Mac Mini fails to recognise Microsoft 600 USB keyboard intermittantly

I just did as you told me to and it keeps working badly.

But Hey! There're good news: I've made it work. Just swap the keyboard and mouse plugs.

So, seeing the usb ports in front and counting from left to right the order is as follows:
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Free
4. Free

What's causing this behavior - Can someone technically explain it to us?

Are there other Mac Mini's owners having the same issue when its mouse (apple & non-apple) is on the first position of the USB ports?

Bad keyboard.

This is not a bad keyboard situation. I bought 25 sets of the Microsoft 600 USB Keyboard and Mouse combo to go with 25 Mac Mini's in a school library. I'm having this same issue on every on of them.

I have 10.6.3 installed AND the Microsoft Intellipoint 7.1 "driver" installed.

This problem happens prior to being in the OS - it's right at the log in screen. Sometimes I get no keyboard, sometimes no mouse. I have to reach around back and unplug them and plug them back in. It then works fine. Other than the keyboard functions not being 100% normal - for example, the Num Lock key functions like it's down all the time, but no light is on.

Not sure what the issue is really. I can use a Dell Keyboard and Mouse just fine - but this series from Microsoft seems to have a driver issue.

as1776 wrote:
... this series from Microsoft seems to have a driver issue.

you might want to check out _*USB Overdrive*_.

J GG

This keyboard may have problems with other computers as well. See this review from newegg.com:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=23-109-077&SortField=0&Sum maryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&Vendor Mark=&Page=1&Keywords=

"Garbage
+Pros: It is structured all right and would be fine if not for the having to unplug/plug issue.+
+Cons: The keyboard needs to be unplugged every resume and some reboots to be recognized on windows XP, works fine on Linux. Microsoft knowledge base hinted at it being a motherboard issue, but linux handles it fine, and shouldn't the OS reinit USB devices on restore? Previous USB keyboard worked fine."+

And another (non-Mac) user who is having problems getting this keyboard recognized:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/p/19328617/19682322.a spx#19682322

The keyboard may have a problem, but I'm having the same problem with ALL usb devices plugged into my 2009 Mini - and I'm using an old Apple ADB mouse & keyboard with a usb adapter. It's as if the usb port blinks off and back on. The mouse tracking speed changes to the default setting and I have to replug it to get back to my own setting. Worse, it's been telling my APC UPS to turn off my peripherals. This really ***** when I'm recording to my FW800 drive in Logic! I unplugged the UPS from the USB, and it stopped. But I lost a an important feature that I paid good $ for. Also, no usb device seems to work thru a hub anymore. I never had these problems with my 2005 Mini. I'll post this to a new thread. But it'd be nice to hear from you all, as to whether your issue is really limited to the MS keyboard.

+I'll post this to a new thread. But it'd be nice to hear from you all, as to whether your issue is really limited to the MS keyboard.+

New thread is a good idea -- and recommended forum etiquette. I'll respond to your particular issues there.

Hi, I've bought a Microsoft Wired Desktop 600 ( http://bit.ly/9M3cHa) and I'm having the same issues with the mouse: Must be unplugged and plugged everytime I start my 2010 Mac Mini when the login window arrives.

Already tried the IntelliPoint driver and USB Overdrive without success.

Sometimes when rebooting (instead of starting after a shutdown) the system, the mouse works.

Is there any deeper clue about what should be happening?

BTW, the keyboard works just fine with the IntelliType driver.

Thank you in advance,

Juan Hoyos

I correct... not "sometimes" when rebooting the system, the mouse works. Its always.

As a summary:
* If I shutdown, I must reconnect the mouse
* If I restart, the mouse just works

How can I check whats going on behind scenes? The log, says nothing at all.

Have you tried uninstalling the microsoft keyboard/mouse software? See if the problems go away without it.

Hi MacProCT, thanks for suggestion, but I've just uninstalled all Microsoft drivers and its still working as described.

BTW... there's no trace on the console about recognizing/plugging a USB device on any scenario (shutdown/restart). I should be missing something. Any clues?

Message was edited by: elhoyos

Try disabling CPU sleep and see if the problem goes away. (CPU sleep is the first slider in the energy saver control panel)

Glad it's working.

I'm surprised none of has suggested that in this thread. Because we all certainly have at one time or another suggested it, in one of the dozens of other threads with folks saying " my keyboard / mouse doesn't work. "