I am having a nightmare of a time here. I would really like to get this installed, however it seems I cannot.

I have a newer Dell XPS, no PS/2 only USB keyboard.

I have gotten and verified the x86_64 DVD image from mandriva's site, and can boot from it.

Now, the keyboard is active all the way until I get to the first install screen (the one where it asks if you want to install, boot from first hdd, etc...), and I get no response from the keyboard anymore.

USB is enabled in my systems BIOS.


PLEASE HELP?!?

Try entering [CTRL]-[ALT]-[F2] to get to the pseudo shell (Before you get to the point where you can't use the keyboard). Then enter "modprobe usbhid". Hopefully that will enable the keyboard. If not, do you have access to another usb keyboard? Another thing to try is to use another usb slot. Also, unplug any external usb drives, memory cards, or usb printers before doing the installation.

I had that happen years ago with a Compaq computer, but I had a ps2 input I could use during the installation. I'm surprised it has happened recently. I wonder what is different with this keyboard or usb hardware.

I will give that a try. I had all, but the keyboard plugged in the last time I tried it.

Yeah, I wish they didn't get rid of the old PS/2, but such is evolution...I guess

I'll get back to you about what you suggested in a little bit. Thanks

No dice. I get a bit of text, but then it still goes to that install screen where the keyboard fails.

I start hitting ctrl-alt-f2 as soon as I select CD Boot from my boot menu

Everything that is USB is unplugged, except for the keyboard.

Other distrobutions do not have this issue

ya know...the whole point of me trying to install this is to finally get a 64bit OS (as I refuse to give M$ anymore money)

Can anyone recommend a distrobution that will work with me PC?

SB Audigy 2 ZS
Intel LAN
GeForce 8800 GTS
P4 DC 3.0Ghz
Bluetooth Keyboard/Mouse (no this is not what I am trying this to install this with...)

Most distro's have a 64 bit version. I use openSuSE. I don't know the cause of your keyboard problem. Maybe (Dell) is doing something funky causing it to not be detected, or a new controller not recognized by the Mandriva installer is beging used.

There are some options that you can try during the installation that might help. If you have a single processor, you could try the boot option "noapic". Make sure that "Legacy USB support is enabled in the bios.
Sometimes using a kernel boot option will enable the install program to continue. You might also try to change the pnp setting in the bios.

Well i might sound noob to the more experienced ppl here, i would recommend Ubuntu, it has a 64 bit version, and i have had no adaptability problems with my dell which is also pretty much 100% USB... i do use the 32 bit version, but I would think it would work fine with your hardware, as it does with mine... good luck...

the dell hardware could very well be the issue. Though, I like mitchelMan, have tried ubuntu with some success (it wouldn't recognize my sound, or LAN). I have given up on getting mMandriva installed (for now.....I still have a partition for it though for the future...)

I hvae sucessfully installed Fedora 7, and after fiddling with the nvidia drivers got it to work (overall...)

I thank y'all for your ideas and posts...and thank LQ for my new found best friend

Maybe I can learn some good stuff here (I too, am quite a noob )

what was up with the CD tray? ;-)

That was an old HP, the drive is like 5-7 years old, I tested it in multiple computers and it did the same thing, i tested different drives in the location where that (crzy drive) was, and they didn't have issues, so I just diagnose it as old messed up drive, so i unplugged it and left it off... where did yousee that cd tray thing anyway, that was like 2 months ago?

on one of the pages on your link in your signature.

Had me crackin up

Ah, ya, i forgot i put it there yea, i thought it was funny too....