Infrastructure Software

I am trying to install CentOS 4.2 to test oracle RAC with low cost systems. I have Dell inspiron 530 desktop with Intel Pentium dual core E2180 2.0Ghz processor, 2GB memory and 320GB serial ATA disk drive. It has windows vista home preminum edition installed. I am following the note "Build Your Own Oracle RAC 10g Release 2 Cluster on Linux and FireWire" http://www.oracle.com/technology/pub/articles/hunter_rac10gr2.html
When I start the CentOS 4.2 install it would show me the welcome screen, then 2 more command windows with lot of verification details, then it shows loading SCSI driver and then when it comes to Choose a language the keyboard gets disabled/locked. The keyboard does not work I had to power off the system to come out. The mouse also does not work.
I have tried burning additional CDs for the CentOS software, I have tried CentOS 4.6, I have tried Enterprise Linux 4.7 from oracle site but all come up to the choose language selection and the keyboard does not work. I have USB keyboard and mouse. I have a KVM switch but I have tried without KVM switch, directly connecting the keyboard to the system, but no luck.
When I tried selecting F2 during CentOS install firrst screen and entered linux noprobe (for disable hardware probing), it passed past the choose language option and allowed me to select keyboard type as US, Then installation method - as what type of media contains the packages to installed - local CDROM, hard drive, NFS image, FTP, HTTP. I have selected Local CDROM, then it showed driver not found and showed a list of drivers as select device driver to load. I am not sure what driver to select. How do I find out what driver to select? Since I am new to Linux install I am not sure if this works or I would be lost encountering more questions.
I have seen one note in internet that linux has some isssues with USB keyboard and mouse and it can be fixed by using PS/2 keyboard and mouse. I need to use a USB ps/2 converter for that. Did any one try this?
Any help on recommended fix is Appreciated. Is selecting linux noprobe during the install a good option? Is there any note or document available to install with linux noprobe? What is Linux noprobe? Can I select it for install without isssues? When it is showing the list of device drivers are they for the keyboard or some other device? (an example of the drivers shown are 2Ware 9000 series storage controller, Adaptec AHA-1522, VIA SATA Controller (Sata-via), Qlogic 1280 etc.)
Thanks in advance.
kamal