Need Help/Suggestion From PC/WIN7 uber techie

[Sloehand]

My PC developed a problem sometime back.  I've been out of touch with it for sometime, but I've got to try an get it fixed.
Problem, the system will not accept or display any text input.  I was able to log in with my password, but after that no program accepts any keyboard signals.  I swapped wireless keyboard for a standard wired and no difference.
I had to take a short vacation at a hospital after I got that far.  I am definitely not a sys admin or techie when it comes to Windows so I need some suggestions how to troubleshoot this, in the simplest terms possible. 
It's a very powerful machine with high end components, worked like a dream for more than a year. Suddenly, this problem.  I am writing this from memory, but I will check it out again tomorrow and pass on any further details.  Just looking for what could have caused this.  Might be drivers? 
My only thought for a solution of last resort is to blow away the HD, reformat it and reload everything program-wise.  All my data is on externally mounted HD's, so no concern there.
Open to suggestions.  Candy might be involved for the successful solution provider. 

[TequilaChaser]

Need a little more information......

When you say that you was able to log in, I am assuming you are talking about Windows 7 and not the game, correct?

Also, when you say you switched from the wireless keyboard (which actually works off an USB port) to a standard wired keyboard, do you mean a keyboard with the purple colored PS2 plug or is it also a USB plug wired keyboard?

[Spikes]

Sounds like a corruption somewhere within Windows. You could try booting into Safe Mode and see what sort of results you get. After the POST screen tap the F8 key and it should get you into the Windows boot menu.

If it lets you in there and you can move and type freely, something with the normal Windows boot is fubar.

[TequilaChaser]

Sounds like a corruption somewhere within Windows. You could try booting into Safe Mode and see what sort of results you get. After the POST screen tap the F8 key and it should get you into the Windows boot menu.

If it lets you in there and you can move and type freely, something with the normal Windows boot is fubar.

That is sort of what I was thinking, but more like a windows update that was probably installing when he shut the computer down and he didn't notice or realize it and it's hanging on booting up now...


just so he don't go too far before we know a little bit more, because it could be a trojan or root kit virus that got by any anti-virus protection he might have....hate for him to have to do a full format and reinstall if he don't have to...


window's MBR (Master Boot Record) actually keeps the last 4(or maybe 5) versions from updates and program or driver installation changes to the OS, so he can actually boot up his computer, then hit the reboot button (not the start/shutdown button) on his computer and windows should jump to the next newest MBR on file/stored and he might possibly get it to boot up using that method

I've seen this problem before, and it was one of my neice's click ok for a windows update, but turned the PC off, when it needed to restart, so it hung up.... I used the method above to get it to boot back up to where I was able to access the password screen and get to the desktop and figured out what happened

hopefully sloehand is as lucky

[100Coogn]

Almost sounds like a driver issue.  I would try unplugging your keyboard and uninstall all keyboard drivers.  Restart your PC and plug your keyboard in.

If you need to do any typing to try and diagnose the problem, you can still use the virtual keyboard if needed.
To access it, do the following:

1. Click the Start menu, then select All Programs.
2. Move to Accessories and then Ease of Access.
3. Find and click On-Screen Keyboard to launch the virtual keyboard.

Good luck.

Coogan

[Bizman]

The standard keyboard drivers are built-in and since you plugged the wired keyboard without being able to do anything you most likely haven't installed any brand specific drivers either. You did reboot after plugging the wired keyboard, didn't you?

Go to the Device Manager and see if there's a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark. Right click and remove those devices and reboot. They should reinstall correctly.

[Drano]

I had a recent issue with not being able to type after logging in. On my new machine too mind you! Think that didn't P me off!

What happened was I could log in but after that if I clicked on any text box it would fill up completely with a series of, /, /, /, /. Thought I had a stuck key or something. Tried another keyboard. Same thing. Not the keyboard. OK. Took me a while trying to disable things that didn't work before I just started to unplug stuff one at a time. Thinking it must be something else. I'd had trouble with the programming on my CH throttle in Win10 but the drill has been I need to reapply a profile after I start. It usually has nothing to type let alone what I want it to until I do that. Unplugged it. Same thing. So... Not that. Got to my VKB stick. It has a cable from the stick to a control box which is where the brains are that has a USB. Unplugged the USB. Typing stopped. Plugged back in... Started back up. Gotcha! I had to reset and reflash the black box and was back in business.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[Drano]

Tapatalk cut me off.

So the short of it is try unplugging any peripherals that might be interfering. If it's seeing the keyboard at login it's seeing it. Safe mode was a good suggestion too although in my case I couldn't hit the F8 key!

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[Sloehand]

OK  Thanks to all for the input.  Made me smile to be reminded how helpful the AH community really is, as I remember it.
First, I'm going to collect all the info any of you requested then post that.  Next, I will probably try the reboot into safe mode to see how that goes.  After that, you all had even more suggestions that I will try one by one.
I am very grateful for the help.  I not only need my big beast desktop for gaming (I've been unable to play anything for so long for one reason or another), but I need to make some money working from home and have to use the desktop for that. <sigh> Life is such a complicated and unforgiving biotch right now.
Thanks and be well!

[100Coogn]

Keep us posted Sloehand.  I'm curious as to what the issue was. 

Coogan