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Start by connecting the keyboard directly to a rear USB port on the motherboard, bypassing any hub, extension, or case-front port. Try another rear port, then test the keyboard on a computer that works. If it fails there too, the keyboard or its cable is the likelier problem; if it works elsewhere, continue checking the original PC’s USB ports and startup behavior.
First distinguish no power from power but no input. If the keyboard has indicator lights and they illuminate, it is receiving at least some power; key presses that do not register point to a different issue than a keyboard with no lights. Lights alone do not establish that the motherboard is faulty.
Check the keyboard and USB connection first
- Confirm the PC is on and has started. Note whether it reaches the operating system, shows a picture, or displays motherboard debug indicators or beep codes. A keyboard symptom alongside no boot or no display may be part of a broader startup problem.
- Reconnect and inspect the keyboard. Unplug it, then firmly reconnect it. Look for visible damage to the plug, accessible cable, and USB port. Do not force the connector or open a powered system.
- Remove intermediary connections. Connect the keyboard directly to a rear motherboard USB port, with no hub, extension, or case-front port in the path. Try another rear port as well. MSI recommends connecting a USB device directly rather than through an expansion connection and checking for port or cable damage (MSI USB-device troubleshooting).
- Test the keyboard on another working computer. MSI’s instruction is: “Try to insert this USB device to a computer that is working normally.” If the keyboard also fails there, its cable or the keyboard itself is a leading suspect. If possible, connect a known-good USB keyboard to the original PC to compare.
If you cannot borrow a keyboard for that comparison, a known-good wired USB keyboard can serve as a diagnostic substitute; buying one is not necessary if you can use another device or computer.
Use the test results to narrow down the cause
| What you observe | What it suggests | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| The keyboard fails on another working computer, too. | The keyboard or its cable may be at fault. | Try a different keyboard on the original PC, if available. |
| The keyboard works on another computer but not on this PC. | The problem is more likely in this PC’s USB connection path, port, or startup behavior than in the keyboard. | Test several direct rear motherboard ports and bypass hubs or front-panel connections. |
| It works in the operating system but not during startup or BIOS access. | This is a startup-input or BIOS-access symptom; it does not by itself show that the keyboard lacks power. | Check the motherboard manual for model-specific boot and USB behavior. |
| It is unlit or unavailable only during sleep or after shutdown. | The relevant USB power behavior may depend on the PC’s power state and motherboard model. | Identify the exact state and consult the board manual for settings that apply to it. |
| The PC also will not boot normally or show video. | The keyboard issue may be one symptom of a whole-system startup failure. | Follow the system or motherboard maker’s no-boot/no-display troubleshooting steps. |
If the keyboard fails only during startup or BIOS access
If it works after the operating system loads but does not let you enter BIOS, do not treat that alone as proof of missing USB power. MSI advises confirming that the keyboard is connected and functioning; fast boot or an improper BIOS configuration can also affect BIOS access. Menu names and available options vary by motherboard, so check the manual for the exact model. Avoid resetting CMOS as an initial step.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
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If the lights go off during sleep or shutdown
Power behavior can differ between normal operation, sleep, and shutdown. Check the motherboard manual for the specific state where the lights turn off rather than assuming a setting applies universally. For example, ASRock documents a Deep Sleep option that turns USB power off under S5 shutdown (ASRock Deep Sleep FAQ); its separate guidance addresses keyboard and mouse lights that remain on after shutdown (ASRock keyboard and mouse lights FAQ). A shutdown-related setting does not, by itself, explain a keyboard that has no power while the PC is running.
If the whole PC will not boot or display
When there is no display or the computer does not start normally, troubleshoot the system rather than treating the keyboard as an isolated fault. ASUS’s no-display/no-boot guidance includes removing external USB devices and testing a minimal configuration (ASUS no-display and no-boot troubleshooting).
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When to contact the manufacturer
Contact the motherboard or system manufacturer if multiple known-good keyboards fail on several direct USB ports while the PC otherwise runs, or if you can see damage to a port. Those symptoms do not identify one universal cause, so provide the exact model and describe which ports and keyboards you tested.
Quick Recap
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