Keyboard failure at boot cannot use F2, F8 or F12 keys

Hello, Do you mean your Keyboard? If those pf keys aren't working either power down pc and reseat the keyboard connection or replace the keyboard.
Without knowing or seeing exactly what you are trying to do, it is very hard to diagnose, you will need to take in too a repair shop and show them and they can help and fix. Sounds like maybe you have bios settings that aren't right or motherboard is bad.

F2 usually takes you to the BIOS setup screen, you need to hit the keys as soon as you power up.

F12 selects on a Dell instant boot menu to select booting from CD-ROM, USB, etc rather than the BIOS options.

F8 goes to safe mode start up for windows, this must be done before the windows logo comes up (ie when it is a black screen).

Control - Alt -Delete Keys together can be used any time, after windows boots as it tells it to re-boot the computer, back to start up.

F keys don't work on reboot. Work on Power on boot.

When powering on the F2 key will get me to Bios Setup, F8 key will get me to Safe Mode, and F12 key will let me change Boot Device. Everything is normal when up on XP operating system. If I reboot, None of the mentioned function keys work. Instead I get a message of a "Keyboard Failure", but system will come up OK. But, on the reboot, I want to use one of those function keys.
I have a DELL 2400 Dimension running Windows Home XP. I am using a Logitech EX-110 (Combo keyboard & mouse)
This seems very similar to another write up on this site.
Any ideas? Don't tell me to toggle the keyboard. I tried it with no positive results

The F keys are function keys. They are basically shortcuts to common functions such as F1 in most applications will open a Help screen. Most browsers use F11 or F12 to go to Full Screen. Most of the keys have no function assigned to them. Also, when booting up, pressing and holding F5 will provide boot options such as Safe Mode to diagnose problems.

ESC (Escape) on the keyboard should be the Boot Menu key, means you have to tap the ESC key once you press the power button to switch on the Machine and select the boot device from the options available.

If ESC key doesn't work, then try F2 or F8 or F12 (these are all the boot menu keys for Asus motherboards and Laptops).

Let me know if you need further help, but with more details about your problem.

Good Luck.
Thanks.

its possible that the Function keys on the top of your keyboard aren't working.

Turn off the computer and disconnect the keyboard from the computer and then plug the keyboard back in.

If the keyboard function keys still aren't working then the keyboard needs to be replaced.

Just for your info, to boot up off the cd you would either go into the BIOS by pressing F10 or F11 on your keyboard and then change the boot sequence so that the CD Rom is the first boot device.

You can also press F12 to go into the boot menu and choose the cd-rom directly from there.

Turn your computer off.
Temporarily replace your keyboard/mouse with "generic" units.
Turn your computer on.
Check that the F-keys work.
Restart.
Now, do the F-keys work correctly?
Or, do you still get "keyboard failure"?

It is because of the "Function Key" It needs to be enabled for thenm to work. :))

Sounds like your hard drive is not booting and that your keyboard isn't responding to your pressing F2 and F12. If you can locate a USB external keyboard or if you have a round PS2 port for an external keyboard/mouse - plug into the laptop with that then press F12 while the computer is booting, press it a few times to be sure you get it in the buffer - then the boot manager should show up. If it does, choose to boot the Hard Drive if available - same with pressing F2 - Setup or Bios CMOS Settings should be displayed, here you can try to boot from the Hard Drive or Check to see if the hard drive is being recognized or not.

You may need a new keyboard if your laptop keyboard doesn't get you into either menu, and to either make sure your hard drive is responding and can be set to be the default boot device.