PS/2 type keyboard with purple end plug will not work on newer desktop with windows 7.

Keyboards connect several ways. Older systems use a PS/2 connector (round) that plugs into the purple/gray jack on the back of the computer. The mouse plugs into the green jack next to it.
If you have a USB keyboard, it plugs into any USB slot.
PS/2 connections must be made with the computer off. USB connections work any time. If one slot doesn't work, try another.
If the keyboard doesn't work, try another.

first is it a ps/2 keyboard or usb if it is a ps/2 there is spot that is colored purple on the back u need to plug it in there and if it is usb u need to plug it into a usb spot and after you do either of the two u need to restart the desktop to have it work

OK! Lets troubleshoot this together.

First thing we want to do is verify that your keyboard & mouse and plugged into the correct places and are powered up and able to work.

Turn your computer on and look at your keyboard and tell me if any lights are on to show that it has power and is operational.

Watch the keyboard lights until the computer gets to the login page and tell me if the lights come on and stay on? Or do the lights turn on for a moment and then turn off again?

If you do not see any lights, please clarify if there are NO LIGHTS on your style of keyboard or if there are lights but they are not lighting up.

If your keyboard has lights and they are not lighting up at all, then turn off the computer and unplug the mouse and keyboard and swap them around. Then turn the computer on again and tell me if the lights come on and the mouse and keyboard become operational.

Once we verify this we can continue to the next step of troubleshooting. Please report what you find and I will help you solve this.

If the Dell keyboard is a USB keyboard you can use it with a Mac. Just plug it into one of the Mac's USB ports. The keys are different (the Dell doesn't have the special Mac symbols so you'll have to get used to which keys do what) but it will work. (In fact I'm using a generic USB keyboard on my eMac here at work.)

If the Dell keyboard is a standard PS/2 style round plug you're out of luck. There's no place to plug in that style keyboard on a Mac.

First rule out drivers
- remove the keyboard driver and instruct windows to reinstall the driver

Next check for hardware issues
1. Plug this keyboard into another PC to see if the same problem persists
2. If the problem does occur it is the keyboard (get a new one if that is the case)
3. If the problem does occur then it is not the keyboard it is the port that u are plugging it into.

IS IT USB?
4. If it is a USB Keyboard, plug it into another USB port
5. If the problem persists on all USB ports on the system board, then the problem is the USB ports only IFF the keyboard works fine on another system in other USB ports

Is it PS/2?
If it is not a USB keyboard and it is a PS/2 board, again, and it works fine on another PC, then you have a defective PS/2 port on the system board.

Solution
Get a PCI card with USB ports and install it. Plug ur keyboard into that.

What type of connector have you got on your keyboard. Is it USB or the older PS/2 type (round 6 pin purple thing?)

USB keyboards can be problematic when working with the BIOS. It is usually possible to enable a setting in the BIOS setup pages to enable them to work but, as you've probably guessed!) you need a PS/2 type keyboard to allow you to make the changes in the first place!

The other option is to by a PS/2 to USB adaptor. They should be available from any good computer shop.

Hope this helps!

What type of keyboard are you using? Is it a PS/2 or USB type of keyboard? If it's a PS/2 keyboard (with round purple connector), you may need to restart the computer after connecting it to the computer. But if it's a USB keyboard, there's no need to restart the computer because USB is just a Plug-n-Play device.

You need to isolate the problem. If you're using a USB keyboard, try connecting the keyboard into different USB port of thecomputer. Or try different computer to see if the keyboard is still functioning or not.

If you got the same problem after pertorming some test, it's better to consult the computer manufacturer for second opinion.

Good luck!

Your computer should recognize a USB keyboard. Go for it.
Squido

The buttons on the top (silver) are linked to your "Favorites" folder in Internet Explorer.

The buttons to the right of that are used for your media player (To skip tracks and adjust volumes, play pause etc)

The buttons on the left (from top to bottom) are:

1) My documents folder will open
2) MSN or Windows Live! Messenger will open
3) Your E-Mail will open (whatever your default email program is)
4) Calculator Opens
5) Windows Update will open

Now... In order for these you HAVE to have the drivers installed. If you didn't get a CD with your keyboard, you can download the drivers directly from Microsoft here:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=MK

Just fill in the drop-downs and press "Go", it should show you a link the the exact driver you need to install. Once it's been installed you can set up your favorites with the software that it installs.

what is the connection type of your keyboard? is it PS/2 or USB?

well, if your keyboard is a PS/2 type, there might be a problem with the PS/2 keyboard port, because you've said that it works well with your other PC.

if your using a USB type of keyboard, well try to check if your SYSTEM BIOS supports USB Keyboards. because there are some PC doesnt supports USB keyboard on its BIOS. if it supports, well, enable the USB Devices on your BIOS settings to ON.