OK this is too weird and pretty damn irritating but here goes. I was trying to clean some ad-ware from my computer. The instructions on Norton's page suggested that on an xp machine, you should go to the start menu, and type "msconfig' and select the safe mode and re-boot. You can then remove the ad-ware.

The problem is that once I did this, I rendered all extra drivers etc. inoperative. This includes my wireless keyboard and mouse! So now I'm staring at the windows intro screen, and cannot select my user profile to log in! My first thought was to get out an old corded mouse, and hook that up, but the motherboard in this computer has NO legacy ports, so I'd need a USB mouse (which I don't have)! Second thougt was to enter F8 to select "start windows normally" but with no keyboard this is not available either! I tried turning off he computer at the rear power switch, and left it off for several minutes, still the same! Anybody got any ideas?

 

damn... i think you might need to look for a usb mouse/keyboard. if not, there's PS/2 to USB converters.

 

No legacy.. do you have an ABIT IT7 or AT7?

I'd say, just get a USB keyboard and mouse, that should do it.

 

Get a PS2-USB converter, or get a cheap USB keyboard. Forget the mouse. Just use the keyboard to change your setting and get your driver installed. Then, use your wireless stuff.

 

Yeah, Abit IT7. I seem to recall having a Ps2 to USB somewhere around here, gotta look around. This is kind of funny huh? Thank got we have two computers side by side!

 

I'm BACK ON MY COMPUTER! I had a USB keyboard that Bart (cat) spilled some coffee on. I cleaned it up, but only 50% of the keys work. It was on it's way to the garbage but never quite got there ....yet. (let's hear it for packrats) Fortunately, the "tab" and "enter" are two that work. I managed to get to a screen that allowed me to choose an earlier boot configuration, and it worked.

This was a pretty damn unusual thing don't you think? And such a fun way to spend an hour..........

 

LOL...congrats! I wish stuff like that worked out like that for me!