Ubuntu 9.10 - locked out..!!
 

Hey guys.! My Ubu 9.10 was running smoothly until a kid shut it off by pressing the start button instead of following the log out protocol. Now i am locked out for it doesn't even recognizes my keyboard, so i can't even tell it to safe mode boot, or do it from the CD and re-install. Have mercy..!!

Sorry, sounds stupid, but -- you're sure your keyboard is still plugged in? If it doesn't work even when booting from CD, the issue can't be related to your operating system...

If the keyboard is usb, I know that when you boot the computer, the keyboard is inoperative because the usb drivers aren't loaded until the OS boots up. That's why PS/2 keyboards will always be king, hehe.

Or that may depend on the motherboard, dunno, but I had that issue once before on a Abit IP35 Pro Mobo.

keyboard
 

Thanks Zirias. I forgot to tell that i tried both USB and serial keyboards. Neither one worked...

motherboard
 

Thanks Tristan. Mine is an Asrock Wolfdale 1333-D667 R2.0
And tell me what did you do when it happened to you...?

I am thinking of buying an exact replica of my SATA HD and use it as first booter with Ubuntu. Keeping the existing one as slave and thus draw out all information contained in it. BUT...if the problem is motherboard related, i am fried..!

In that case, i'd vote for a hardware or firmware problem. booting from a live cd should ALWAYS work -- what you can try to do is the following:

- disconnect the power cord for a reasonable time (30 seconds)
- if this doesn't help, clear CMOS