HELP: keyboard stops working
 

Did a search to see if this topic has been covered. No luck. Here goes.
While typing an email, it failed to type in the middle of a sentence. Managed to use the screen keyboard to finish the email. Changed batteries and restarted system to no avail.
Here are background on system:
- HP desktop with wireless keyboard & mouse.
- Running Vista Home Premium

Post this from laptop on the road. Any assistance will be appreciated.

Please don't take it personally. I just want to be sure that you'd covered all the basics and obvious.

Did you double-check and make sure everything is still attached and nothing come loose from your desktop?

Is this failure at the same place for every line or random?

Have you tried the resync procedure? Not sure your keyboard / mouse model but should be similar to:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...ctID=c00259550

I did check for any loose connection, and found none. Since it is a wireless device (via blue-tooth??), I checked the device that plugs into a USB port first thing (I think this device supports both the keyboard & mouse; mouse works fine). Cleaned the terminal and re-plugged in back in.

Well, it happened once. Since then, I have not been able to recover. Hence no chance to see if it repeats.

No, I was not even aware of resync. Thanks for the link. I will try it as soon as get back home.

Try a full uninstall - install of the wireless "human interface devices" :) software. I had the same problem and that sorted it.

Worth checking the batteries and their connection as well.

I don't have a solution - but I share your problem. Bluetooth keyboards SUCK, mine loses its connection once a month, and it takes a full reinstall of the Bluetooth stack to fix.

One possible solution is switching to native mode (many Bluetooth keyboards do this), hold down the button on the receiver for 5-10 seconds and see if it helps.

Thanks for chiming in.
When I went to the Control Panel and tried to find this "human interface device" software, could find anything associates with that. What is the exact name should I be looking for? Once I uninstall it, do I need the OS DVD to install it back? Or is it done automatically by the OS during boot-up?

Battery chamber and spring all seem good.

Scott,
Thanks.

Not sure I see the "button" on the receiver (this receiver has 6 sides, one of which is the USB connector). Physically, I see only 4 of the 5 side and no switch on any of them. If it happens that the switch is on the 6th side which unfortunately is not accessable due to a cable being closely packed against that side. I can however unplug that cable and see if it is indeed there and proceed to reset as you recommend. Will do this after I return home.

Now the wireless mouse does not work
 

Finally home and tried to revive the keyboard by following above recommendations by willyroo and Scott. In my system, the blue-tooth transceiver device is a little plug-in device not unlike the thumb drive in size. After unplugging it from the back of the computer box, I do see the little switch that Scott was talking about. I reset it per suggestion. Reboot system. Lo and behold the so called "USB human interface device" driver is being automatically installed. After that, the keyboard WORKS again! ^^ BUT for whatever reason, now the mouse does not work. :td::td: Now I can't even use the On-screen keyboard since I cannot point the mouse to different keys on this On-screen keyboard.
On the bottom of the wireless keyboard and the wireless mouse, there is a "connect" switch on each. I hit each repeatedly and reboot to no avail.

Bottom line, now my keyboard is working but the mouse is not. They both work off the same blue-tooth transceiver.

Any idea what I should try now. Yes, the batteries ar OK.

Have you tried a wired keyboard and mouse? Do they work? If so, switch back to them and ditch the wireless ones that don't work.

I am not familiar with the HP keyboard/mouse combo, but the typical procedure for a Logitech keyboard/mouse combo is to push the button on the USB receiver that is plugged into the PC and then push the button on the mouse. Wait 20 seconds and then push the receiver button again and push the keyboard button. No rebooting needed.

Give it a try!

Back in action!
 

Hi all,
I appreciate your assistance very much. My system is now back to normal with both keyboard & mouse working.
I tried everything suggested by posters, most times repeatedly.

The transceiver device was originally plugged in to the back of the computer box, about 4 feet below the desk. I moved it to my LCD monitor and plugged it into 1 of the USB ports there (now about 16" to 24"). I think the proximity of it to the signal sources (keyboard & mouse) makes the difference.

Once again thank you to all. FT is an awesome community ^