need advice/help

[Nathan Aubrey]

(1) You must have USB emulation turned on or the system will not allow you to 
use the USB keyboard until a USB driver is loaded. If you cannot access your 
BIOS you will have to use a PS2 keyboard, though most BIOS' will run the USB 
keyboard until they are finished posting then they disable emulation allowing 
the USB driver to take over. Try turning on the machine while holding down F1 
or pounding Esc, F1, F2 and Del all at the same time. It might let you into 
the BIOS.

(2) Some USB systems will flake out during a Windows XP install. Try getting 
the install running and once the fancy window loads up and runs the install 
(the part after the blue screen where you format the drives) remove the USB 
keyboard and see if it works. It will also be affected by the USB emulation.