Windows Setup... keyboard not working.

[TheSalmonThief]

I have a 2.16GHz 15" MacBook Pro, and have used the latest BootCamp to partition my drive... when I boot from the Windows disc and it finishes loading everything and gets to press Enter for new installation, etc, my MBP's built-in keyboard does not work. When I press caps lock or num lock, no light goes on, etc... same thing when I plug in an external USB keyboard.

Upon further inspection, the keyboard doesn't work starting when the Windows disc is loaded after holding down Option on startup.

Any ideas?

Edit: Tried pressing F5 when going into Windows Setup to select i186 Machine or whatever, and while that seemed to not cut power to the keyboard, it froze after it loaded everything at "Setup is starting Windows". Grr. I remember why I got my Mac...

 

[paleck]

Have you tried plugging in an external usb keyboard?

 

[TheSalmonThief]

Why yes, in fact my post said that

 

[paleck]

Why yes, in fact my post said that

My mistake.

 

[TheSalmonThief]

Ok, I thought it could somehow be because the disc I was using was the backup disc including only SP1 from a past computer... borrowed a retail version of XP Pro SP2 from a friend and tried that, SAME PROBLEM. Keyboard is not responsive at the Install, Repair, Exit Installation menu.

No one else seems to be having this problem... could it possibly be because I don't have the BIOS/EFI update thing? I think I do, unless BootCamp doesn't install it automatically. How can I check; where can I get it? :\

 

[ReanimationLP]

Thats weird. o.o

Windows XP should support USB keyboards fine.

 

[Bunni]

I have problem too ...

Hi Guys.
I have a similar problem to TheSalmonThief in that the function keys don't seem to register when attempting to install WinXP in a Parallels VM. The 'enter' key worked when required, but not F8. Any suggestions?
Regards, B

 

[darkcurse]

Just to be certain, besides the USB keyboard and Power cable is anything else plugged in? A thumb drive or an external hard disk for instance? Coz I remember this one time when I tried to install XP while having my external firewire drive plugged in. It just hung at the "Press 'ENTER' to continue setup" or something like that. Other than that, make sure that you have the latest firmware installed. Just run the software updater I guess. It should be there if you need to update.

 

[Glen Quagmire]

Are you using an XP disc with Service Pack 2 included?

 

[TheSalmonThief]

Are you using an XP disc with Service Pack 2 included?

Yes. Same problem.

@darkcurse: I may have had some speakers plugged in via audio out, and a USB mouse... perhaps that's the problem? o_0

 

[TheSalmonThief]

AHA! PROPS TO YOU, DARKCURSE!

After unplugging my Mighty Mouse and speakers for Setup, it worked. Everything went pretty smoothly then, except for the fact that Setup was in German for some reason, but hey, I picked up some vocabulary. "Schneller" means quick! Leasson here? Don't pirate software without reading the description first >_>

...But holy crap, spelling class must be hard on German kids, the word for Administrator was like Administratahermagottenhamgen or something XD

 

[darkcurse]

ROFLMAO!!!

You're welcome haha. For some strange reason, Windows Setup doesn't like USB/Firewire devices. Glad that was resolved.

 

[Bobby Garcia]

Same as BUNNI

I am having the same problem as BUNNI. My enter key works when trying to install paralles, but not my F8.... Can anyone help?

 

[Bobby Garcia]

Got it

Okay... BUNNI, just hold down the fn key in the lower left hand corner and press F8. Did the trick.