Re: [gentoo-user] Bootloader hangs without a keyboard

[R0b0t1 <r030t1@gmail.com>]

On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 1:04 PM, Neil Bothwick <neil@digimed.co.uk> wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Apr 2018 10:47:06 -0500, R0b0t1 wrote:
>
>> >> Use the dongle from a wireless keyboard.
>> >
>> > That's also a good idea, I wasn't sure if you could buy those without
>> > a keyboard and hadn't thought to check.  Funnily enough, this is
>> > exactly what I've been doing so far (I have a Logitech wireless
>> > keyboard with a "unifying" receiver).
>> >
>>
>> You can buy Logitech unifying receivers for $9 or so, but it might be
>> cheaper to buy offbrand keyboard/receiver sets.
>
> Or a wireless remote control, those also appear as HID devices.
>

But there is a specific HID type for "boot keyboard" which is what the
EFI or BIOS firmware looks for when starting. The report is structured
so that the firmware does not need to implement the full USB standard.
Some board firmware is not implemented properly and does not parse the
reports properly, which means some keyboards do not work with all
motherboards.

The other reason I bring this up is because reading about EFI, it
seems the system can demand boot devices are present. I have no idea
why, but what OP is seeing may be intended behavior.

Cheers,
     R0b0t1