First Boot, Cannot enter BIOS Please Help!

[bradm81]

This is my first build. I have assembled everything in the case, and when I first power up it goes to the initial BIOS screen where it reads of system components and says "Press DEL to enter Setup." I hit enter on my keyboard and nothing happens (even though the LED lights on my keyboard work). I called the MB manufacturer and they said it was probably a bad PS/2 connector so I sent it back and got a new one today. Re-installed everything and got the same exact problem. Arghh. It makes me think it was probably not the PS/2. Here's my parts:

MB: ECS C19-A SLI (1.0A) Socket T (LGA 775)
Video Card: ASUS EN6200TC TOP/TD/128M Geforce 6200TC
CPU: Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 533MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core
RAM: Aeneon 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax 10 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA133 Hard Drive - OEM (imported from my old PC)

This is depressing me. Any suggestions are hugely appreciated.

[bradm81]

I meant to mention that my keyboard is a 6 year-old Dell. I tried another one but it wasn't much newer. Not sure if that's part of the problem or not.

[craigap]

In your post you stated you hit "enter" when it says to press "delete" to enter setup. Is that a type-O, or are you hitting enter instead of delete?

[bradm81]

Typo. I've hit delete and probably every key on my keyboard.

[craigap]

Do you have a PS/2 to USB converter to try?
Did you install your O/S yet? Did the Keyboard work then?

[bradm81]

I don't have the PS/2 USB converter, do you think that would help?

The HD is old so at first had the OS installed (on my old pc, and the keyboard worked fine) but with this problem on my new machine I can't do anything. I have tried to clean the hard drive on my old machine.

[craigap]

I don't know if the adapter will make a difference or not, but if you have an O/S disc I'd say try to load it and go from there.
For what it's worth. I got a Dell keybaord from a friend and it wouldn't work at all on my HTPC. You said you tried another one. Was that a Dell keybaord? Maybe there's something funny with Dell Keyboards.

[bradm81]

Unfortunately, I don't have a floppy for my O/S (CD only) so I don't think there's any way I can make it boot from my CD drive since I can't enter BIOS.

I'm gonna see if I can get my hands on a different keyboard. I would be delighted if that's all that's wrong. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

[craigap]

You shouldn't need to enter the BIOS to load your O/S. If you have a CD Drive then just put in the CD and press any key to boot from Disc. At least that is what I think it should say. Just throw in the OS cd and try. Can't hurt.

[glc]

It's not wise starting an OS install until you have a working keyboard.

[bradm81]

glc, so do you think the most likely problem is just a bad/old keyboard?

Again it has worked no problem on my old pc and the LED lights on my keyboard still light up when its in my new machine.

[glc]

If it's not a bad keyboard, it's a bad motherboard. Try using the clear cmos jumper to clear out the bios, make sure you put it back in the correct position before powering up.

ECS is not noted for manufacturing quality products, by the way.

EDIT: Try doing it out of the case - follow this procedure and plug the keyboard in.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409