[SOLVED] Compaq keyboard can't get into BIOS before Ubuntu 12.10 starts up

Melodiesonmusic · 01-26-2013, 10:23 PM

I need to see why I can't boot from a CD to install another OS, but I can't get into BIOS. I'm using Ubuntu with Gnome 3.6.2 and my keyboard doesn't seem to load (if that's the word) until after Ubuntu starts. Is there any command I can run or file I can edit to change the order of what boots/loads first?

TobiSGD · 01-27-2013, 05:10 AM

Is this by any chance a keyboard that is connected to the machine via USB?
If so it may be possible that support for USB keyboards is disabled in the BIOS and you need a keyboard that can be connected via the PS/2 port to the machine.

Melodiesonmusic · 01-27-2013, 04:56 PM

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is in fact a PS/2. I could get into BIOS fine before I switched from windows a while ago, I haven't changed my keyboard since then and I don't think Ubuntu has anything to do with it so I'm pretty puzzled.

TobiSGD · 01-27-2013, 05:31 PM

At this point in the boot process no OS involved, so Ubuntu can't be the culprit. It may be just a hiccup of the system BIOS, if you don't have any special settings in your BIOS that you have to note down I would recommend to reset the BIOS and try it again.

Melodiesonmusic · 01-27-2013, 08:16 PM

Thank you, I'll try that and see if it works.

Melodiesonmusic · 01-28-2013, 10:59 PM

I decided to play around a bit before completely resetting BIOS. It turns out my keyboard works in two ports, but only one of them will give me access to bios. I inadvertently figured this out by having two keyboards plugged in at the same time. At least that seems to be what happened, either way, thanks a lot for the help.