I use a electronic KVM switcher of a type designed to emulate keyboard presence on the PC while set to view a different PC. (Windows type PCs before XP would not permit hot-swapping the keyboard!). During the initial boot-up with the Gentoo install CD "install-x86-minimal-2004.3-r1.iso" I am able to switch between the computers without any problem, including the point where one has the F1 and F2 information options. I can type in, and I can press <Enter> After this point, I get the splash logo, and I can use F2 to see "verbose" mode. When the command prompt is reached is when the problem starts. Any attempt to view the other computer results in a dead keyboard when I return. This is very awkward because I am using the other PC to view the Gentoo documentation and install instruction manual. I do not think it is motherboard specific. I will be trying it out with a different PC soon. Present motherboard is ASUS A7N8X. Processor is AMD Athlon XP I do not understand enough about kernels and BIOS to know why, but I have seen this problem also with SUSE 9.1. The older SUSE 8.1 is not affected. It was the reason I tried Gentoo. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1.Boot the minimal live CD 2004.3. At this stage, switching is allowed! 2.press <Enter> for the default kernel options, and wait until the prompt appears. 3.Switch to the other PC, then back again. From this point on, the keyboard is not seen by Gentoo any more
What if you let it boot all the way, then switch computers? I have a KVM switch myself and have no such problems. In fact, I use it heavily during development of the LiveCD and during testing. More than likely, it is something to do with hotplug/coldplug. Is your keyboard PS/2 or USB?
REOPEN if you have more information, please.
