USB Keyboard + USB Mouse + USB KVM = Nothing

Background: my computer is a homebuilt, currently with an ECS motherboard* (NVidia chipset, Phoenix-Award BIOS). When my keyboard died I replaced it with a USB model, and since I already use a USB mouse, I replaced the PS/2 KVM with a USB switch (the kind which has a single USB plug going to the computer).

Problem: with the keyboard and mouse plugged directly into the computer, it works beautifully; but if I run them through the KVM, they seem to disappear — for example, hitting DEL during bootup doesn’t drop into the BIOS setup screen. And when Windows loads, it doesn’t respond to either device. If it weren’t for the fact that the mouse LED and keyboard indicators are lit, I’d say they weren’t even connected.

I’ve hunted through more “solutions” than I care to think about, and almost all of them talk about enabling “Legacy USB Support” in the BIOS. The difficulty with this approach is that the BIOS version I have doesn’t include that option: instead, I have “USB 2.0 Controller (Enabled / v1.1 / Disabled)” and “USB Memory Type (SHADOW / Base Memory (640k)).” I’ve tried every combination of these options I can think of without success.

So before I brush up on my Mandarin for a chat with ECS tech support, I throw myself upon the wisdom of the Dope (which may sound like an oxymoron, but we know, don’t we?). Does the situation as I’ve described it make sense, and does anyone have a possible solution? Or do I have to relegate the new KVM to a rather cumbersome paperweight and hunt down adapters that will allow me to plug both devices into the PS/2 switch (since the sockets are too close together to use the standard green thingies for both)?

Thanks(!) in advance. More details on request.

*Yes, I know it’s a cheap motherboard. And I’m a cheapskate. It’s a perfect match!

Have you tried letting the machine boot all the way up before plugging in the kbd/mouse? Also try plugging into the other set of kbd/mouse jacks to make sure you are not set to the offline set of cable.
KVM’s are famous for not detecting properly or autoswitching where appropriate. We have the same problem here in the shop sometimes.

I’ve tried three separate times, using three different brands of KVM, to switch Windows PCs, and I’ve had the help of corporate IT folks who I think seem very capable. Yet, I’ve never gotten a KVM to work.

Especially, I would like to find a KVM that just has a knob on the front, with no trick methods of getting it to switch without having to touch a physical control.

But I think KVM’s are one of those things that should obviously be able to work and yet never quite do. I’ve given up on them. I just buy more PCs and add shelving and furniture to make space for them.

drachillix, thanks for the suggestion, but as my father (on whom be peace) used to say, “she’s-a no poo-poo.” However, you did jog me into another idea: going to the office and taking the one I use there — I know that works, at least with a couple of Dells — to see if it works on mine. If it does, then I’ll know it’s the crappy KVM.

Napier, I’m beginning to feel your pain. A plethora of PCs doesn’t particularly bother me — I can hit five with a breadroll from where I sit — but I can’t accommodate multiple monitors, keyboards and meese without knocking out a wall. And while I’m getting frustrated enough to do just that, my neighbor might not take it kindly if my peripherals start invading her kitchen.

Is there a reason you’re using a KVM instead of remote desktop or VNC?

Remote desktop is built in to XP Pro (not home, I don’t think), 2003 Server and possibly Vista. Real VNC is free for Windows and Unix, and OSXvnc is free for Mac.

Good question, and I wish I had a really cogent answer. I’m certainly familiar with Remote Desktop (last I looked I have about 70 servers that I’ve worked with at one time or another, some of them in a data center on the other side of the country).

Best response I can articulate is that it’s a philosophical preference — I’d rather have a physical connection to the computer I’m dealing with. Also, my experience as an application developer as well as a server support type makes me a bit leery of a software approach when there’s a hardware solution available. Trouble is, sometimes the hardware doesn’t cooperate.

One more thing to check: is there a BIOS upgrade available? That the keyboard doesn’t work to get into the BIOS seems pretty telling to me.