My Dell is being a Dell!

[NeotonicDragon3]

I hope this is in the right section
My computer is a Dell Dimension E310
Intel Pentium 4 HT, 230W PSU, 2GB RAM, Windows XP Media Center 2004, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, Intel GMA900, 13 Total USB Ports

Ok, I have this weird problem with my Dell
I have a 7 USB Hub, and 6 USB Ports on my Dell
Sometimes when i unplug my USB Hub on accident it, flips out and when when i switch tabs or something, switch windows or whatever, my computer comes up with a Blue Screen of Death.
For your info...This is Windows XP Media Center,
So i though hmm. maybe my hub is dieing? So it finaly worked one day lol
And i install Ubuntu on my System.
Then a couple days later it won't boot my Keyboard and Mouse. So i couldnt switch to windows
So then I though plugging in the keyboard into the USB Ports on the Computer it self will do the trick,,,,
WRONG! It says Keyboard Failure and my Keyboard's lights don't come on

The Keyboard is a Microsoft Pro Digital Keyboard that i got a thrift shop for $5
This started in February about a month after i got my keyboard
So i called Dell to see if they can help me. They told me to do some Diagnostics testing...that found no problem. then the lady told me to Reformat thinking it was a virus or something messed with the OS.

That did not help either... After about a Week it still crashed my system...
So now I am Stuck in UBUNTU. and my dell wont boot my keyboard. Also I have tried It with other keyboards....still "Keyboard Failure"

Is it my Keyboard or a bug or a my USBs are screwed over? Please help me...I want to go back to windows....It has my music xD

Also it says "USB hub Malfunctioned" then it crashes. It does it for the USB ports in the back of the computer. (When i plugged in my External HDD.) which my dell doesn't recognize right now... Help me please

[Bundy]

Are you saying that the keyboard works fine with Ubantu but not XP?
Can you try booting with no USB plugged into your system? i.e try PS2 keyboard etc.
If you can get it working like this, then try each USB device one by one until you find what item might be causing the problems.
Unfortunately, there are lots of possible causes and I don't know many answers.
I guess it's possible that there were too many USB devices taking power and you have damaged the motherboard. Also remotely possible that a BIOS setting can fix this.

Maybe someone else has better suggestions.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by bundyrum&coke

Are you saying that the keyboard works fine with Ubantu but not XP?
Can you try booting with no USB plugged into your system? i.e try PS2 keyboard etc.
If you can get it working like this, then try each USB device one by one until you find what item might be causing the problems.
Unfortunately, there are lots of possible causes and I don't know many answers.
I guess it's possible that there were too many USB devices taking power and you have damaged the motherboard. Also remotely possible that a BIOS setting can fix this.

Maybe someone else has better suggestions.

Umm No i am saying the Keyboard is not booting up with BIOS....
I only have USB no PS2 on this Machine (It is a budget machine lol)
I can't use my keyboard in boot-up so i cant get to the BIOS Setup.
Ill Try booting with no USB.
Since there is the UBUNTU Boot manager, and Ubuntu is first, and my keyboard is not booted with BIOS I can not go down to Windows.

Edit: Removing the USBs worked then it failed again? It still wouldnt let me go to windows

[Bundy]

Maybe you need to find a ps2 keyboard. They are even older than your system!. Almost any really old machine will use them - steal/borrow one for a try.

Im stating the obvious but your problem cant be fixed without a kb. If you can get the system running, then you can start to find what USB device is killing your system (if thats the prob).

[UnkAsn93]

Maybe all of his USB ports are going bad? This happened to me, on an OLD Abit AT7..all USB.

look @ the motherboard and see if any capacitors are leaking/bulging. If so, replace them, and maybe that'll work.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by bundyrum&coke

Maybe you need to find a ps2 keyboard. They are even older than your system!. Almost any really old machine will use them - steal/borrow one for a try.

Im stating the obvious but your problem cant be fixed without a kb. If you can get the system running, then you can start to find what USB device is killing your system (if thats the prob).

Umm, my computer doesnt have PS2 ports...

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by UnkAsn93

Maybe all of his USB ports are going bad? This happened to me, on an OLD Abit AT7..all USB.

look @ the motherboard and see if any capacitors are leaking/bulging. If so, replace them, and maybe that'll work.

Now only if i knew where to get capacitors and knew what they are??

[Error 404]

Originally Posted by NeotonicDragon3

Umm, my computer doesnt have PS2 ports...

You sure? It should, even if it is a budget PC: my Dell has PS/2 ports, and it has similar specs.
If not, then try using a USB PCI card, if you can get hold of one.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by Error 404

You sure? It should, even if it is a budget PC: my Dell has PS/2 ports, and it has similar specs.
If not, then try using a USB PCI card, if you can get hold of one.

I got a picture


200-240W? or 230W?

[Snake05]

230W Peak. Thats odd about the PS2 ports. Have you tried a secondary USB keyboard yet?

EDIT: What model Dell is that?

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by Snake05

230W Peak. Thats odd about the PS2 ports. Have you tried a secondary USB keyboard yet?

EDIT: What model Dell is that?

Yes i have, no luck there either
EDIT: Dell Dimension E310 from 2006

[candle_86]

hmm get a USB card from the local shop see if that helps if not your SOL man, sorry

[NeotonicDragon3]

OMFG not plugging in the back USB things made my keyboard boot with my computer
It is one of the back USB Ports >_>

[Bundy]

QUOTE=NeotonicDragon3;854381]OMFG not plugging in the back USB things made my keyboard boot with my computer
It is one of the back USB Ports >_>[/QUOTE]



Edit: I dont know how many USB devices you can run off one port or whether your hub is externally powered but you should consider that this problem may have been caused through excessive power drain. Take it a bit easier on your remaining USB ports!

[UnkAsn93]

Originally Posted by NeotonicDragon3

Now only if i knew where to get capacitors and knew what they are??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor
http://www.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm - a simpler one

here's a picture


Basically, you want to make sure your capacitors don't look like the ones that are arrowed to in red. Note: Not all capacitors look the same, IE, colors, size.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by UnkAsn93

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor
http://www.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm - a simpler one

here's a picture


Basically, you want to make sure your capacitors don't look like the ones that are arrowed to in red. Note: Not all capacitors look the same, IE, colors, size.

They look normal..they all have random blue shit on them..since i got machine..So i know that is not a broken Capacitor. it looks normal to me.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by bundyrum&coke

QUOTE=NeotonicDragon3;854381]OMFG not plugging in the back USB things made my keyboard boot with my computer
It is one of the back USB Ports >_>

Edit: I dont know how many USB devices you can run off one port or whether your hub is externally powered but you should consider that this problem may have been caused through excessive power drain. Take it a bit easier on your remaining USB ports![/QUOTE]
The 7 Port USB Hub has a Power supply on it. but i think i now have 4 or 5 avalible that are working properly

[NeotonicDragon3]

Something new/weird that happened!
Ok i got back to windows and whatnot. then didnt unplug any USB Devices.
So then i plug my headphones into the Jack. then i moved my mouse and whabam! Blue Screen of Death!
Then it wouldn't boot my keyboard or any usb device at BIOS.

What is going on?

[Error 404]

By the looks of it, your motherboard is failing, or at least something serious has happened to it.
Can you try resetting your BIOS? That might help. If it doesn't work, you might want to consider replaceing your motherboard.

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by Error 404

By the looks of it, your motherboard is failing, or at least something serious has happened to it.
Can you try resetting your BIOS? That might help. If it doesn't work, you might want to consider replaceing your motherboard.

Ok How do i do both?

[Bundy]

To reset bios, check your manual. It may have some instructions on how to do this. You are probably looking for a small jumper that needs moving to another set of pins. It should also be marked on the motherboard (in very small writing).

[NeotonicDragon3]

Originally Posted by bundyrum&coke

To reset bios, check your manual. It may have some instructions on how to do this. You are probably looking for a small jumper that needs moving to another set of pins. It should also be marked on the motherboard (in very small writing).

LOL i never got a manual But they have one online.

[NeotonicDragon3]

is it known as

clear CMOS jumper

(RTCRST)?

I reset ther BIOS!.....
Now it says
"Floppy Disklette seek failure
Keyboard Failure
Strike F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility"

I don't have a floppy drive... and my keyboard wont work on boot up!

I locked my self out basically!

[dannylill1981]

defiantely sounds like the motherboard is dyeing, or at least damaged, should consider replacing at some point soon......

Originally Posted by NeotonicDragon3

LOL i never got a manual But they have one online.

either find out how to do it in the manual or heres a picture i made for you:



Basically your looking for those 2 things - the motherboards battery and the clear cmos (depicted as CLR_CMS on my old motherboard) jumpers.

Number one is the jumper

Number two is the battery.

Youll want to remove the battery, then move the jumper. e.g say there are 3 pins in a row, numbered 1 - 2 - 3. The plastic cap is covering pins 2 - 3, so you will want to remove the plastic cap and put it on pins 1 - 2. you see? leave it like this for about 10 seconds, then replace the cap back to its original position on the pins and replace your battery.