Keyboard freezes after login, then works fine after logout
 

PC: Intel Pentium Dual-Core 64-bit, 4 GB RAM, SATA 500 GB, Acer Aspire (AM3641-ED2200A)

Distro: Mandriva 2008 installed, but issue happens with any Linux that I've tried.

Issue: Keyboard non-responsive after login, and returns to function after logout. Sometimes mouse too, but usually not. Tried multiple USB & PS/2 keyboards, and multiple mice.

Story: Had Mandriva 2008 installed for the past two years. Tried another distro, but the keyboard wouldn't work for some reason. Tried Mandriva 2009, and that didn't work either. But Mandriva 2008 continued to work fine, so I just lived with it. Tried various other distros along the way as they were released, and all failed, but the installed Mandriva 2008 was still ok.

Then about 10 days ago, the keyboard suddenly wouldn't work on the existing Mandriva 2008 installation. I can log in (via keyboard), but once the desktop starts, it's frozen. Lights that were lit stay lit. When I log out (via mouse) the keyboard returns to normal operation I can log in via command line "safe mode" and the keyboard continues to work, but then I haven't a desktop.

I've tried many other major distros. Live CDs have the keyboard frozen at the desktop session. Install CDs can't even select the Language for the installation process. Just tried the newest Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu, all with similar results, so it's not desktop specific. Tried multiple USB & PS/2 keyboards. No changes to any of the existing hardware since it came out of the box.

What's maddening is the fact that the keyboard does work for logging in, then doesn't work in the session, then works again when I logout. It was working fine, and then one day it didn't (yes, as usual with computer issues).

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

Joe

Have you a usb or ps2 keyboard? What kernel modules load? Have you tried swapping the keyboard?
When you start X, X (should) load its own driver; In xorg.conf
Section "InputDevice"

Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

and also tell it to use Keybaord0
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "USB_MOUSE" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Touchpad"

EndSection

Yes, I've tried three USB keyboard via multiple USB ports. I've tried two PS/2 keyboards on the only keyboard port.

Whatever kernel modules load with Mandriva 2008, Mandriva 2009, Ubuntu 9.4/9.10, Kubuntu 9.4/9.10, Xubuntu 9.4/9.10, OpenSUSE 11.1, Fedora 11, Linux Mint 7, PCLinuxOS 2009.2, Debian 5.0.2a, Damn Small Linux, and Puppy Linux, because they all exhibit the same behavior.

Am I correct in assuming that xorg.conf isn't used until after login, because X hasn't loaded despite what the GUI login screen may present?

In my xorg.conf for the installed Mandriva 2008...

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbOptions" "Compose:rwin"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Mouse2" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Thanks!

Joe

It strikes me you are not making any obvious mistakes. You are doing things right and trying the obvious. But it also seems to happen that X adds drivers which prevent input from your keyboard. I would put a comment in front of the line
# Driver "kbd"

and try starting X once, as things can't get worse.

You should have one of ohci_hcd or uhci_hcd, as well as ehci_hcd for usb.I would check on the southbridge. Is the correct driver getting loaded? Sometimes, the stock kernel will load generic southbridge drivers, and these don't work well. You may need specific ones loaded. A place you would see this is disk speed. Try

hdparm -tT /dev/sda

and look for the buffered disk reads.Expect 50Megs/S. If you have that, you're probably ok on drivers.