Windows XP USB issues

[datoasteroven]

So I have two old hard drives with windows xp installed. The drives function perfectly and boot into xp without any issues, but when I get to the desktop on either one of the drives my mouse and keyboard don't work. In the bottom right of the screen it says that it found new hardware including the USB buss, so I don't understand what could be going on. I have attempted to use system recovery but that didn't work soooo. Any ideas??

 

[drtweak]

this is an issues i use to have all the time even if the usb device has been plugged in before if you plug it in a differnt port it does this and XP takes FORRREEVVER>

The solution.

Start up in safe mode. It will install the USB drivers for mouse and keyboard a lot faster, then restart into normal mode.

 

[datoasteroven]

I can't log into the administrator account though because my mouse and keyboard don't work.

 

[drtweak]

are the PC windows XP is on the same PC they were installed with?

If not that can be an issue. If it is then startup in safe mode and wait. The usb stuff will install faster. If not get a PS2 mouse/keyboard or a USB to PS2 Adapter. PS2 devices are working on startup. Just make sure they are plugged in though on PC start otherwise it won't detect them. They are not plug and play, they are plug while it is off or it wont work lol

 

[jr9]

Just as a side note a PS/2 keyboard will work but a PS/2 adapter may not. I've seen people try that with Ryzen-Windows7 builds and their keyboards and mice still don't function without drivers when they try adapters. I don't think these adapters actively convert USB signals into ASCII scan codes that a computer will always understand with no drivers.

 

[datoasteroven]

Thanks drtweak for helping! Starting it up in safe mode worked it loaded the drivers! But sadly there is another problem when I log on it says I have to activate windows. To activate windows I have to connect to the internet but the computer apparently needs to download a driver for my Ethernet and it doesn't do anything. When I let It sit in safe mode It doesn't download the diver for the Ethernet

 

[drtweak]

no i highly doubt it will have any Ethernet drivers. You will need to find out what it is and then download it on another PC and then install it. You don't have to be in safe mode anymore for any new stuff just normal mode.

also it sounds like these drives were in another machine before this one which explains why it is not activated and activating it honestly more than likely won't make it work.

 

[datoasteroven]

Alrighty thanks for all your help