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Im trying to format my inlaws HD on my PC . The reason being theirs had a regular keyboard , meaning the round type plugin .But it got broke off where it plugs in . Instead of getting a new motherboard they opted for a USB keyboard that has a round plugin for the old mouse . The mouse port was damaged also . They have a AMD Athlon CPU and a WD HD . I finally got the keyboard to work in Windows setup but not the mouse . Can I set up their HD on my PC and then plug it back up to theirs ? Help PLEASE ! She's...ITS driving me nuts .
Just buy an USB mouse, or an serial one, or at least an ps2 to serial converter. Don't install an os on your system and then move the hdd to another pc, that's BAD!
It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice...
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You are "beating a dead horse."
You need to fix the connectors, or replace the motherboard, and you should be able find a motherboard, unless it's some weird proprietary thing, ya, know, like Comcrap.
Even if it IS a special motherboard, you might just find a good used one on ebay.
You might find a local friendly electronics hobbyer, amateur radio operator, or some other "techy" that can repair or replace the connectors.
Doesn't the USB keyboard have to load drivers from somewhere?
(I'm not familiar with them, I don't have a single machine that uses one.)
IF IF IF you can get a keyboard and mouse set up, say the
USB keyboard works
you can go to a serial?? mouse
What you do is,
temporarily remove the hdd from your main machine.
temporarily sub the "target" hdd.
Boot with the install cd, bootdisk, whatever.
Fdisk (if necessary) and format the drive.
Copy the installation files to the hard drive from the cd
Put the hdd back in the target machine.
Run setup and install the system from there.
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I don't see why not. Someone once explained to me that a hard drive is basically a huge disc. You can take it out, bring it over to your friends house - hook it into their computer and presto.
But what concerns me is if you aren't fast enough to enter the BIOS, change the boot order so that the CDROM drive boots first (and remember to have the Windows XP CD in the CDROM drive) - then when Windows starts - you might be in for a surprise. Because those drivers are probably not going to work with your computer.
I don't know exactly what would happen. Heh.
But I guess if you were to do it. Then you'd simply turn the computer off, open up the computer, and you'll see the hard drive. Unplug the power connector, unplug the IDE cable - and pop it out.
Then turn off your computer, open up your computer, do the same to your hard drive - pop it out - and put the other hard drive in.
Then turn the computer on and enter the BIOS, change boot order to boot from CD first, put windows XP CD in, push any key to boot from CD, etc.
And then you know - follow the directions and format the hard drive.
Then once you have XP installed on the computer, or whatever OS you installed (I assumed it would be Windows XP) - just turn off the computer, take the hard drive out, and switch them again.
Once the hard drive is back onto the original computer - install the drivers and what not.
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If the keyboard they bought as a replacement is indeed a USB keyboard, then the round thing you refer to is a USB to PS2 adapter and is removable, making the keyboard a straight USB plug-in. Enter the BIOS screens to see if the Motherboard supports legusy USB. If this option is available, a USB keyboard will work in DOS and during the setup. If you are installing WinXP on this drive then when you switch the drive WinXP won't want to boot, due to the fact that you have a different hardware configuration. I agree that you need to rectify this situation. A serial mouse would work. That is the type of connector that looks similar to the monitor connector. You may be able to find one of those at a computer shop or flea market.
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In answer to your actual question:
You can format a HD in any machine but you CANNOT cannot set it up with XP on your PC and then swap it over, what you will almost certainly get with is an instant BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) because XP will not recognise any of the hardware.
Unless there is some physical damage to the MOBO then USB keyboards and mice should work straight off without any third party drivers. These are normally only required to enable enhanced features NOT basic functionality.
You should also check in the BIOS that USB is enabled.
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Thanks for all the input peeps . Solved 1 problem on my own . Got the keyboard to work but no mouse . Tried plugging it up to the MOBO and the keyboard also . The mouse still dosent work .When I boot up I get "no mouse detected ."So I cant get to the place in the setup where it recognizes Her hardware . Im lost . Think maybe its a CPU issue?Anyhow thanks to all who responded.
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You should be able to maneuver around in windows with just the keyboard. I suggested finding a serial mouse. It seems that for some reason many of the ports on the back of this computer are damaged. You didn't mention any damage to the serial port. There most certainly must be a least one serial port on this machine. Windows will recognise a serial mouse and install it. If you know anyone that has had computers for some time, ask them if they have one you can borrow. As I said before, the end of the mouse cable has a plug on it that looks just like the port where you connect your monitor. These were the way most mice were configured 10 years ago.
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If you're into XP with keyboard but no mouse try the following:
Press the Win key + Pause/Break
Press Left or Right arrow to get to the Hardware Tab is selected then press Tab which should highlight Device Manager. Press Enter.
The machine should now scan for hardware changes, and see if it finds a mouse.
You could also down arrow to Mice and Pointing Devices (if it exists) then right arrow to see any entries.
If there is nothing then I believe your problem is almost certainly MOBO damage.
Incidentally, what OtheHill said about serial mice is good stuff but I felt I should correct the statement that the serial port "looks just like the port where you connect your monitor". True it has the same outline but it has a totally different pin configuration.
I say this not to be patronising or suggest for one moment thay you or anyone reading this is daft enough to try and plug the wrong thing into the wrong hole but believe me, I have seen this, and much worse, done.
Having worked with and around computers and electronics for more years than I care to recall it will never cease to amaze me what incredible and bizarre things some otherwise sensible and semmingly intelligent people can do!
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kinel
The shape of both is the same but the gender is the opposite. No chance of plugging in wrong.
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ey Bush
You say you solved the keyboard problem "on your own". How about informing those of us that has been following this thread how you solved this problem?
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In response to OtheHill's curiosity bout how I solved the keyboard problem on my own , in their bios setup it has an option to either setup "optimized defaults" or something else , cant remember now , but I went with the latter . And it worked just to the point of the place in win 98 setup where you have to agree to the terms or whatever . Then no keyboard or mouse again . I told them I was out of ideas . She would probably have to get another MOBO . Im still lost . But thanks for all the returns . Yall good people . If ya think of anything else please let me know . Thanks again . "Bushwacker"
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