Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center doesn't recognize Sculpt Comfort Keyboard (Windows 8.1 x64)

So, here's my story.

Well, I'm a programmer too, and I'll tell you that if I found a v2.3 of the software on Microsoft Hardware website, it's their problem, not mine. It's not available there anymore, so I think that was a mistake, maybe beta version. Anyway, I reinstalled v2.2.

I ended up buying me a Sculpt Comfort Desktop for Christmas - a suite that contains both keyboard and mouse, and you know what? It works just fine, and is being recognized just fine. And, moreover, a single bluetooth version of Sculpt Comfort Mouse has also been recognized on the same computer (now, I use it on my notebook).

So, as a developer, I can give your programmers one advice: check the recognition algorythm. Since there was a "Microsoft Mouse Dual Receiver" device though I haven't had a 2.4 GHz mouse. For me, it seems like Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center fails to recognize a single keyboard because it searches for a suite, including 2.4 GHz mouse, and since it doesn't find it, it thinks there's no Sculpt Comfort devices at all. In other words, it fails to recognize Sculpt Comfort Keyboard when it's alone, and recognizes it just in pair with mouse.

The problem now is that I don't know what to do with single keyboard now ]:->

Have you tried plugging in only the keyboard device and using a standard USB mouse rather than the ARC Mouse? I am curious as to whether one device is interfering with the other in some way.  Both devices are showing up as expected in Device Manager, and it looks good there.

So, try removing the ARC mouse device.  You will need a standard mouse to do this because you obviously will lose mouse functionality.  Reboot after doing that and see if your keyboard is recognized.

After that, try uninstalling the keyboard device from both the Keyboards and Human Interface Devices categories, but do not check the option to delete the drivers from the hard drive.  Reboot, and then see if your keyboard is afterward recognized.  Let us know.

Reply failed this morning so trying again.

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1. Instructions
2. Device Manager
3. MM&KC
4. USB port used

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The transmitter is working off a front-panel USB port as the signal was not being picked up from back, blocked by my desk presumably.

Definitely in a USB2 slot, where I have the mouse transmitter too.

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Thanks Scott, I don't think so either. Getting used to it and liking it. My original aim was to see if I could switch round the left/right backspace as I don't touch-type. Clearly can't at moment, but maybe it will change in future.

Have just had one delivered today and same problem. (Win8.1). The only paper instructions showed pictures of activating the batteries, plugin the transmitter and off we go. No mention of installing drivers before inserting transmitter. 

As noted earlier, the Desktop & Mouse Center do not appear to support this model. http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/help/windows-8/troubleshooting/mouse/supported-devices

I also have an Arc mouse which is the only device showing.

Is this likely to be fixed, or have I bought a dud?

You don't have a dud.  I think that the driver support was overlooked and updated drivers will eventually come if MS is monitoring these message boards.  My keyboard didn't come with a CD and the instructions didn't imply that you needed one.  I tried installing the software both before and after plugging in the keyboard.  I also tried it on two other computers with the same results.

Besides, if you look at the support page for the software, you'll note that it isn't listed.