Linux - HardwareThis forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
I'm trying to install Linux on my desktop computer (dual-booting with Windows 7), and I've tried Mint and Debian (64-bit, MATE desktop) Live Install DVDs (they worked perfectly on my laptop) and my mouse and keyboard do not work at all. The laser on the bottom of the mouse doesn't even light up. The initial boot options menu recognized the keyboard well enough, but when the GUI loads up, they stop working.
I'm in the process of downloading a disk image for a command-line-only version of Debian to see if that works, but I don't really want to use that as my main OS.
The keyboard and mouse are both Dynex brand. I've used them for 2.5 years and they work perfectly on Windows 7.
Are they even detected? In other words, what is the output of lsusb?
Have you tried switching them to other USB ports? (I don't think that will cure anything, but it's a quick and easy test that can rule out port related issues.)
Are they even detected? In other words, what is the output of lsusb?
Have you tried switching them to other USB ports? (I don't think that will cure anything, but it's a quick and easy test that can rule out port related issues.)
I've tried different USB ports, but it makes no difference. When I first boot up the computer, the "Num Lock" light on my keyboard comes on and I can navigate the BIOS menu well enough, and the red light under my mouse comes on too. However, once the OS starts booting up (from the Linux LiveCD), those lights go out and it doesn't seem the devices are even detected. My external hard drive's light flashes though, so it seems that device is detected.
I'd love to type lsusb into a terminal prompt, but sadly I can't use my keyboard. XD
I realized this morning that suggesting you run a command such as lsusb when your keyboard isn't being recognized was a spectacularly stupid suggestion. My apologies.
I realized this morning that suggesting you run a command such as lsusb when your keyboard isn't being recognized was a spectacularly stupid suggestion. My apologies.
Try a Live CD of a non-Debian distro and see whether that makes a difference. Fedora, OpenSUSE, CentOS and Magiea come to mind. (I have not verified that all of them offer Live CDs.)
If you have access to a different mouse and keyboard (even if it means borrowing them from a friend who has some spares), try swapping them in.
It used to be that one had to enable legacy in bios but that tended only to make the usb devices available to bios or some dos situations. Worth a try at least.
I've seen where one had to be careful not to touch the mouse or keyboard until about a minute after the machine booted. Try that maybe.
Wait till the system boots and then insert one usb device maybe. I'd try the keyboard first. It's way better to get that going first.
Could be that you could try an older Knoppix like 3.4 ish to see. It had a setting for wait for usb to settle.
Try a Live CD of a non-Debian distro and see whether that makes a difference. Fedora, OpenSUSE, CentOS and Magiea come to mind. (I have not verified that all of them offer Live CDs.)
If you have access to a different mouse and keyboard (even if it means borrowing them from a friend who has some spares), try swapping them in.
Hmm, tried Fedora and that one works fine! And come to think of it, I think I have an extra keyboard in a box somewhere.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.