USB Mouse/Keyboard Not Working During Installation

[CMar]

I have been attempting to install Linux Mint 14 (Cinnamon) on my new desktop PC but after booting from the USB drive it fails to recognize my Logitech Wave (MK550) mouse and keyboard combo. I have also tried installing Ubuntu 12.04 only to arrive at the same issue. I don’t believe it is a hardware problem because the keyboard and mouse works fine in the BIOS as well as Windows 7. Could this just be a compatibility issue?

Any suggestions on this would be much appreciated! Thanks

[ChinaJ]

I, too, have this problem, but on my laptop with LM 14 64-bit MATE; every time I try, the mouse and keyboard freeze up. The numbers lock light stays on, trying ctrl+alt+del doesn't work, caps lock won't turn on... nothing.

As you said, my keyboard/mouse work fine in Windows 7. If it were a hardware issue, then it wouldn't work in Windows 7 (and since I'm typing this in my Windows 7 installation on the same laptop I'm trying to install LM on, we can see this isn't the case).

Some added info for me: I DO have LM 13 64-bit installed, but this issue still pops up randomly on the login screen. The keyboard works fine on grub, and I can turn the num lock on and off, but then somewhere in the boot up, it won't do it anymore. When the login screen pops up, mouse and keyboard aren't working, so I have to do a hard reboot and try again. Sometimes, it works on the first try, sometimes it takes multiple tries.

This isn't an isolated problem, either; others here on this forum seem to have the exact same problem, and haven't had any luck even with switching out keyboards and mice. MATE, Cinnamon, 64-bit, 32-bit... all seem affected by this.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Michael42]

For Cmar:

There should be a setting in your BIOS for "Enable Legacy USB Keyboard and mouse support" or something similiar. It depends on what motherboard you are using. See if you can find it and make sure to enable it.

If it is already enabled, you may want to try Enabling Plug and Play OS support for your motherboard as well...if it is available as an option. It should be in there somewhere.

For ChinaJ: (Please let us know what kind of Laptop you have)

Your problem could be caused by the same thing. Try fiddling with the PnP OS support and Legacy USB Keyboard/Mouse settings in BIOS. While you guys are at it, see if your BIOS versions are up to date/latest.

I have both enabled on my comps. Let me know if this advice helps or not.

[ChinaJ]

@Cmar: There are a couple bug reports posted over on Mint's Launchpad site; just go to the main forum index page, scroll down to "Report Bugs", and click on the "Launchpad" link. Do a search and add your info.

@Michael: The legacy USB option is available and already activated. I don't have the PnP OS option or anything like it. Not sure about the BIOS... I'll have to check it, but I figured the Toshiba update utility would have picked up on it when I run it under Win7. I'll have to figure out the actual manufacturer, see if there's a non-Toshiba update available.