Keyboard quit when 2.6 kernel (RHE4) installed
 

When my system was updated from RHE3 to RHE4, my PS/2 keyboard quit working. The kernel in RHE3 was 2.4.21-27.0.4. We've tried two kernels in RHE4, 2.6.9-5.0.5. and 2.6.11-1.14. The keyboard works fine in the BIOS and grub, but quits as soon as Linux is loaded, including in single-user mode (so it's not X or KDE causing the problem). Also works in RHE3 (which we have in a different partition) with kernel 2.4.21-27.0.4, and in DOS. I tried several keyboards by IBM, Compaq, HP, ... and none work. I connected my favorite keyboard via a PS/2-to-USB adapter and it works -- sort of: Somebody forgets which shift keys are down, so typing )* sometimes gets )8. There is the same problem with ctrl and alt keys, so ctrl-d followed by e with the ctrl key held down between the d and e in Evolution doesn't expunge deleted mail -- unless I release and re-depress the ctrl key. Search-again (ctrl-g) in Nedit eventually starts typing "g" instead of searching again. It seems to be rate dependent. If I type ctrl-g, hold down ctrl, and type g again soon, it works. If I wait a few seconds (with the ctrl key down) and type "g", a "g" gets inserted.

The machine is Dell model 530, Dual 1.7 GHz Xeon (using smp kernels) with 2 GB memory.
I've had it, and the keyboard, for several years, without this kind of problem.

Any ideas?

see http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...25#post1628225

disabling usb legacy emulation in the bios should fix it.

Way cool.... I've been having this problem for almost a year. Keyboard doesn't work with a 2.6 kernel but yet works just fine with 2.4... Disabled "USB emulation" in the bios under the 'legacy something or other" option and it works now...

That still doesn't explain why 2.6 was working one day, and then all of a sudden while playing Enemy Territory, The keyboard just died on me... Strange...

Anyway, thanks for the link man... You are a life saver. Really....