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3-20 Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
9. Call Dell for technical assistance.
See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions.
Troubleshooting an External Keyboard
When you attach an external keyboard, the integrated keyboard remains fully
functional. During POST, the computer checks whether an external keyboard
is connected; if it is, the computer recognizes both the built-in keyboard and the
external keyboard. If an attached external keyboard does not work when you boot the
computer, make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in Chapter 5, “Getting
Help,” and fill it out as you perform the following steps.
NOTE: External USB keyboards are not supported on the computer.
1. Turn off the computer, and then remove the keyboard cable and check it for bent
or broken pins.
Yes. If you see bent pins and they can be straightened, straighten them and go to
step 2. If they cannot be straightened, or are broken, you need a new keyboard.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Reconnect the keyboard to the computer.
3. Make sure the cable from the external keyboard is firmly connected to the
keyboard/mouse connector on the back of the computer. (See “Checking
Connections” found earlier in this chapter.)
4. Turn on the computer.
5. If you are using a keyboard that can be configured with various switch settings,
make sure the switch is set to PS/2, Enhanced XT/AT, or PC/AT.
The switch settings are usually on the bottom of the keyboard, sometimes
behind a panel tab. Refer to the documentation that came with the keyboard for
more information.
6. Turn off the computer, wait one minute, and then turn it on again. During the boot
routine, do the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators on the external
keyboard blink momentarily?
Yes. Go to step 7.
No. You may have a defective keyboard. Go to step 10.
7. Does the computer recognize the external keyboard?
Use the external keyboard to type some characters. Do they appear on the
display?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 8.