Windows doesn't have driver for Generic USB Keyboard

Question

For some reason, the Generic USB Keyboard driver was removed, literally, over night, from Windows.

Can someone that has Windows 7 and uses a USB Keyboard without any fancy drivers (i.e. uses Generic Windows USB Keyboard driver) go to

Device Manager>Keyboards>USB Keyboard>Properties>Driver>Driver Details

and post the name of the driver system files (for example "C:\Windows\system32\DRIVER\i8042prt.sys")?

Solution

First off, try a system restore.

If that doesn't help, this is a General Fix for USB Driver Problems

1. Unplug all USB devices except mouse and keyboard.

2. Click on Start orb, Type Advanced System settings in the search box and Click on View Advanced System Settings to go there.

3. Click on Advanced tab, Click on Environment Variables.

4. Under the window "System variables" Click on New.

5. Type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices as the variable name and type 1 as the value.

6. Click OK 3 times to close the windows.

7. Click on Start orb, Type Device Manager in the search box and Click on Device Manager in the list to go there.

8. Click on View, then Show hidden devices.

9. You will now notice that you have a list of USB devices and that some lines appear to be faded. Uninstall all the faded entries.

More detail and pictures form source: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165554-usb-driver-general-fix-problems.html

Comments

[Chris]

@DaveRook Post the name of the driver system files ... For example "C:\Windows\system32\DRIVER\i8042prt.sys"; this is used for PS/2 Keyboard. Or just take a picture of that window ...

[Chris]

@DaveRook Yes. Are this files for a generic USB keyboard driver?

[Chris]

@DaveRook Do you use a USB Keyboard? If yes, did you install any driver or did you just plugged it in and let Windows use it's own generic driver?

[Chris]

@DaveRook Yes, my Windows is broken. The files for the generic USB Keyboard driver are missing. I haven't tried Windows Repair, but from my experience it just brakes it even more (this is an old Windows 7 installation). All I want is the name of the files for the Generic USB Keyboard driver so I can manually copy them.

[and31415]

If a system driver disappeared all of sudden that could be a sign of file system corruption and/or hardware failure. Before doing anything, check your hard disk for errors and then run the System File Checker. Report back any error messages.

[Chris]

@and31415 Sfc didn't find any errors, and I was wrong, the driver files are not missing (bkdhid.sys and kbdclass.sys). It just doesn't load the correct driver for the USB device. In fact, I tested, and there are a bunch of them that don't work any more. Some work, some doesn't.

[Chris]

You are right, the driver files are not missing, it just doesn't recognize the USB device. After some testing there are actually a bunch of them that don't work any more. I tried your solution, but unfortunately it didn't work. I never really understood how Windows handle USB drivers.

[Dave]

@Chris, this is more 'common'. Does the keyboard show up in Device manager? It may be while uninstalling the keyboard from device manager, plugging it back in and letting it re-install it

[Chris]

Yes. It show under "Other devices" as "USB Keyboard" with the correct ids .. USB\VID_04D9&PID_1603. But it doesn't load any driver for it.

[Dave]

Can you explain what you mean by it doesn't load a driver for it please @Chris?

[Chris]

When I plug it in it shows that it detected the USB device, and it says that it's looking for a driver. AFter a while it says "No driver found."

[Dave]

@Chris try superuser.com/questions/464300/… and superuser.com/questions/619318/…

[Chris]

"C:\Windows\inf\usb.inf" was missing. I copied it from another machine and problem is solved. I wonder what removed it in the first place. You can add that link in your answer if you want. Thanks! That was spot on.

[Dave]

@Chris, glad it is solved for you :)

[Patricio]

As stated @Chris this works. I run a Windows x64 Ultimate, even i copied from an Enterprise edition. Thks!