Hi there. I've built a few LFS systems before, but now I have a problem.

I'm building a CLFS system for AMD64, and everything goes fine until the reboot - after which I can no longer use my USB keyboard.

The same applies to the Boot CDs - I can't use them because my USB keyboard doesn't work. Do I have to buy a PS2 keyboard, or is there some way to get mine working? I'd imagine I have to enable or install something before the reboot in order to get it working.

In case it helps, it's an Apple Pro Keyboard.

Any help much appreciated, thanks.

I have seen that same problem on some dell machines using only usb for keyboards and mice when running knoppix. If you can get a ps/2 connector this problem would just magically dissapear yes, that is the easy way out. This has something to do with the way the kernel accepts connections to the usb devices by using the usb module. I am sure there must be a way to configure it to load the usb keyboard before anthing else but I am not sure how this would be done.

Many keyboards and mice come with a usb to ps2 adapter. If you don't have one, check a local repair shop, they may let you have one for little or no cost.

Jeff

Thanks for the comments, guys. I probably will get a USB-PS2 adapter, but just for curiosity's sake I'd like to know how to get a USB keyboard working. Buying an adapter does seem like cheating a bit... if you know what I mean. Surely most new keyboards are USB nowadays, so how come it's not supported to the same extent as PS2?

Does anyone know of anything I can install in the Chapter 5 (or 6 in CLFS) that will allow me to use a USB keyboard without an adapter after the reboot?

Thanks in advance,
Lloyd.

It must be a kernel issue since it stops working after a reboot. See if there is an option to compile it in or has module support.

Due to the popularity of USB keyboards, I'm sure they will have better support soon.

I have an old "AT" style keyboard that I would like to use. It has a very small footprint and nice touch. None of my motherboards have that plug.

Jeff

OK guys, I bought a USB-PS2 converter, and the keyboard doesn't work at all through it - not even in the BIOS like it used to. Looks like I'm gonna have to find a way to get USB working.

It works in Knoppix, and on the install disks for countless distros I've tried, so how do they do it?

I went back and re-read the original post.

// Apple Pro Keyboard

Most Apple hardware is not directly compatible with PC hardware. If you can get access to a PC keyboard, give it a try.

Back in the early days of Unix clones & X Window, keyboard compatiblility was a big issue. Keytronic and IBM produced the most "compatible" keyboards. Others would only work with a modified driver.

At this point, I would definitely say it is a kernel problem.

I have grades due Monday and will be beneath a stack of papers most of the weekend. I will try to find some time to examine kernel options.

Jeff

PS. What kind of motherboard are you using?

Hi. Thanks for all your help. Don't let me distract you from your work!

The motherboard is an ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe. BIOS version 1016.

The wierd thing is that I can use the Apple Pro Keyboard over USB just fine in the BIOS settings, and on every other OS I've tried including Windows (yeah, I know), Knoppix, SUSE, Fedora, and probably some others I can't remember now.

I'll have another look through all the options when compiling the kernel, and I'll also try the new 2.6.15.1

Just about everything has a driver for Windows. Any piece of hardware that wouldn't work for Windows would have a very narrow market.

The fact that your keyboard will work with other large distributions leads me to believe that it is in the kernel. Knoppix and many other versions of Linux have just about everything configured into the kernel. The bloat that leads to isn't much problem on today's ample computing systems.

LFS is a very minimal system meant as a base line to build upon. In my own experience, I have found the kernel configuration to be the most hit and miss. I could also be entirely off base. I'm certainly not an expert on Linux or LFS! Have you left a question on the LFS mailing list?

Have you tried using the boot kernel that comes with the LiveCD? If your keyboard works with that kernel, that may be a solution.

Jeff

PS. Don't worry about keeping me from my work. I'm the worlds biggest procratinator. My nickname in some forums is Curmudgeon.

It doesn't work with the LiveCDs, so I can't use that. I'll have a good look through the kernel options today and enable anything that has anything to do with USB. I'll post my findings later.

I Use Ubuntu and I Have the same problems. I have a dell 310 it is a fair computer, but it only has usb ports. the problem is in the kernel. I know because Ubuntu shows the errors as they come up. the error says "usb:00.00.00:new low speed usb port2-1:error-16"
"[[usb Failed!!]]" then it shows the kernel File but I don't What to do because you can't type or scoll because the keyboard doesn't work.

Ubuntu is relitively new and does not tell you much about it.

I just started using Ubuntu and don't have any problems with USB keyboards.