PC Question -- GUI will not recognize keyboard input

Factual Questions
1

For those of you with good memories, yes, this did happen to me before. This time, however, I have not made matters infinitely worse by attempting to re-install windows with a different disk. (and got stuck when I still couldn’t enter the code key)

There was no precipitating incident, as far as I know. I booted yesterday morning, and couldn’t enter my profile password. Sometimes that will happen if I have been using sundry USB devices, I guess the IRQs get mixed up or something; so I booted again, but no dice.

Mouse doesn’t work either. I have tried a different USB keyboard, and also a PS2 keyboard. I have tried all six USB slots.

The keyboard(s) work fine in the BIOS. It’s only when Windows (XP, BTW) starts up that I cannot input anything. I have the recovery console installed, but I’m really not sure where the problem is and how to proceed.

Any advice? Thanks!

2

In the Device Manager are there any exclamation points in the list?

Oh wait, I suppose you can’t get to it… I wonder how one gets around Windows if the input devices aren’t working.

Are the USBs turned off in the BIOS perhaps?

3

Good guess. But no, I checked that. There are options for USB keyboard and USB mouse support in the BIOS, and they’re both enabled.