Bootcamp Installation - Dead Keyboard/No Enter key?

[jonnysods]

Hey all, I have been searching and searching the forums but I have come up empty, so I'm hoping that you guys can pitch in for me and everyone else and get this answered.

I am trying to install Windows XP Pro SP2 (full version not updgrade etc) on my 17" C2D MBP, but every time I get to the blue screen where it asks you to press ENTER to continue my keyboard does not work. I tried it again with my external Apple wired keyboard - nothing.

It doesn't make sense - I have reformatted bootcamp twice in one year and never had this problem before, I even have BC on my iMac, so I don't know why it is giving me grief now, from the same CD as last time, using the same version of BC as last time (1.2 - and yes I tried the other versions so I went back to old faithful).

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions?

Much appreciated!

 

[iSee]

Well, assuming you weren't trying to hit the little enter key on the bottom row of the keyboard instead of the return/enter key on the right hand side of the center row...

It would have to be something pretty low-level. I'm pretty sure the internal keyboard is a USB device, just like the external one. So I'd guess the Windows Installer is having trouble recognizing USB devices in general or maybe just the hub that the keyboards are connected to. I guess it's possible that the media is corrupt which is interfering with loading drivers or recognizing devices in some way. Do you have another CD to try?

You could always zap the pram (start computer; as soon as you hear the chime, press and hold Cmd-Opt-P-R until you hear the chime again; then release and let the computer boot; if sound was turned off, you won't hear the initial chime--just press the keys 1-2 sec after turning the computer on and wait to hear the second chime many seconds later)
I've never actually had zapping the pram help anything, but what the heck?

Since this problem doesn't seem to be affecting your Mac, maybe the problem is in the BIOS emulation. I think that is in some firmware somewhere. I don't know how you'd go about restoring that, though.

 

[PhilS1121]

I had this problem also. I think I posted about it at the end of an older thread where someone else also reported the problem. In any event, the keyboard would work all the way up to the blue screen without any problems, and then I would get to that screen and it would not take ENTER, but it would take QUIT and the other keys as I recall (can't remember for sure). The only way I was able to get around it was to keep trying. I turned off the computer and started all over twice, and the third time I got to the blue screen, it took the ENTER.

 

[jonnysods]

I had this problem also. I think I posted about it at the end of an older thread where someone else also reported the problem. In any event, the keyboard would work all the way up to the blue screen without any problems, and then I would get to that screen and it would not take ENTER, but it would take QUIT and the other keys as I recall (can't remember for sure). The only way I was able to get around it was to keep trying. I turned off the computer and started all over twice, and the third time I got to the blue screen, it took the ENTER.

Thanks - I tried it four times, and thank goodness it worked then - I use this machine for my office job and I was scared to go back in to work and tell them that the $3000 I asked them to pay for this machine was no good and I would have to get a regular laptop!

*wipes cold sweat from brow*

 

[ekimwang]

Same problem

Pretty frustrating... found that plugging in a non-mac keyboard did the trick.

Check out this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1271759