SuSE Linux: Version 7.0
This article refers to an older version of SuSE Linux.
Therefore some of the informations given in this article may
be outdated or the article may contain stale links.
Kernel: Version 2.2.16
The keyboard worked during the installation with YaST2. After a reboot this isn't the fact anymore. You don't have any possibilities to do some configurations (loading modules etc.) yet, because your keyboard isn't functioning any more.
Some needed modules to run an USB-keyboard aren't loaded automatically.
Because you can't type in anything under Linux yet, you must boot your system using a small detour.
Therefore please insert CD1 and change the boot sequence in your BIOS that way, so you can boot from CD-ROM.
Please also check, if USB is activated.
After YaST2 has been started, your keyboard should be usable again. Please click option "Abort installation",
confirm this again with "Abort installation" and thus quit YaST2. Then you are in the YaST1 menu. Here please choose
the following menu options:
-> Start installation / system
-> Boot installed system
You will be asked for the root-partition, which should to be booted. If you chose automatic partitioning at the
installation, this will be the third partition of the assigned hard disk.
In this case the root-partition will be typed in as follows:
/dev/hdx3
Whereas you have to read x as:
a - master at 1. IDE-Controllersu
Now you will be asked for your root-password.
To run an USB keyboard, the following modules are necessary:
keybdev
hid
input
usbcore
usb-uhci oder usb-ohci
Now please load the file /etc/rc.config.d/usb.rc.config into an editor of your choise, e.g. pico:
pico /etc/rc.config.d/usb.rc.config
Please search for the entry USB_HCI= and make sure, that the entry looks as follows:
USB_HCI="auto"
If there's also an entry specifying usb-uhci or usb-ohci, you can certainly let it this way.
If the setting to auto is causing problems, please type in either usb-uhci or usb-ohci.
Then go to the entry USB_DRIVERS= and modify the entry like:
USB_DRIVERS="keybdev input hid"
The modules usb-keyboard and mouse are entered here by default. Please delete these modules from this line,
because you can't use them under SuSE Linux 7.0.
But if there are already some other needed modules specified at USB_DRIVERS (e.g. usbmouse for an USB-mouse and/or
acm for an USB-modem), please don't delete them! In the case your using an USB-mouse and an USB-keyboard, the entry
would be look like e.g.:
USB_DRIVERS="keybdev mousedev input hid"
All single modules have to be separated from each other by a blank space.
Please save the file and reboot your PC. Please remember either to take out the CD out of the drive or change the boot
sequence once again.
After the restart your USB-keyboard should now work again.
If you just want to change to an USB-keyboard, you still have your existing (PS/2)-keyboard for configuration.
So you mustn't take the detour via YaST2 and you can edit the file directly. If it's a different type of keyboard,
e.g. you want to change a US-keyboard to a german one, you should also change the keyboard type with SaX/SaX2.