Windows installation media cant detect keyboard and mouse

Question

I just built a brand new computer. I inserted the windows 7 ultimate disk into the drive, and when prompted, pressed a key to boot from the CD. At this point, the computer itself is able to detect the keyboard.

However, once the installation software loads and I'm prompted to select a language, Windows does not detect either the mouse or keyboard. I can't give any input, and therefore can't install the OS.

I've tried multiple USB ports, and 2 different key boards (I only have 1 mouse) and nothing has worked. How do I get it to find the input devices?

EDIT: A bunch of places say the problem is the Windows 7 installer doesn't support USB 3.0, but when I switched to a USB 2 port I still have the same problem.

EDIT 2: per request:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-UD5H
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder x4
Mouse: Logitech G600

There's also a standard Microsoft USB keyboard I tried, but I'm not sure the model number.

Answer 1

You haven't given us any details about your PC (motherboard, keyboard, mouse make and model). You can edit your question to include the specs.

Meanwhile I have two solutions you may try. None of them do anything bad to your system.

Solution 1

This may seem counter-intuitive but Windows 7's USB stack is fully operational during setup. It will detect USB device insertions and removals.

Knowing this, you can overcome possible BIOS USB bugs by booting into Windows seutp exactly as you did, wait until the choose language screen appears, then without turning the computer off or rebooting unplug the keyboard and mouse and plug them back into different USB ports. This trick has worked for me in the past.

Solution 2

You may need to adjust some settings in your BIOS. Your motherboard manual will have instructions on how to enter BIOS setup.

When you get into BIOS setup, trawl through all the various menus and sub-menus and try find the following options. They might not read exactly as I've written them but you'll spot them if they're there.

Windows 7 has no need for BIOS legacy support, in fact it can interfere sometimes, so set these options:

• Legacy USB = Disabled
• EHCI Pre-Boot Driver = Disabled
• XHCI Pre-Boot Driver = Disabled

Also make sure USB2 support is enabled, if the option exists:

• EHCI/USB 2.0 = Enabled

Or if the above option doesn't exist, make sure USB 3.0 is switchable:

• XHCI/USB 3.0 Switchable = Enabled

Also set these options if you have them, this adjusts how BIOS hands over the USB controller to the OS when it needs it:

• EHCI/USB 2.0 hand-off = Disabled
• XHCI/USB 3.0 hand-off = Enabled

Make sure you save the settings before exiting BIOS setup.

As you pointed out yourself do use USB 2.0 ports if you have them. Good luck and let us know how you go :-)

Update: If you are using a newer Intel processor with USB 3.0 you might have to add the USB 3.0 drivers to the installation image. You can do this the hard way using the Windows DSIM utility but Intel also distributes a tool to automate the process. More info is on Intel's website.

Answer 2

I solved the problem that i had with my MSI motherboard. It had an option that was called windows 7 installation and windows 8 installation. Both were disabled. I enabled the windows 7 installation option and now it recognized both the keyboard and the mouse in usb 3.0 aswell..

Answer 3

Not sure if this will work:
Try not just just switching, but rebooting with the keyboard and mouse already plugged in to 2.0 ports.

It might not recognize new hardware after its booted, or hardware in the 3.0 ports while booting.

Answer 4

Now that we know your motherboard make/model, things get interesting.

Out-of-the-box your motherboard is configured in a way that should support Windows 7. As long as you plug the keybaord and mouse into the USB 2.0/1.1 ports:

Few more things to try:

• In BIOS setup, reset all settings to factory defaults, save and exit. Try Win7 setup again. If no luck...

• Update the BIOS to the latest version. Try Win7 setup again. If no luck...

• Instead of booting with the Win7 DVD, use a Win8.x DVD and see if the keyboard/mouse works. If the keyboard and mouse still doesn't work even on Windows 8.x setup, then it's likely something dodgy is up with your motherboard.

If you don't have a Win8.x DVD you can obtain a free enterprise evaluation ISO from Microsoft. Assuming you have access to another working PC that is!

• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-8-1-enterprise

• Use the burn disk imagine feature of Windows to burn the ISO to a blank DVD.

Answer 5

I have a Gigabyte G1.Sniper B5 and had the same problem, setting this:

Legacy USB = Disabled
EHCI Pre-Boot Driver = Disabled
XHCI Pre-Boot Driver = Disabled

did the trick and usb mouse and usb keyboard (logitech mk120) got recognized