BIOS / MOBO support of USB keyboard/mouse

pixellany · 07-30-2010, 03:18 PM

Athlon 2400XP on ABIT KD7 board
Arch Linux

Some time ago, I researched a problem where this system would not recognize a USB keybord and mouse during the boot process (including interacting with the GRUB menu). I found that I needed a board with "USB legacy support".

Just now, I upgraded to the latest BIOS, and found the same issue. The only thing that was surprising is that the keyboard DOES work in the BIOS setup menu. (Never checked this before the BIOS upgrade)

As I think about this, I realize that I maybe have never run a system with GRUB and a USB keyboard**---thus I'm wondering if this could be a GRUB issue.

Any ideas?

**My laptop (when at work) lives in a docking station with an external USB keyboard, but I think the USB support lives in the docking station?

bigrigdriver · 07-30-2010, 10:23 PM

After 20 minutes of searching via google/linux, I have been able to find this: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docvie...&cc=us&lang=en

Don't bother looking it up, it's quite short:

Quote:

Linux, USB keyboard and mouse will not work in Grub.

Technote (FAQ)

Question
When I start Grub I'm not able to use my USB keyboard or mouse to select my kernel.

Answer
This is an issue with Grub, the only solution is to use a PS/2 KB to select your kernel.

pixellany · 07-31-2010, 06:36 PM

I finally did some more experiments.

My laptop (also Arch--with legacy GRUB) works fine with the USB keyboard.
As I think about this, if GRUB had an issue with USB keyboards, we should have been hearing more on the forum.

What's curious is that---on the "problem" machine, the USB key board works during POST (hit del to enter setup) and it works in setup. But not in the GRUB menu---why?

Regardless, another issue has popped up in this (fossil) MOBO, and I'm going to start hunting for a new one.