No response to Ctrl alt del

[Face-Man]

We have 30 new computers. yesterday all of them were working fine. Today 3 have decided that they will not respond on the login screen to pressing the keys ctrl alt del the computer just does nothing. I know the keyboards are fine as I can edit the bios and the num lock key works. They do the same thing in safe mode. The only thing I can think of is it is something to do with windows authentication as it was about a week ago I ghosted them and for some reason they need to be autheniticated with microsoft again. Any body have a clue before I re-image them. :x

[Geoff]

you mean windows activation has expired?

[Face-Man]

Is it possible that the activation expires ? The systems said you had three days to register but appeared to go through ok

[Geoff]

I've no idea. I'm using corp edition here so no activation is required.

Are the keyboards USB? Perhaps powermanagement of the USB ports is causing problems?

[Face-Man]

We have MS schools agreement but the image was built using the dell supplied os (before I got here). Previsously this was not an issue but I think some of the latest patches may have caused problems. My main worry is if I start getting stations failling over all around the school with no quick fix.

I dont think it is keyboard though it is USB as the the num lock key works and that mean the power must be getting throigh I have tried different port as well.

[Geoff]

Out of ideas then sorry. I'd just reimage it personally as it's quicker.

[Netman]

I'd try it with a PS2 keyboard - had a similar problem once before with usb mice/keyboards on a newly imaged machine... shove a PS2 keyboard on it, reboot and see if it plays the game with that....

[Face-Man]

unfortuatly no PS/2 ports on these new dells and it does seem bizzard it should affect 3 computers and not the other ones with the same kit. if it had been one i would blame the hardware but with more I think it must be software related.. Anyway I'm reimaging now so hopefully it would come back

[Geoff]

One thing that does occur to me is that there is a setting in most BIOS's for 'legacy' USB keyboard/mouse support. Perhaps thats the problem?

[Face-Man]

I'll have a look but it was fine yesterday and the mouse move around the screen fine

[Jamie_a]

Weve just had a load of our pc`s spontaneoulsy do this for the second time, the first time we re ghosted but this time ive disabled interactive login in gpo which bypasses the need to press control alt delete.

[Michael]

I've had this problem in the past. Exactly the same symptoms as you describe and with a Dell. The keyboard works with the BIOS but doesn't with Windows. It is a driver related issue. Try using Remote Desktop to get onto the machines.

The reason it happens is because someone has disconnected the keyboard and/or mouse and connected it into a different USB port. Connecting the keyboard or mouse into the original USB port (when the driver was installed) should resolve the problem. This may require some time and a few reboots to experiment however!

[kmount]

To eliminate/incriminate an activation issue or keyboard issue, remote into the PC via VNC or something when it's playing up and try and "throw" CTRL ALT DEL at it via VNC.