Keyboard not working - bionicpup from USB on dell chromebook

[disasterdrow]

Hi! Couldn't find anyone else with this problem anywhere, so I thought I'd ask. Immediate disclaimer that this is the most technologically complicated thing I've ever done and I'm not really sure how it all works yet, but following instructions from helpful internet users got me this far.
I've spent the last couple of days messing around trying to run bionicpup (bionicpup32 8.0) from a USB on my Chromebook with an aim of replacing the main operating system (which I believe is Chrome OS).

I've got as far as booting it up from the memory stick, unfortunately once it has loaded (it's fine in the startup terminal thing, as well as running ChromeOS) the keyboard and trackpad stop working. I can't download an on-screen keyboard because i don't have a keyboard to connect to the internet with (need to type in a wifi password :l) although i have a wired mouse that's working fine. I have tried changing the keyboard configuration in the startup wizard, and it didn't help. The only key that works is the power button. Tried turning it off and on again, no change.

The Chromebook is a "Dell Inspiron 3181" if that's important.

Relevant things I may have broken-
- Had to remove write protection screw
- downloaded/wrote to memory stick/formatted memory stick and tried again with a couple of copies of bionicpup
- Have been messing around with developer mode and in terminal, although I documented everything I tried

[Phoenix]

bioinicpup does has an on screen keyboard! It's under the utility section in the menu and is called xvkbd,

That's odd though, seems like there would be a module not being loaded or automatically done.
Also what is this write protection screw you're talking about?

[bigpup]

I am not sure if you actually have the Chromebook setup correctly, yet.

You really need to read this topic:
viewtopic.php?p=2143#p2143

Looking at the specs for your Chromebook.

I have one with similar specs.

I suggest you try using Fossapup64 9.5
viewtopic.php?p=5464#p5464
It will probably give you better hardware support.

bionicpup (bionicpup32 8.0) from a USB

Tell us exactly how you installed Bionicpup32 to the USB.
May be something about how it is booting and the boot setup.

Note:
Sometimes the download of a Puppy version ISO does not go completely 100% correct.
Sometimes an install of the ISO does not go 100% correct.
Keyboard not working is not normal.
I have seen things be fixed by just doing a fresh clean download of the ISO and a new fresh install.