Immediate Physical Verification
The most common cause of this issue is not software-related but physical. When replacing a hard drive, it is easy to inadvertently disconnect internal cables or disturb the chassis layout. Before diving into complex software fixes, perform a systematic physical inspection. Ensure that the power cables for the new drive are securely seated in both the drive bay and the motherboard’s SATA or power connector. If you replaced a mechanical HDD with an SSD, verify that the SATA data cable is firmly attached to the correct port on the motherboard.
Next, check the external ports if you are using USB peripherals. Try plugging your mouse and keyboard into different USB ports. Avoid using USB hubs during the initial setup phase, as they can introduce latency or power issues. If you have a laptop, ensure that no physical switch has been toggled to disable wireless inputs, although this is less likely to be triggered by a drive swap unless the chassis was opened extensively.
BIOS and Boot Order Configuration
If the physical connections are secure, the next critical area to inspect is the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The system may be attempting to boot from a non-existent device or a secondary drive that lacks an operating system. Restart the computer and immediately press the key to enter BIOS setup, which is commonly F2, Delete, or F10 depending on the manufacturer. Once inside, navigate to the Boot tab.
Verify that the newly installed drive is listed in the boot priority list. It should be set as the first boot device. If the drive is not detected here, the system cannot load the necessary USB controllers for the OS, leaving you without input devices once Windows attempts to start. If you are unsure how to identify your specific drive model within the BIOS, refer to our guide on Displaying Hardware Specifications: Graphic Cards for general methods of identifying connected hardware components, though the logic applies equally to storage devices.
If the drive is visible but the system still fails to progress, ensure that the boot mode matches the installation type. Modern Windows installations typically require UEFI mode, while older systems may use Legacy BIOS. Mismatched modes can prevent the OS from loading correctly. Additionally, check that Secure Boot is enabled if required by your Windows version, as disabled security features can sometimes interfere with driver initialization during early boot stages.
Driver Conflicts and Missing USB Controllers
Even if the system boots, the mouse and keyboard may remain unresponsive due to missing chipset or USB drivers. This often happens if the Windows installation media did not include the specific USB 3.0 or 3.1 drivers for your motherboard. In such cases, the system falls back to basic USB 2.0 emulation, which may fail if the controller is not properly initialized.
To resolve this, you may need to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Since you cannot use the mouse or keyboard normally, you might need to force the system into recovery mode by interrupting the boot process three times—powering off the machine just as the Windows logo appears. This triggers automatic repair. From there, select Advanced Options > Command Prompt. You can then attempt to reinstall drivers or check disk integrity using commands like sfc /scannow or chkdsk C: /f.
If you have access to another working computer, download the latest chipset and USB drivers from your motherboard manufacturer’s website. Transfer these files to a USB flash drive and install them upon rebooting the affected system. This ensures that the fundamental hardware interfaces are recognized before the desktop environment loads.
Hardware Compatibility and Interference
In rare cases, the new drive itself may be causing electrical interference or drawing excessive power, leading to instability in the USB bus. Check the power supply unit (PSU) capacity. If you upgraded from a small HDD to a high-performance NVMe SSD with additional components, ensure the PSU can handle the load. Furthermore, if you are using a wireless mouse, replace the batteries, as low power can exacerbate connectivity issues during system startup.
For users who recently changed drive locations or encountered detection issues, reviewing troubleshooting steps for undetected drives can provide additional context. See Troubleshooting: I Don't See My HDD, Only My CD-ROM; Changing Locations of SSD and HDD for insights on how physical reconfiguration affects system recognition.
Final System Checks
After applying these fixes, perform a clean boot to eliminate third-party software conflicts. Disable all non-Microsoft services via msconfig and restart. If the mouse and keyboard work in a clean boot environment, a background application is likely interfering with input drivers. Identify and uninstall the conflicting software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my USB devices work in BIOS but not in Windows?
This indicates that the hardware is functional, but the Windows operating system is missing the necessary drivers for the USB controllers. You must install the chipset and USB drivers provided by your motherboard manufacturer to resolve this discrepancy.
Can a faulty power supply cause keyboard and mouse failure?
Yes, an insufficient or failing PSU may not deliver stable voltage to the USB ports, especially under load. If other components behave erratically alongside input failures, test with a known-good power supply to rule out electrical instability.
What should I do if the BIOS does not detect the new hard drive?
First, check the SATA data and power cables for secure connections. If the drive remains undetected, try a different SATA port on the motherboard. If it still fails, the drive may be defective or incompatible with the motherboard’s interface.
How can I access recovery mode without a working mouse?
You can force Windows into Automatic Repair by repeatedly interrupting the startup process. Power on the PC, and as soon as the Windows logo appears, hold the power button to shut it down. Repeat this two more times. On the third boot, the system will enter the recovery environment where you can use keyboard navigation.
Is it safe to update drivers while the system is unstable?
It is generally safe, but ensure you create a system restore point first. Installing incorrect drivers can worsen instability. Always download drivers from the official manufacturer’s website rather than using generic third-party tools to avoid compatibility issues.