[Solved... sort of] USB keyboard dead

[tmsg]

I have P X64 3.1 XFCE installed on a USB stick. This install uses an encrypted save.dat file for storage. I have used this stick on various machines, so far w/o problem.

But just now I ran into a difficulty. On an older machine with USB keyboard (though obviously with 64 bit CPU) P boots into its start menu fine and I can use the cursor keys etc as normal. I then boot and the system asks for the password for the save.dat file. It is impossible at this prompt to enter anything, the keyboard appears dead. If I remove the USB keyboard and use an old PS/2 keyboard instead, all works fine.

I've checked the cheat codes and googled the forum for ideas but I've found nothing. Has anyone got an idea what might be the problem?

[Bogomips]

At first glance it looks like usb keyboard handling has not been se up at the point where your saved changes have to be decrypted.

[tmsg]

At first glance it looks like usb keyboard handling has not been se up at the point where your saved changes have to be decrypted.

Hm... the very same stick works w/o problems on half a dozen other machines with USB keyboards. So it must slightly more complicated, I assume?!

[Bogomips]

^ Well, now we are narrowing down the problem.

[tmsg]

Well, I give up.

Really sad to have to say this because the concept and ideas behind Porteus are exactly what I was looking for. The practice alas is not as satisfying. I've had a few cases now where Porteus would simply not boot on certain machines or where I could not get the system into a running state. That sort of defeats the whole exercise (which was to have a "bootable-everywhere" USB stick with Linux/VirtualBox and my Windows install.)

A pity but maybe I find another candidate which can do that.

[francois]

Have you tried::

Code: Select all

setxkbmap us

[tmsg]

Sigh... this is not a keyboard layout problem. Porteus can't even complete the boot because it's completely stuck at the input prompt. I repeat: the exact same stick works flawlessly on at least half a dozen other machines.

It's just broken and that is that.

[Bogomips]

It always helps to provide as much information as possible. For instance to mention that all othere usb keyboards work, but that this usb keyboard does not work. Details like if this is the same keybord as one of the others, Really it does not help if one has to have to fish for information.

If I remove the USB keyboard and use an old PS/2 keyboard instead, all works fine.

Tried starting with old PS/2 keyboard, and after boot-up, replacing with usb keyboard and seeing if usb keyboard is detected? That sort of information would be of help.

[tmsg]

The point is not whether I can get this to work somehow. I know I could because it's my machine and I can do with it whatever I want including booting with a PS/2 keyboard.

The point is that Porteus is simply not stable enough to be used for what I have in mind: using it as a base that gives me access to VirtualBox across a wide range of machine I can't control, eg in Internet cafes.

[francois]

You tried to boot directly in text mode?

[Bogomips]

The point is not whether I can get this to work somehow. I know I could because it's my machine and I can do with it whatever I want including booting with a PS/2 keyboard.

The point here is no details are furnished as requested.

The point is that Porteus is simply not stable enough to be used for what I have in mind: using it as a base that gives me access to VirtualBox across a wide range of machine I can't control, eg in Internet cafes.

The point is not very forthcoming with details, a distinct lack of willingness to help us help you, and if preferring to make a statement, please post in appropriates section of forum.

[francois]

I would add:
We help, so please be kind and polite.

This is intended to be a friendly forum. 8)

[tmsg]

I would add:
We help, so please be kind and polite.

This is intended to be a friendly forum. 8)

Can you please point me to a post of mine where I have been unkind or impolite?

I have P X64 3.1 XFCE installed on a USB stick. This install uses an encrypted save.dat file for storage. I have used this stick on various machines, so far w/o problem.

But just now I ran into a difficulty. On an older machine with USB keyboard (though obviously with 64 bit CPU) P boots into its start menu fine and I can use the cursor keys etc as normal. I then boot and the system asks for the password for the save.dat file. It is impossible at this prompt to enter anything, the keyboard appears dead. If I remove the USB keyboard and use an old PS/2 keyboard instead, all works fine.

I've checked the cheat codes and googled the forum for ideas but I've found nothing. Has anyone got an idea what might be the problem?

I am quoting myself because contrary to what some posts seem to imply, I have given all information I can give. I can try to elaborate but I really do not see what more I can say. But OK, step by step:

1. Switch on PC
2. Porteus boot menu appears.
3. I press Return thereby booting the first choice (which means USB keyboard works)
4. The boot continues (@Francois: it never even reaches the state where it switches to X).
5. Very early in the boot I am asked to input the password for my encrypted save.dat. I try to do this but the keyboard is now completely dead.
6. Between my pressing Return is step 3 and the prompt in step 5 there is nothing whatsoever I can do.
7. The exactly same stick works on other machine with USB keyboards. I have also tried another USB keyboard same result. As already stated it works with a PS/2 keyboard.

What more can I say?

[Bogomips]

Can you please point me to a post of mine where I have been unkind or impolite?

it has been the general tone. The sum of the parts taken together, so to say, But we do not wish to be nitpicking. Perhaps francois has something more specific in mind.

1. Switch on PC
2. Porteus boot menu appears.
3. I press Return thereby booting the first choice (which means USB keyboard works)

If it is stock Porteus boot loading, then the boot loader is syslinux, This would imply the usb keyboard works when using the syslinux driver. However thereafter it would appear the keyboard does not work because a different usb driver is used.

Another possibility is that the keys being used were just the arrow and enter keys in the first instance. So to check the boot loader driver press tab and try to change one of the boot parameters, perhaps insert copy2ram.

I have also tried another USB keyboard same result. As already stated it works with a PS/2 keyboard.

What more can I say?

It looks to be the computer being used, so the hardware specs of this machine would help,

As far as I can tell, you are crashing in the initrd. It should be using the kernel usb driver, which is why I requested in a previous post (for which got short shrift), that you use the ps/2 keyboard to load, and then swap back the usb keyboard and see if it is detected, or just simply plug in the usb keyboard, and see what happens.

[francois]

Maybe the problem is that you say you boot with an encrypted save.dat. I would like you to boot without it. Try without the changes cheatcode, in always fresh and in text mode.

And report

Thanks.