JSI Tip 2694. Your Mouse/Keyboard has ceased to function properly after installing the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro drivers on Windows 2000?

When you install Windows 2000 on a computer that has the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro, some of the Internet, multimedia, e-mail, and programmed hotkeys at the top of the keyboard do not work.

If you right click on My Computer and Press Manage / Device Manager / Keyboards, this device is listed as a Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard.

If you use Control Panel / Keyboard / Hardware / Properties / Driver / Update Driver / Display.../ show all... and select Microsoft and the Natural Keyboard Pro driver, you receive:

Installing this device driver is not recommended because Windows cannot verify that it is compatible with your hardware.
If the driver is not compatible, your hardware will not function correctly and your computer might become unstable or stop working completely. Do you want to continue installing this driver ?

If you press Yes, the drivers are loaded. When you restart, the keyboard and mouse cease to function.

The Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro driver is intended for the USB version of the keyboard, even though the keyboard had a PS/2 and USB connector.

To fix the problem, first try the Last Known Good Configuration by pressing F8 on the boot menu. If this doesn't work, try one of the following:

Recovery Console

Boot the Recovery Console. Change to the %SystemRoot%System32Drivers folder and rename Kbdhid.sys to Kbdhid.org. Copy I8042prt.sys to Kbdhid.sys. When you restart, logon as an administrator and reinstall the Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard driver.

NOTE: Install the latest full Microsoft IntelliType Pro version that supports the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro on Windows 2000.

NOTE: You may not have mouse functionality until you reload the correct keyboard driver and restart the computer.

Remotely edit the registry

NOTE: If your computer is not a domain member, map a drive:

net use * \remote_computer_nameIPC$ /user:administrator

From a Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0 installation, run Regedt32. On the Registry menu, Press Select Computer and enter the name of the 'broken' computer. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on SystemCurrentControlSetServicesi8042prt

Double-click the Start value name and change the data value to 0x1. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on SystemCurrentControlSetServiceskbdhid

and change the Start value to 0x4. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on SystemCurrentControlSetEnumACPIPNP03034&2658d0a0&0

and use Security / Permissions to grant the Everyone group Full Control on the 4&2658d0a0&0 key. After pressing Apply, double click the Service value name and change the string to i8042prt. Then re-select the 4&2658d0a0&0 key and remove the Full Control permissions that you had granted to the Everyone group. After pressing Apply, press Close on the Registry menu and Exit Regedt32.

Restart the 'broken' computer.

NOTE: Install the latest full Microsoft IntelliType Pro version that supports Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro on Windows 2000.

NOTE: If you use the PS/2 plug, this keyboard runs in USB mode only. If you only use the USB plug, the keyboard is both a USB hub and USB keyboard.