USB Ports Turned Off No Keyboard or Mouse Function

Ok So I am a bone head and tried to fix a problem on my machine by turning off the USB ports. This fixed me alright since now I don't have a working USB mouse or keyboard. I also don't have a PS2 port to plug a PS2 devise into. I am working on a Dell Deminsions E310 with Window's XP. How do I get back into my machine to turn the port back on??? The machine boots fine but I can't move around to do anything without the mouse and keyboard as input devices.

 

Are you able to get into the BIOS (F2 at the Dell splash screen)? If so, then the USB ports are "only" disabled in Windows, so this should be correctable.

Assuming they are disabled only in Windows, try pressing F8 just after the Dell splash screen, but before the "Windows is starting up" screen. You should get an option to start in Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, if it lets you use the keyboard/mouse, use System Restore (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore) to reload the registry settings from the most recent check point (assuming it is from before the problem started).

If that doesn't work, or if you are not able to get into the BIOS, let me know and I will see if there are any other options.


Larry
Dell Customer Advocate