Mouse/Keyboard no dice = Confused freshman is screwed

[dunner101]

How we doin. First post, first time on the site...which is brutal because I should know better than to try and be a hero and 'fix' my computer. I posted in the General Forum because I didn't know where else to place this exactly, so my bad on anything.

The problem I got for you fine people tonight is this:

My Compaq Presario '5004CA' 5000 Series has a problem. The mouse and keyboard inputs do not work anymore. They do not respond when I loadup. They have worked fine for 4 years. The only reason that I can come up with was last night I was in a hurry to get out and grab a pint when I noticied the mouse adapter was out of the green input. So when I placed it back in I stumbled over some laundry and I guess it might have took the blunt of the fall and damaged the input somewhat.

So anyways since my mouse has a 'slendor vertical' end to it (sorry on the half-arse computer vocab) and the green input has a round thing for you to insert your mouse in, I purchased one of those splitter guys before and it did the job. So I figured I had damaged the splitter when I had stumbled. I did damage the splitter and I replaced it with a new one but no dice, the mouse and keyboard still weren't responding.

So I'm at a loss. It's probably something inside the computer which = hardware which therefore = $$$ which I am dry of.

Did I totally damage the mouse/keyboard inputs and its units inside the computer?

or...

ya, that's pretty much I'll I've come up with.

If I did damage the unit, how much will I have to dish out in order to repair it to have the mouse/keyboard working normally again.

[blue60007]

Have you tried another mouse and/or keyboard?

[Stuey]

Have you rebooted the computer before reattaching the mouse/keyboard?

[dunner101]

Yes and yes.

I have tried a different mouse and still the same situation; likewise with the reboot.

Although, I should point out that during the loadup process when I startup the computer, and before the main windows XP window hits, the red light on the mouse the goes on when the 'skinny vertical' adaptor is put into the slot where the printer is. Though there are two slots, one for the printer, and one for the mouse (I guess) it does respond during startup but does not respond when the computer is finished loading.

The cursor is just in the middle of the screen and nothing else.

Preciate the help, tho.

[Stuey]

I don't know what to tell ya. I suppose there's the chance that you popped a pin or something.

Worst case scenario: get a cheap wireless setup that will connect via USB.

[dunner101]

Thanks Stuey.

I'll take care of the wireless purchase towmorrow and get back to you all.

Anyone else with suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated cause I'm going loco here.

[Dephin -PC-]

the red light on the mouse the goes on when the 'skinny vertical' adaptor is put into the slot where the printer is. Though there are two slots, one for the printer, and one for the mouse

I assume that it is a USB mouse going into round convertor which plugs into the default mouse connection (round) on the back of the computer correct??

So what is he talking about when he says he can plug it into the printer slot?? Is he using a printer that has a USB connection as well??

If this is the case and he is talking about having a USB mouse with a green convertor... Don't purchase a wireless set yet... Can you disconnect the green round connector and plug the mouse straight into the computer via a USB port (skinny vertical or horizontal slot)?? IF that doesn't work then buying a wireless set-up will be a waste of money...

[dunner101]

Yeah a buddy of mine said pretty much the same thing to me as Dephin has previously stated.

Another question comes to mind.

That same friend of mine said that you could connect two computers to one monitor without having to use the messed up mouse/keyboard slot on my computer.

Is that possible?

[Dephin -PC-]

Yes it's possible... You have to look into buying a KVM switch... I actually just did the opposite... Took one tower (computer) and connected two monitors, keyboards, and mice to it so two people could use the computer at different places... My switch was a Reverse KVM Switch...

Back to the problem though, do they still not work when you plug them directly to the USB ports?? (skinny horizontal or vertical slots)??

If they wont work in the USB slots AND wont work in the regular round connection with the green (mouse) or keyboard (purple) convertor then I don't believe it's a connection problem... And you said that you tried a different mouse/keyboard and they still dont work which means it's not your mouse/keyboard...

If that's the case then I believe it's gotten more technical then simply buying some quick cheap fix... hopefully I'm wrong...