Those useless PS2 ports

[yukichigai]

Okay, maybe useless is a bit extreme, but since I purchased my USB keyboard (which has a built-in PS2 port for my mouse, which is just a Microsoft Optical with the USB/PS2 adapter) I haven't used the PS2 ports on the back of my comp. Now I'm one of those people that writes on both sides of the paper and in the margins, i even have an external serial modem, (which works quite well actually) so leaving two perfectly good ports open back there hasn't gone over well with me. My questions are these:

1) I have seen devices to convert one USB port to a PS2 keyboard and mouse port. Are there adaptors like these which work in reverse? Could I turn my PS2 ports into (a) USB port(s)?

2) Are there any even remotely useful devices I could plug into these PS2 ports, like maybe a remote control or some other such thing?

3) I am thinking about getting a second monitor to run two desktops simultaneously. Is there any way under Win2k to use one keyboard/mouse set for one desktop and another set for the other?

4) Are there any other ways you can think of to put these ports to use?

 

[jackschmittusa]

1. No
2. Drawing tablet
3. You would have to push a button to switch but I would think a KVM switch hooked up backwards would work.
4. not off hand

 

[corkyg]

Not all motherboards support USB devices when booting to DOS to perform certain maintenance and repair tasks. Some of those utilities are easier with a mouse, and only a PS/2 or serial mouse will work with them.

 

[mgpaulus]

There was an item called the "buddy" a while back that would allow you to create a second "PC" on your PC.
Not sure what it did, but it was an add-in card that supported a keyboard/mouse/monitor, and allowed
a second user to use your PC as if it was theirs.....

 

[yukichigai]

My mobo does in fact support USB devices. I made sure of this, otherwise I'd have gotten a USB/PS2 converter for my keyboard. As for programs that only support PS2 mice, my BIOS has a setting for "USB Keyboard and Mouse support". Pretty nice, I have to say.

 

[stevewm]

The PS/2 ports are designed for a keyboard and mouse ONLY. They are not general purpose I/O ports like your serial or parallel ports are.

Drawing tablets only work because they mimic the PS/2 mouse protocol


If you are not using a keyboard or mouse with them, then they are useless.

 

[yukichigai]

Hrrrrrrm... I seem to remember back in the day, when I had my *shudder* Packard Bell it came with a remote control system for the computer, which both interfaced with the built in TV card as well as controlled the mouse and some minor keys. Does anybody know if there are any remote controls out there like that? I think that would be a nifty way to use my PS2 ports.

 

[ApacheXMD]

the packard bell remotes are still around but they're serial, not PS/2
Here

-patchy

 

[bendixG15]

If it bothers you that much, I can send you plugs that you can stick into those PS2 Ports

 

[Shalmanese]

PS/2 is essentially an I/O bus without the O. You can only do input.

My Abit soundcard came with a remote control which plugs into PS/2. You might find something similar.

 

[jetsam]

PS/2 is not quite useless. Its redeeming quality is the availability of AT adaptors.

Yes, I still use a 5 pound IBM clickety clackety spring loaded keyboard.

Why the heck did they ever replace AT with PS/2 in the first place?

 

[stevewm]

Originally posted by: jetsam
PS/2 is not quite useless. Its redeeming quality is the availability of AT adaptors.

Yes, I still use a 5 pound IBM clickety clackety spring loaded keyboard.

Why the heck did they ever replace AT with PS/2 in the first place?

I have one of those keyboards as well, mine has a PS/2 plug already....


PS/2 and AT ports are electrically the same. Just the port is slightly smaller. Protocol is the same as well. (well for the most part, the keyboard protocol was slightly extended to include more commands with the advent of PS/2, though none of these are ever used.) The smaller port is cheaper to produce and more convineint for mobo manufactuers to use.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: stevewm


PS/2 and AT ports are electrically the same. Just the port is slightly smaller. Protocol is the same as well. (well for the most part, the keyboard protocol was slightly extended to include more commands with the advent of PS/2, though none of these are ever used.) The smaller port is cheaper to produce and more convineint for mobo manufactuers to use.

So you could just put wires from each pin on an AT board and plug them into the PS/2 port?

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: stevewm


PS/2 and AT ports are electrically the same. Just the port is slightly smaller. Protocol is the same as well. (well for the most part, the keyboard protocol was slightly extended to include more commands with the advent of PS/2, though none of these are ever used.) The smaller port is cheaper to produce and more convineint for mobo manufactuers to use.

So you could just put wires from each pin on an AT board and plug them into the PS/2 port?

Yes.

It's simpler just to buy a molded plastic adapter tho.

And check out this link. It'll make your day like it did mine!

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: mgpaulus
There was an item called the "buddy" a while back that would allow you to create a second "PC" on your PC.
Not sure what it did, but it was an add-in card that supported a keyboard/mouse/monitor, and allowed
a second user to use your PC as if it was theirs.....

I dont think that is what he means. He should probely try out VMware which would make it as if he is running two operatings systems at once. He could just make the second one full-screen on the second monitor and move the mouse from one OS to another OS.

 

[JCK86]

Actually, PS/2 is pretty useful for a few things:

1. I have seen several adaptors that let you tap off the 5v KB power for other things.

2. There's a real cool arcade-style joystick/button thing made out of particle board called the HotRod that plugs in and emulates a keyboard.

3. If you feel like upgrading to a barcode reader, you're in luck.

 

[yukichigai]

Nifty... I had noticed in the past that there seemed to be power coming from the PS/2 ports, particularly because of my Optical Mouse. (Which sometimes kept me up at night since my mobo didn't have a jumper to disable the +5v out when it was powered down :/) I've seen some peripherals that are powered using the +5v (?) out on the USB ports; could I just use a PS/2 - USB adaptor and use the ports for power purposes? If so, can you recommend any good USB-powered devices, prefferably beyond speakers but whatever you know.


Word,
Y|yukichigai

 

[stevewm]

PS/2 ports are only designed to provide power from a single deivce. If you attempt to draw over 100mA from ethier of the ports you'll likely fry something. So they are not much use for power purposes. Unless of course you know your device will never draw more than 100mA at 5v.