Keyboard not working during windows xp setup using bootcamp

While you did not specify what type of keyboard you were using I would only ask if you were using a USB connected keyboard and Mouse as per the Boot Camp instructions.

A wireless keyboard and mouse will not work at all during the installation of any version of Windows. They will only function after the complete installation process has been completed and the bluetooth keyboards have been discovered and paired.

Other than this I have no other ideas. I have installed XP, Vista, Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 RC without any keyboard issues. Pairing the bluetooth keyboard can be quite a task on Windows 7.

- Mike

Another possibility is that you're using an old Windows XP disc. I first had a problem detecting the HDD when I used an old one but then tried a Windows XP SP2 disc and everything went fine.

Same problem here. I think it is the older version of Windows. I'll try SP2 soon.

I had the same problem last year, I fixed it with an old school usb Windows generic keyboard, I think what was going on was simply that Windows needed the drivers for the fancy metal keyboard and was unable to detect the Apple keyboard during set up.

Plug in a generic USB keyboard from the start of the XP installation for the bits when you need to press F8, later in the install the Apple keyboard starts working. If not it will once you slot in the disc and the drivers install.

If you upgrade to XP SP3 you will need to upgrade Bootcamp to 2.1 on OSX first. Also if you're using remote webtools like logmein on XP you will need uninstall them first as for some reason to do with the Graphics card you cant upgrade to SP3 with these extra video drivers installed. That baby drove me mad for days.

Best of luck, and remember to install Boot Picker as looks better that telling people to hold down Alt to pick their OS.

Good and useful advice! I had the same problem. Windows will not recognize your Apple keyboard or internet settings before the Boot Camp drivers are installed. I used the keyboard from my old PC to get Windows to install. So use that old Windows keyboard one last time before getting rid of it. Then you will be free to leave the dark side!

Same exact thing happened to me after a fresh bootcamp install of Windows XP Pro SP2. Windows wouldn't even make my Apple Mouse light up red.

So, after restarting several times, and switching USB ports, I launched Parallels, which discovered the BootCamp partition, and then, miraculously, it launched a Windows Device Drivers app, which I think loaded the USB drivers, for after that, I could use the mouse and keyboard.

Good luck!

I had the same issue with an XP SP3 install, and solved it with a Windows USB keyboard, as well. It had to be a generic keyboard, not one with extra buttons. I tried using an HP media keyboard, but the computer didn't recognize it either. I had to use a generic keyboard. After that, worked like a champ. After installing the Boot Camp drivers, the Apple keyboard and mouse work great.

k9jri wrote:
A wireless keyboard and mouse will not work at all during the installation of any version of Windows. They will only function after the complete installation process has been completed and the bluetooth keyboards have been discovered and paired.

The wireless keyboard and mouse won't work after installing Windows either. Installed XP Pro and the mouse pairs and functions, until you try to Boot Camp back to Windows after running OS X. Then you have to plug in a USB mouse and pair the wireless mouse again. The alum wireless keyboard won't pair at all. Won't recognize any passkey at all. Windows sees the keyboard, then when you try to enter a passkey, it immediately says "Times up!" and fails. Do you have a solution for pairing the wireless keyboard under XP Pro?

parrotuya wrote:
Good and useful advice! I had the same problem. Windows will not recognize your Apple keyboard or internet settings before the Boot Camp drivers are installed. I used the keyboard from my old PC to get Windows to install. So use that old Windows keyboard one last time before getting rid of it. Then you will be free to leave the dark side!

Not true. I installed XP Pro SP2 using Boot Camp and my Apple USB Keyboard and Apple USB Mighty Mouse. They work fine under XP Pro before the Boot Camp Apple drivers are installed. You can't use a wireless keyboard during installation, and then you have problems trying to pair wireless devices afterwards too!