Need help getting started

[Periogumdigger]

I am in serious need of help. I purchase a Canakit rasperry pi B+ as a Christmas present for my 11 year old son. He is interested in computers and wants to experience programming. I know nothing about the workings of computers.
I installed NOOBS and then selected Raspian, this appeared to load until a message appeared titled Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool (raspi-config). Below the title line are several options for expanding file system, changing user password, enable boot to desktop etc., at the bottom of the message is written <select> <finish>
This all seems self explanatory except that the mouse and keyboard quit working.
I have read other posts stating this is due to old software, since the message board states the last software update was in September and this package was purchased in December I don't think this is a likely explanation but I purchases another microSD card and went to the raspberry pi.org we page and tried to download NOOBS but there are two options under Noobs download torrent and download zip, there is no explanation as to which one to try, I tried to download torrent - also there are options for downloading Raspian but I thought it was automatically included as part of NOOBS so do I need to download a separate copy of Raspian?
I unplugged the raspberry pi and inserted the new micro SD card and then plugged the computer back in (I did this because I felt that putting in a new disk would require the computer to be turned off). Anyways when I turned the computer back on the same screen that I was previously viewing ( and the mouse and keyboard were locked up on) reappeared. So now I am stuck, I don't know if I correctly loaded the NOOBs on the new microSD or did I also need to download Raspian. Also I read a post that said the microSD card should be formatted, I've never done that before, I did go to the SD card web page but the formatting process appeared complicated and like everything else with computers the instructions were confusing, so I didn't configure the microSD card, I don't know if this matters or not
I am extremely frustrated with this whole experience, any help would be much appreciated.

[mahjongg]

its not a piece of consumer electronics, its a raw computer, without hand holding.
Non working USB on an A+ or B+ can be due to an outdated version of NOOBS (or Raspbian), but it must be more than several months to half a year old. Unfortunately some re-sellers sell old stock of pre-written cards.
Another reason USB devices do not work is if they get insufficient power, but for bog standard keyboards, without built in USB ports, or expanded back-lighting this isn't normally the case, unless your power supply is VERY weak.

When in such case you cannot shut down "legally" (using the shutdown command) there is a small chance of bad things happening to the card contents when you simply remove the card, or turn off the PI.
If your card got corrupted, and no longer boots into NOOBS (not even when repetitively pressing shift while NOOBS boots) then the only solution is to format it using the formatter to format the card, then downloading NOOBS and writing it to the card, to try again.

If you are sure you cannot do it, let your 11yo do it. Or buy a new, guaranteed to contain up-to-date software card from the swag shop, here: http://swag.raspberrypi.org/products/noobs-8gb-sd-card

also, try reading the sticky posts, they should be helpful.

[W. H. Heydt]

I've seen a Kanakit. Power should not be an issue. It comes with a 2A power supply that is--basically--identical to the one in the Swag Shop. save that the one I saw only came with a US plug, and that installed.

[andrum99]

I am in serious need of help. I purchase a Canakit rasperry pi B+ as a Christmas present for my 11 year old son. He is interested in computers and wants to experience programming. I know nothing about the workings of computers.
I installed NOOBS and then selected Raspian, this appeared to load until a message appeared titled Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool (raspi-config). Below the title line are several options for expanding file system, changing user password, enable boot to desktop etc., at the bottom of the message is written <select> <finish>
This all seems self explanatory except that the mouse and keyboard quit working.
I have read other posts stating this is due to old software, since the message board states the last software update was in September and this package was purchased in December I don't think this is a likely explanation but I purchases another microSD card and went to the raspberry pi.org we page and tried to download NOOBS but there are two options under Noobs download torrent and download zip, there is no explanation as to which one to try, I tried to download torrent - also there are options for downloading Raspian but I thought it was automatically included as part of NOOBS so do I need to download a separate copy of Raspian?
I unplugged the raspberry pi and inserted the new micro SD card and then plugged the computer back in (I did this because I felt that putting in a new disk would require the computer to be turned off). Anyways when I turned the computer back on the same screen that I was previously viewing ( and the mouse and keyboard were locked up on) reappeared. So now I am stuck, I don't know if I correctly loaded the NOOBs on the new microSD or did I also need to download Raspian. Also I read a post that said the microSD card should be formatted, I've never done that before, I did go to the SD card web page but the formatting process appeared complicated and like everything else with computers the instructions were confusing, so I didn't configure the microSD card, I don't know if this matters or not
I am extremely frustrated with this whole experience, any help would be much appreciated.

You did not need to buy another SD card - you could have simply written the new version of NOOBS onto the first card. The procedure for installing NOOBS is outlined on the web page that is linked from the download page. Here is a link to it:

http://www.raspberrypi.org/help/noobs-setup/

This page includes a video that explains the process. On the download page you should choose the ZIP file, then follow the instructions on the page I have linked to above.

The Raspberry Pi is primarily intended to be a learning tool. You should be prepared to learn things when using it, and this includes when setting it up. I hope this does not sound rude, it is not intended to be. Please do post any further questions you might have and we will do our best to answer them.

[mahjongg]

You did not need to buy another SD card - you could have simply written the new version of NOOBS onto the first card.

except he says he feels he is not capable to do that.

its because the Swag shop card is pre-written with guaranteed up-to-date software that I recommend buying one.

[Periogumdigger]

I know I didn't need to purchase a new microSD but I did for two reasons 1) if I did mess up with the download I would have the original 2) I wanted more memory, I didn't know if this was necessary but figured it would be easier now than adding later, I got a 32 gig microSD.
I did figure out how to download the NOOBS zip onto my PC and then opened it and transferred to the new SD. I plugged it into the Raspberry and went through the same sequences that I did with the original install but still end up in the same place where the mouse is unresponsive at what I believe is the last step. So now I know it isn't the age of the program. I have both a wireless mouse and a. USB mouse it doesn't matter which one is connected. One of you said I should repeatedly hit the shift key while doing the download. I had already done the download what that piece of advice came through, is there a way to unload and then reload so that I can try the shift key approach. I'm worried that all this connecting and disconnecting will damage the raspberry. I appreciate all of your help