USB Keyboard not available on install

weeble · n00b Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 5

OK, I'm starting again, and trying to sort out each issue (and I seem to be encountering a lot of weird issues) as I come across it.

I'm trying to install Gentoo on an AMD Athlon64. I've downloaded the latest minimal install ISOs (both 32 bit and amd64 versions). When I boot the ISO (either one), the USB keyboard is not working. I cannot even choose the keyboard layout during the boot sequence, although, I can use the keyboard before the Gentoo kernel starts to boot (accessing BIOS, and pickign what to boot from the boot menu).

If, after the minimum install ISO is done booting and waiting at the command prompt, I unplug and plug the keyboard, it starts working.

Is there any way to correct this? Where can I or should I start looking to resolve this keyboard issue?

jcTux · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject:

By the way, if the keyboard works, you can modify the file /etc/conf.d/keymaps in order to change the keyboard layout.
Then, restart the keyboard daemon :

weeble · n00b Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 5

The issue isn't the keyboard layout... it's that the keyboard doesn't work at all to begin with in the install(I haven't got far enough in the install to test the mouse to see if it's not working too).... the only way I get it to work after booting is to unplug and plug it back in.. which is a bit of a pain given I have to pretty much crawl under my desk to do this.

Mike Hunt · Watchman Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5287

Actually the minimal installCD does start the console mouse server (gpm), so you should have a mouse automatically.

Both keyboard and mouse should just work.

If you prefer, you could always try the SystemRescueCd to boot the initial shell, but I'm not so sure if that would solve it. Maybe.

weeble · n00b Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 5

Hmmm so the mouse isn't working either. I've got both plugged direct into the motherboard.... and the keyboard/mouse combination are working fine in all other OSes I have installed (eg openSUSE 11.2, Ubuntu 9.10 etc).

gerard27 · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject:

Try rescuecd.
Gerard.
_________________
To install Gentoo I use sysrescuecd.Based on Gentoo,has firefox to browse Gentoo docs and mc to browse (and edit) files.
The same disk can be used for 32 and 64 bit installs.
You can follow the Handbook verbatim.
http://www.sysresccd.org/Download

Ant P. · Watchman Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 6920

Does your BIOS have any "legacy USB" settings? Try toggling those on/off.

Jaglover · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:45 am Post subject:

I'd like to know what's the trouble here.

You boot the CD, you unplug-plug the keyboard, it starts working. Isn't that what you need to install?