Windows 11 setup with no working keyboard!


RPmtl

Member
Local time
5:59 AM
Posts
5
OS
Windows 11 / 10 Dual-Boot
I bought a refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad from a "Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher" for a friend whose Win10 laptop died. The new laptop is now running fine. But getting things started hit a wall when the installer requested I type a PIN and the laptop's keyboard was not working and the installer insisted I enter something. I then attached an external keyboard and it did not work. The laptop has only USB-C and USB-3 inputs so there was no USB-2 that might work without special drivers. I tried the onscreen keyboard and it did not work.

I solved it by enabling Voice Typing (an Accessibility option available during setup) and it WORKED :-) I was able to get a PIN entered and the setup finished successfully. Once Windows 11 was running everything worked. But I wonder how many people would have just sent the laptop back for a refund thinking it was broken. Not a good introduction to Microsoft's newest OS...

Just thought I would share the Voice Typing workaround in case it's not been suggested before.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 / 10 Dual-BootIntel Core Ultra 9 285K96GB Crucial ProGeForce RTX 4070
OS
Windows 11 / 10 Dual-Boot
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom Build
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Motherboard
Asus ProArt Z890-CREATOR WIFI
Memory
96GB Crucial Pro
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce RTX 4070
Hard Drives
3x 1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2
PSU
Corsair AX850
Case
Lian Li PC-B10
Cooling
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Keyboard
Das Keyboard Pro 6
I'll remember that.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 25H2Intel Core™ i7-1165G7 (4C / 8T, 2.8 / 4.7GHz,...12GB Soldered DDR4-3200Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga 7 14ITL5 (82BH00DLUS)
    CPU
    Intel Core™ i7-1165G7 (4C / 8T, 2.8 / 4.7GHz, 12MB)
    Memory
    12GB Soldered DDR4-3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" FHD (1920x1080) IPS 300nits Glossy, 72% NTSC, AGC Dragontrail™ Glass, Touch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SSD
    Case
    Aluminum
    Cooling
    Single-fan
    Keyboard
    Backlit, internal
    Mouse
    Logitech M535
    Internet Speed
    With this laptop I usually test around 200/200 connected to UniFi UAP-AC-PRO ceiling units.
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Security and my brain.
    Other Info
    I use this laptop mainly from my recliner. It's purpose is scheduling computer and TV services, closing TV work orders, remote customer support, research and recreation.

    Printers in the office room on my main floor were both acquired from business customers who upgraded equipment, had me handle the upgrade and then haul away the replaced hardware. I have not purchased a printer for myself in 15 years.

    Main: HP LaserJet P3010 (black & white, hardwired, networked)
    Aux: HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw (color laser, fax, hardwired, networked)

    Internet in my house is routed through a TP-Link AC3200 with radios disabled. Wireless access points are two (2) strategically-located UniFi UAP-AC-PRO ceiling units which cover my whole house including basement and front/back yards. Netgear gigabit switches and CAT6 cabling are used for wired purposes.
  • At a glance

    Windows 10 22H2Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz16 GB DDR3Intel(R) HD Graphics 2500
    Operating System
    Windows 10 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 3010
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER KG271 (x2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    WD 500GB SSD
    Keyboard
    Old Dell wireless
    Mouse
    Old Dell wired
    Internet Speed
    500/500
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Security and my brain
    Other Info
    This computer was acquired from a customer who cleaned out her office. I upgraded it and now use it in my downstairs computer-repair office.

    My home office printer is an old HP LaserJet 3015. I acquired this after a customer passed away and his wife sold their house and downsized. She gave me all his equipment. I still help her with her tech issues.
You might need to load a driver with Windows setup such as a serial IO driver. If you supply the exact the model of the system, I would be happy to do a little research into this.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro 25H2 (RTM+)Intel i7-14650HX32 GBNo GPU - Built-in Intel Graphics
    OS
    Win11 Pro 25H2 (RTM+)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acemagic
    CPU
    Intel i7-14650HX
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - Built-in Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Varies as machine will often be moved to locations with different monitors
    Screen Resolution
    Varies
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB Gen 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    120W Power Brick
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 Max RGB Magnetic Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro 25H2 (RTM+)Intel i7-1255U16 GBIntel Iris Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro 25H2 (RTM+)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor
Everything's working fine now and Voice Typing got me over the hump, thanks. There was a time (Win3.1, Win95, XP, Win7, Win10?) when one would be prompted to load drivers during the setup and that was usually for network adapters to connect online. But this modern Windows 11 install connected just fine (Ethernet cable) and proceeded to "download and install drivers". So one would expect that whatever was appropriate for a 4-year old Lenovo would get installed during the setup ... especially a keyboard driver!! Really??? An install process on a major PC maker's hardware should not have problems like this. Just came to whine and complain <g> ... but I thought Voice Typing was a good workaround that might be worth sharing :-)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 / 10 Dual-BootIntel Core Ultra 9 285K96GB Crucial ProGeForce RTX 4070
OS
Windows 11 / 10 Dual-Boot
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom Build
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Motherboard
Asus ProArt Z890-CREATOR WIFI
Memory
96GB Crucial Pro
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce RTX 4070
Hard Drives
3x 1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2
PSU
Corsair AX850
Case
Lian Li PC-B10
Cooling
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Keyboard
Das Keyboard Pro 6
The only driver I ever needed to install during a clean install was the iRST driver on the very beginning of the install. Never saw a computer that keyboard was not working during OOBE installation.
Something wasn't done correctly on the refurbish shop.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP 64 - Lubuntui5 6600K - 800MHz to 4400MHz4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000IG - Intel 530
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP 64 - Lubuntu
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom build
    CPU
    i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4400MHz
    Motherboard
    GA-Z170-HD3P
    Memory
    4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG - Intel 530
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    (1) -1 SM951 – 128GB M.2 AHCI PCIe SSD drive for Win 11
    (2) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for Data
    (3) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for backup
    (4) -1 BX500 SSD - 256G for Windows 7 and Lubuntu
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W TR2 gold
    Keyboard
    Old and good Chicony mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech mX performance - 9 buttons (had to disable some)
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7-4500U 800- 3000MHz(4+4)G DDR3 1600IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Q550LF
    CPU
    i7-4500U 800- 3000MHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Q550LF
    Memory
    (4+4)G DDR3 1600
    Graphics card(s)
    IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Display LP156WF4-SPH1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    BX500 120G SSD for Windows and programs
    & 1T HDD for data
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64

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