Windows xp system restore left me without a mouse or keyboard after
bios is loaded.  After trying repair and full install, I still have no
keyboard and mouse to finish.  I now want to instal windows 2000 and
XP will no let me do so.

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Clarification of Question by davidlaska-ga on 16 May 2005 10:20 PDT

What I want to do at this point is the to install windows 2000 on my
second partition and salvage my Data.  But I need a keyboard and/or
mouse.

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Clarification of Question by davidlaska-ga on 16 May 2005 12:17 PDT

Update: I am able to install window 2000 with keyboard and mouse by
swapping out the HD, so now how can I install XP without losing mouse
and keyboard for navigation of xp setup.

if you just want to salvage your data, here is an idea.
Boot KNOPPIX (a linux variant) from CD. Knoppix can read your Windows
H/D and copy your data elsewhere. See here.
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Second suggestion. Are you using a USB mouse/Kbd? Under some
conditions USB kbds and mouses can lose connectivity. Try with a PS2
KBD and mouse. Then shutdown Windows normally, then reboot with USB
devices connected.

Since you have a spare hard drive, can you put in your old XP drive as
a slave (booting from the new Win 2000 drive as master) and then get
your data off?  You might have to look at the manual for the drives to
figure out the jumper settings (or possibly adjust settings in the
BIOS).

I took your comments and worked with those and succeeded is getting
everything working again,  Thanks for the comments that led me to a
appropriate approach which kept me going as I saw progress.

That is because it is a degression of Operating Systems. I reccomend
you stay with XP and install Service pack 2

If you MUST use 2000, then you will need to back-up your data,
reformat with the 2000 CD and reinstall

I will switch over to all XP now ,  some of my new software that use
most often is no longer supporting 2000 and the new graphic card runs
in both fine now.  The new releases are better in performance so much
that any overhead gained in 2000 can no be better than XP.  Whoever
uses 2000 will have to make the change someday.
This was my first modern pc that fell into my lap besides some junked
dos machines with old windows  I did not realize that windows xp was
preinstalled without a cd but back up on the drive for such events.  I
did save my data though and found the cd key and ownership license on
the back of the computer and reinstalled. (for example the compact
with the little green screen that was model like a laptop but about
the size of small suitcase.