PS/2 keyboard not working at boot, apparent BIOS issues

r-t · 05-11-2018, 06:22 AM

I have an old (2006) Core2Duo computer on which I recently installed Fedora 28/29.

After a kernel update (dnf -y update), the PS/2 keyboard I've always used with the computer stopped working at boot. The situation has not resolved with later kernel updates.

The PS/2 keyboard does however work at login.

The problem is that every time I do a cold boot, I need to enable USB 2.0 and set it to high speed, which requires that I unplug a USB keyboard from a newer machine and use that until login.

Anyone know how to save me from the task involving crawling about under the computer desk.

Other posts seem to have a somewhat reverse problem – their PS/2 keyboard stops working after boot.

AwesomeMachine · 05-11-2018, 06:06 PM

I would get a PS/2 to USB adapter. It's a very finicky thing when the keyboard jumps from the BIOS to the OS. Sometimes there is a bit of a lag in there when you have no keyboard. I've seen it with both PS/2 and USB, but not on the same machine.

ondoho · 05-12-2018, 01:16 AM

maybe slightly OT, but I don't see how a bleeding edge distro like fedora can be useful on a 12 year old (and getting older all the time) machine.
i think something conservative like debian or centos, or even ubuntu, would make much more sense.
or the much-praised antiX specifically for old computers.

_roman_ · 05-12-2018, 04:13 AM

I disagree.

Did you check your bios and your kernel / userspace?

you may also invest in an usb keyboard, they are not costly afaik

r-t · 05-12-2018, 06:40 AM

Thanks for the replies.

The computer is still my second computer and I like to have it as a backup I can immediately turn to if my 6-core i7 fails. The latter runs Fedora 27 (and Ubuntu 18.04) as did this older one. However, the older one got to needing a reinstall and so I installed the Fedora beta. It does run well on it, even with Gnome (though I tend to use LXDE on it) albeit rather slowly, of course.

Yes, I guess a new keyboard wouldn't cost much, but I only use it rarely to just upgrade it and backup data from my first computer "via" an external hard-drive ... and then there's the continual pile of junk problem.

Today I noticed that when I first start the computer or start a reboot both the numbers lock and caps lock lights flash on. They come back on when the computer starts to boot after the grub screen (and I can use the Esc key to switch between boot messages and the graphic). So it's not just a cold boot problem, but also a warm one, and it would seem to be somewhat of a BIOS problem.

dnesg output:

Code:

1.617071] i8042: PNP: No PS/2 controller found.
[    1.617074] i8042: Probing ports directly.
[    1.621910] serio: i8042 KBD port at 0x60,0x64 irq 1
[    1.622000] serio: i8042 AUX port at 0x60,0x64 irq 12

Arch has this page:

https://www.archlinux.org/news/linux...is-now-modular

I haven't quite found the Fedora equivalent.

[Moderator/Administrator: Please edit the title to refelct it's seemingly a BIOS problem.]

dave@burn-it.co.uk · 05-12-2018, 10:07 AM

I would check the motherboard battery to see if it is OK. Just buy and fit a new one anyway as they are cheap.
Also check the settings in the BIOS as it is unusual for the BIOS on a motherboard with a PS/2 keyboard socket NOT to recognise the PS/2 first by default.

r-t · 05-13-2018, 02:03 AM

The battery has had it – it doesn't know the date or time when starting. Not sure the PS/2 recognition problem is related though.

I reset the BIOS to default which may have solved the USB 2.0 speed problem – it won't have solved the problem of being able to select a previous kernel version or editing a line by hitting "e" in the grub menu.

pan64 · 05-13-2018, 02:08 AM

because it is not kernel related at all, but bios and/or battery.