Re: Keyboard LED(?) indicators stopped working

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:03:36 -0500, MRG wrote:

On a "real" (wired) PC keyboard, the indicators are controlled by the PC
... the PC sends a signal to the keyboard. On my wireless keyboards, the
indicators are in the wireless receiver, not the keyboard. I suspect that
the keyboard isn't receiving the signals to "turn on" from the PC.

The NumLock & CapsLock indicators on the wireless transmitter/receiver
are coming on but nothing on the keyboard. Any ideas on how to correct?
Someone had suggested the possibility of a BIOS setting to turn the
keyboard indicators on but I found nothing there.

Are you certain that the new batteries are all in good condition,
providing the proper voltage? You can get an inexpensive button
cell tester from Radio Shack which might help, and should be a more
reliable tester than even an expensive volt meter that doesn't
provide a load on the batteries.

Do you still have the original batteries to compare with the ones
that are currently installed in the keyboard? Even if the batteries
are good, unless they have the identical part numbers (and different
brands tend to use their own unique numbers) you may have installed
batteries that aren't direct replacements for the original ones,
either because the voltages are different, or very small, hard to
see size and shape differences might prevent the new batteries from
making proper contact. For example, Lithium-Manganese Dioxide
button cells provide 3.0 to 2.7 volts throughout most of their life,
while Silver Oxide cells provide only 1.5 volts each.

Last - I've never used wireless keyboards, but it stands to reason
that they should support multiple channels, otherwise how would
several computers be able to operate in close proximity without the
keyboards interfering with one another? Maybe the keyboards
"forget" their original channel if the batteries aren't quickly
changed when they die, and you'd then need to follow some procedure
to get them in synch with the wireless transmitter/receiver that's
connected to the computer?

===================================

I just checked HP's web site and it appears that I guessed wrong
about the batteries, since they say that the wireless keyboards and
mice use alkaline batteries. The Setup Poster for the a362n
computer says that there is an instruction booklet that was included
with the wireless keyboard. Do you still have it? If not, here's
part of the FAQ for "Troubleshooting Wireless Keyboards and Optical
Mice" for HP and Compaq Desktop PCs. This being usenet, the
diagrams showing buttons and things aren't shown. URL follows :

6. Reset the keyboard and mouse connections:

NOTE: The following connection sequence must be completed within
60 seconds.

a. Press the Connect button on the receiver once.

b. Press and release the recessed connect button on the underside of the
keyboard. When you release the button, make sure it does not stick in
the depressed position.

NOTE: If problems persist after resetting AND there is another wireless
keyboard or mouse near, use these steps again, holding down the
keyboard or mouse button for ten seconds. Doing so may give the
keyboard or mouse a new ID number in case the other keyboard or
mouse was using the same number.

c. Press the Connect button on the receiver again.

d. Press and release the recessed button on the underside of the mouse.
Make sure the connect button does not stick in the depressed position.


7. The wireless receiver that comes with the Keyboard and mouse is either
a PS/2 style or USB. Perform the following steps to reconnect the receiver
cables, depending on which style of receiver you have:

* USB: Unplug and reconnect the USB cable (or dongle) into one of the
USB connectors on the computer. If your computer has four (or more)
USB connectors on the back of the PC, connect using one of the lower
two connectors. Connecting the receiver into one of the higher USB
connectors may cause the PC to not recognize the mouse and keyboard.
Windpows(sic) should automatically recognize the receiver when found.

* PS/2: Turn off the PC and reconnect the wireless receiver cables to the
mouse and keyboard connectors on the back of the PC. The keyboard
cable is purple, and the mouse cable is green. Windows should
automatically recognize the receiver when found.


http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=373512&lang=en&docname=c00006821


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