?
Anyone ever experience anything like this after installing a new keyboard or Cherry software?

Thanks for the input...

Motherboard is MSI P6n Sli, and I have 2 sata HDD's raided as one drive.  I guess I will see if the bios needs updating... but that will be a pain since I'll have to set up an old computer with a floppy drive so I can get the bios firmware on a disk...

F M L
Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: bugfix on Wed, 16 February 2011, 10:01:32
Does the keyboard still work over PS/2 on that computer? If so, I doubt that the hotswapping had anything to do with it.
Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: keyb_gr on Wed, 16 February 2011, 10:16:36
This problem has nothing to do with the driver software if the system doesn't even get to the point of using it. The hotswapping is a more likely candidate, though generally I wouldn't expect more than a fuse for the keyboard supply to blow (and these normally are self-resetting).

Are the harddrives still recognized at all? If not, the southbridge may have gone south, or at least does not receive any power (blown fuse). Else check whether the data on the array can be accessed.

In any case make sure than the system does not try to boot from some other device first, like a USB stick or somesuch.
Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: MisterJohnnyT on Wed, 16 February 2011, 10:44:12
Keyboard still works over ps2.  Bios recognizes both hard drives.  File system seems to be intact, just can't load windows.

Oh well, this is actually a good thing... I've been wanting to do a new build for a while, so now I have an excuse to tell my wife hehe :)  This computer will be 4 years old in May, so this is the longest I have gone without rebuilding...

I will build a new system, then copy over my data from the broken computer, and then reinstall XP on the broken computer and sell it...
Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: MisterJohnnyT on Wed, 16 February 2011, 10:46:37
The other issue is: I was planning to use this 8113 keyboard at work, but I don't want to risk doing the same thing to that computer, if it is the Cherry software that's to blame...
At least I learned my lesson and shall NEVER again ps2-hotswap!
Title: Keyboard Broke Computer - due to HotSwapping or Cherry software?
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 16 February 2011, 12:07:35
I've seen the Cherry software do weird things, such as block the PS/2 keyboard that was connected because my Cherry keyboard was connected via USB. Works fine to log in, then boom, nothing.

From what I have been able to gather, this is a holdover from when the card readers were PS/2. Allow them to be used for login, then lock them out was apparently the norm.

Anyway, I agree with what others have said, and it's unlikely anything to do with the keyboard, either the swapping or the software itself.

What's more likely is that installing the software corrupted something on your drive, or was written to a corrupt location, and being in the Windows directory caused the inability to boot. I'm betting the problem is the boot drive, not the other hardware.