My Computer Keyboard Often Needs Reinsertion or Rebooting

My computer keyboard (PS/2 ) often stops working while I'm using the PC (Pentium 4 Celeron in ATX Tower Casing).  When this happens, I would have to remove the keyboard from the PS/2 socket and insert it back to get it to work.  That's annoying.

At other times, when I've just booted up my PC, I discover that neither the PS/2 mouse nor the keyboard are responding, so I'll have to shut down with the power button (thank goodness I use an ATX case) wait for a few seconds and then switch the PC back on.  This is more annoying.

The worst thing that happens is when I'm working and the speaker suddenly starts making a rapid beeping sound.  Then both the keyboard and mouse would stop working and I have to restart the PC and lose all my work.  This is the most annoying aspect of the problem.

So is this something I can fix by simply changing my keyboard, or would this require new keyboard and mouse adapters for the motherboard?  Is it safe to clean with alcohol or oil and would it help?

@ Seun, the only scenerio when your PC's keyboard would stop working, is when the keyboard (PS/2) connector to the PC is not conneted properly. Hence, you should connect it firmly to the PC. You should check around if the table carrying your keyboard and mouse cables to the PC are not too far away, hence this might be the cause of the problem.

Since your keyboard and mouse are PS/2 and not parrallel ports, u don't have to reboot your PC for it to see this peripherals. Simply removing and re-inserting would solve this problem. It's not that strenious.

On the problem you are having with the speaker, guess this might be caused when you cause any partial contact on the source supplying power,often caused when you apply force on the outlet. If this happens,it causes static to the systemboard hence communication to the peripherals tends to cease.

I don't think changing the keyboard going to help yah as it doesn't look like a keyboaard problem to me. You only clean your mouse with Methylated Spirit and not oil, if you suspect it to be dirty.

IF it happens again.. no need changing yor mouse or keyboard.. just need to disassemble your PC and make some servicing.. on it and clean everthing with a blower machine.. including the motherboard and the adpater cards.. and re-assemble back. probably there is conflict somewhere.

Can't be driver conflict. Hardware issues. First do the alcohol thing and if that doesn't work, disassemble the system. It'd work I guarantee you.

Change the language settings. You are currently on British. If you are using Windows XP, check the tray near the clock, you should see a small box written 'EN'. Click it and change from English (UK) to English (US).

how old are your mice and keyboard?

You may want to take a look at their pins, and female connectors on your pc.  Clean up dust, etc.

The PS/2 protocol has peripherals perform a BAT (basic assurance test) and then report success to the host device.  At which point, the host device resets them and the sets up the parameters for use.  If BOTH your keyboard and mouse are failing, either both are no longer working properly, or there is something impeding the signal transfer between them.  Enough dirt on the data pin or clock pin is enough to screw stuff up.  If that is indeed the problem, it also explain why it sometimes works when you unplug and plug back it, you probably scrape off enough of the stuff to make a good connection.

That was what you needed then