Author Topic: How do you enter BIOS with a USB keyboard? (Read 37388 times)

Crake · « **on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 21:38:26 »

I could not enter my BIOS hitting the delete key on a USB keyboard. I got out a PS2 keyboard and could enter the BIOS with it. Is there a general setting in most BIOSs to allow access via a USB keyboard. Some other forums suggested disabling Quick Boot.

Any ideas?

Nighted · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 21:40:00 »

Wow...how old is the mother board?

Try unplugging any other USB devices then booting up with just the keyboard connected.

Crake · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 21:55:11 »

It is almost 4 years old. Do most newer motherboards allow you to enter via USB keyboard? Is Asus bad about this? I am getting a new PC and do not want to get Asus, if so.

Nighted · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 21:58:59 »

Well it should work. Like I said, try removing all other USB devices other than your mother board first.

Second, try using a USB/PS2 adaptor with your keyboard. Should be purple I think, but the green mouse one might work too, not sure.

Third and final try, with no USB connected, reset the BIOS using the jumper on the mother board, then connect the keyboard and try again.

I really can't think of much else right now.

Nighted · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 22:03:40 »

Oh, there could be one other thing, maybe a setting in the BIOS to prefer USB. Also check for a BIOS update for your mother board model. ASUS is one of the best vendors for these updates.

I have encountered this in the past, and there have been different ways of going about dealing with it, even if just reverting to a PS/2 board. But 4 years old this shouldn't be an issue.

win · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 25 April 2012, 23:58:06 »

Enable "USB Legacy Function" in BIOS if it's disabled

Squelos · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 11:46:16 »

+1 for the USB legacy stuff.

All new motherboards now work natively with USB keyboards in the BIOS.
Some of the older ones didnt, because the USB legacy function isnt activated by default on them.

But that requires a USB keyboard

Crake · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 16:27:48 »

I have not tried yet but some other forum posters suggested disabling Quick Boot to give the BIOS time to reigster the USB keyboard. Think that would work?

IvanIvanovich · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 16:34:28 »

Legacy USB option usually does it if it's present. Also, do you have the latest bios for the board? Sometimes they add or fix on some of the older boards. Then there are some that are just weird. Like I have a Via one that you have to start with PS/2 board, enter bios, plug in USB, change to boot from usb hdd, then pull the power cord out on for it to work. That is actually the direction in the manual too... wtf? I also have another one that only the usb ports closest to the ps/2 port will work for enter bios. Check the manual for your model, it might have extra steps to enable usb keyboard.

Soarer · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 16:44:08 »

+1 for some option being somewhere in the BIOS. Could be called 'USB keyboard support' (if it's an Award BIOS).

Crake · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 17:14:43 »

Legacy USB was on Auto, I changed it to Enable. It made no difference. After I repeatedly hit DEL, the Windows Boot Manager came up asking if I wanted to run Windows 7 or do memory test or other (safe mode etc.) Same thing it did yesterday.

I then changed Quick Boot to Disable and this time it worked DEL on the USB took me to the BIOS.

This is fine for my current PC but I plan to get a new one soon (either build or pay someone to put it together.) I will likely get an Asus board again. Do you think it will be better in this regard or will I probably have to disable Quick Boot again or keep an old PS2 keyboard around?

Anyone using a newer Asus board and able to enter BIOS with USB keyboard?

Crake · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 17:17:20 »

Quote from: Soarer;583113

+1 for some option being somewhere in the BIOS. Could be called 'USB keyboard support' (if it's an Award BIOS).

Its American Megatrends.

Rexxed · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 17:39:56 »

Any new motherboard should handle USB keyboard bios access smoothly. Your issues are likely due to using an older motherboard from when USB keyboard support in bios was new. I recently built a system with the UEFI bios and found that it also supported USB mouse support on the USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. Once I started installing Windows 7, the mouse turned off because my old Win 7 disc didn't include the USB 3.0 drivers.

Soarer · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 17:53:28 »

Quote from: Crake;583146

I then changed Quick Boot to Disable and this time it worked DEL on the USB took me to the BIOS.

I wonder... have you tried going back to quick boot again? It might remember to use USB now...

Squelos · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 18:47:02 »

Dont pay someone to build it for you please. Just do it yourself. It doesent require any skill, really. I would hate to see someone buying paid to do so :/.
Plus you can arrange cables as you cant.

dorkvader · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 19:05:57 »

Quote from: Squelos;583235

Dont pay someone to build it for you please. Just do it yourself. It doesent require any skill, really. I would hate to see someone buying paid to do so :/.
Plus you can arrange cables as you cant.

I do this for my friends for free. I love assembling computers.
---

What ASUS motherboard is it? I have an M4A78-EM MicroATX 'board from freshman year that had some of the best USB support around.

Crake · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 19:28:37 »

Quote from: Soarer;583187

I wonder... have you tried going back to quick boot again? It might remember to use USB now...

Yes it went to Windwos Boot Manager instead of Bios with it enabled.

Crake · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 19:29:22 »

Quote from: dorkvader;583267

I do this for my friends for free. I love assembling computers.
---

What ASUS motherboard is it? I have an M4A78-EM MicroATX 'board from freshman year that had some of the best USB support around.

P5Q Deluxe.

Crake · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 19:30:41 »

Quote from: Squelos;583235

Dont pay someone to build it for you please. Just do it yourself. It doesent require any skill, really. I would hate to see someone buying paid to do so :/.
Plus you can arrange cables as you cant.

I hate mounting motherboards - I am not a patient person and I get frustrated easily trying to put something into cramp settings like cases, even full cases.

Only cost like $30 to get everything mounted and that is all I want them to do.

laffindude · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 20:28:29 »

Sounds like P5Q Deluxe has a buggy BIOS. My older and newer Asus boards never had any problem with USB boards. Did you try resetting the CMOS and updating the BIOS?

keyboardlover · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 20:31:13 »

Silly question - with the usb keyboard did you try pressing other buttons besides delete? Like some of the Function keys?

fohat.digs · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 26 April 2012, 20:55:37 »

I have an Asus board that must be at least 3 years old. It sometimes takes a bit of time to discover a new USB device.

Consider letting it boot for as long as it wants, then boot again. It might recognize it the second time.

Presumably, this happens only the first time on a new setup, and after it has recognized the device once, is it happy thereafter?

If not, then you may have a bad keyboard, USB cable, or some other hardware issue.

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Author Topic: How do you enter BIOS with a USB keyboard? (Read 37388 times)