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Can't install: keyboard doesn't work at "Who are you" screen

CompleteSkeptic

Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:09:26 pm

Hi all,

Downloaded and burned Zorin 12.1 core 64 ISO. Tried to install.
Got stuck at the "Who are you?" screen because no characters
show up when I type on keyboard. Keyboard is good (since you
can read this).

Searched here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=keyboar ... m+OR+error)+site:zoringroup.com/forum

It's an old keyboard going through a KVM switch but works with
lots of live Linux CDs, FreeBSD and of course, Winblows.

Any ideas?

Swarfendor437

Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:39:17 pm

Hi Please read this post on ubuntu forums on KVM:

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php ... st13552582

CompleteSkeptic

Sun Mar 19, 2017 6:52:52 pm

Thanks for your reply, Swarfendor437.

I did take a look at that post, but didn't find any easy solution to
the problem of the keyboard not working.

In the past few days, I tried to install various Linux distributions:

Zorin 9, 10, 11, & 12.1
Linux Mint
Elementary OS

None of these would allow the keyboard to work, nor let me fully
install the distro.

I was able use the keyboard to install FreeBSD 10.1. I was also able to
do the same with various Windows-based boot/diagnostics disks.

So, I suspect the problem lies in the common installation code of
these Linux distributions. Until the installer code is fixed, I won't
be able to install any of these newer Linux distros.

Can anyone point me in the direction of this installer code?

I guess for now, I'll just have to install Windows since I have a project
that is time sensitive.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Swarfendor437

Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:04:56 pm

MBMz10

Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:40:19 am

Not sure if this helps you or not but I was able to install Zorin 12.1 without using keyboard from the live desktop. After reading your post I decided to give it a try just for a challenge. Whether your KB works once installed I have no idea but steps below if you want to give it a shot.

I assume your mouse works as it seems you got part way through the install process when you discovered no KB.
Was going to suggest using 'on screen keyboard' but after attempting this myself I couldn't figure out how to make it stay on screen and it only seemed to appear when I pressed the Menu (Swafy??) however I did manage to install by using on screen KB the follow way.

Boot Zorin up to the live environment, click the icon next to the clock go to settings (the cog), Zorin Appearance, choose the far right hand side "layout' close that window, next while still in Settings main window, Universal Access and scroll down to "Typing" turn on Screen Keyboard exit Settings and start the Installer.

When text input is required, click the Activities menu top left corner and click into the search field that appears top middle of screen and the KB should appear at the bottom, type your name then double click it to select the text and right click to 'copy' , click Activities menu to close it and right click and 'paste' into name field etc, if an unwanted 'computer name' appears just triple (3) click and then paste over it.

As I mentioned this was just a personal challenge to see if I could do it as in the past I have had some very unusual problems and even stranger solutions to them. The reason for changing the "Zorin Appearance" is the default menu blocks part of the keyboard. ;)

UglyStuff

Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:35:02 am

Hi,

Just adding my two cents here because I was faced with the same problem when attempting to install Zorin Lite 15.2 on a 2006 MacBook Pro, and I noticed after several attemps that my Num Lock key (F6 on an Apple laptop keyboard) was lit, and num-lock was therefore activated. After the desktop was fully displayed, I pressed the F6 key (in my case), the green LED turned off, and sure enough my keyboard was fully functional...