XP won't let me use PS/2 keyboard or mouse

I have a PS/2 keyboard and a Logitech Trackman Marble Wheel that's USB but has a USB/PS2 adapter. If I use the keyboard and mouse plugged into the PS/2 ports, XP won't use them. When I looked at the keyboard in Control Panel, it says the device couldn't start, Code 10. I'm assuming it's the same for the mouse.

The only time XP was able to use the PS/2 board was when I also had the USB board plugged in. After I shut down my computer, I unplugged the USB devices and plugged the mouse and keyboard into their PS/2 ports, once again XP fails to use them.

Is this a known problem with XP? I have the mouse's Logitech driver installed, but nothing special for the keyboard. I don't want to use them on the USB ports because I have other USB devices.

 

I have both a PS2 Keyboard and Mouse in XP Pro. I would have it no other way. But they were both there when I installed XP over SE.

BillyBob

 

That's how I want it too, but apprently XP has other ideas. How do I force it to use the PS/2 keyboard and mouse? The keyboard is made by Silitek. I tried to go to their site, but it doesn't seem to exist at the moment.

The mouse isn't detected at all on the PS/2 port, only on the USB port eventhough its software is installed.

 

I will throw a wild guess out here that when you flashed the bios somehow the PS2 keyboard and mouse are disabled in the bios.

 

But they PS/2 keyboard has worked intermittently and the mouse worked right after I flashed. It was just this morning it stopped working. Plus when I go into my CMOS setup, the PS/2 keyboard works iin that. Why would it work in the CMOS, but not in Windows?

 

Try opening Device Manager and removing any keyboards or mice you see. Check for references to them under Universal Serial Bus controllers and remove any you see.

Do not restart but power off the computer, attach your PS/2 devices, and boot up.

 

I have removed the keyboard from the system properties. I'll shut the machine down today and boot it back up later. Should I try unplugging the USB keyboard when I boot up, or would that not make a difference?

 

OK I downloaded the driver for my keyboard from Silitek and installed it after removing the keyboard from the hardware manager. Then I rebooted. The computer booted up and now the keyboard works, but the USB keyboard is still plugged in and enabled.

Last time when this keyboard worked, the USB was also plugged in. When I unplugged the USB keyboard and turned the computer back on, the PS/2 keyboard ceased to function.

Also I just checked the hardware details and it still lists the MS driver as the keyboard's driver. Shouldn't it list the Silitek as the keyboard's driver?

 

I tried again and the same thing happened. I dosconnected the USB keyboard and booted up and again it won't use my PS/2 board. Since I downloaded the drivers from the maker's site, I don't know what else to do except add a USB expansion card so I can use all my USB stuff.

 

If you can't beat em, join em. I ordered a good USB keyboard from eCost and will also order a USB addon card so I'll have more than 2 USB ports. Then I can use all my USB **** at the same time. Do USB keyboards work in the BIOS, or would I still need my PS/2?

 

Add on USB ports...

I think an easier solution would be to obtain a USB Hub. They come in various sizes and you wouldn't need to use a PCI slot on your computer. Belkin and D link both make these. They also come as USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. I would recommend using one designed for USB 2.0 because it will work with USB 1.1 as well. You can also connect these together and have many USB ports available off 1 port on your computer. They also come with an AC adapter so they are powered. HTH

B

 

I already have a USB hub, but in Win98 it wouldn't let me use all the ports, just the first 2. However I decided to give it a try in XP and low and behold, I'm using all the hubs. But I'm still getting the new keyboard cause the spacebar on this one is garbage. These new big spacebars break too easy. I like the old thin ones better.

 

Do USB keyboards work in the BIOS,

I am not sure but I do not think so.

I am basing my thoughts on not having a USB Mouse in DOS on either mine or My Wifes machine ( 98SE ) . So I have an old Serial Port mouse that I plug in on her machine if I need it. ( works on my XP pro machine too ) I tried it and and three pointing devices then. )

I have both a PS2 and a USB mouse on this machine/ PS2 being the main one. What is now the PS2 Mosue ( Microsoft 5 button Scroll Wheel ) was originally USB. I just switched it and it took care of itself. But that was in 98SE. So I do not know waht would happen in XP Pro.

Never did have a USB Keyboard and do not plan on having one either. No Mouse is one thing but the keybaord is a different story.

I just thought of something that may or may not apply.

When plugging in or unplugging the PS2 devices You did have the machine powered down didn't you

I understand that if not powered down this can destory Serial and PS2 ports. USB does not need to be powered down. They are designed for hot-swapping.

BillyBob

 

I believe I have plugged and unplugged PS/2 items a few times while the machine was running, but only very rarely. All I know is the PS/2 mouse port doesn't work at all anymore. 98 SE gave me a weird message that it couldn't find the mouse when I brought it up for the last time. I couldn't get rid of the message with my keyboard either. It's like both ports have almost completely failed. I don't believe I've ever unplugged the keyboard with the computer running.

One thing I did notice was in recent weeks, the mouse had been acting strange. I'd just move it over text, not holding down the mouse button, and it'd highlight the text all by itself. If I clicked outside of the text, it wouldn't unhighlight it. I think that may have been an early sign that my PS/2 mouse port was going to hell in a handbasket.

The keyboard just refused to work under XP unless I booted up with the USB keyboard also plugged in. Both keyboards work in the BIOS.

 

May be a long shot ( very long ) but it has worked for me.

Have you un-installed any and ALL drivers for both the Mouse and the Keyboard ? Both PS2 and USB ?

Then remove them from the device manger, shutting down and restart. SOMETIMES this works and sometimes it don't.

I would have a go at the PS2 plugged in first.

I also had problems in 98SE with one of them new fangled fancy MS keyboards. I am still using one of the original Microsoft Windows keyboards. It is the only dam one that WORKS.

I also have a MS PS2 keybaord that is less than 6 months old. it is TRASH.

I read that as maybe being a driver or setup problem.

When I took my Mouse from USB to PS2 98SE grabed it and ran with it with no problems.

Just for the Hello of it do you have a old Serial port mouse to plug in and see what happens ?

I have two of them old, ancient supposedly useless but RELIABLE rascals hanging around.

JUST IN CASE

BillyBob

 

This may be an individual hardware dependent problem.

1--I took a present USB mouse and adapted it to PS2 NO GO !!.

2--I took a PS2 ( Microsoft ) adapted to Serial NO GO !!

3--I took another PS2 ( Logitech ) adapted to Serial and it WORKS FINE

Took #3 and plugged it into PS2 and NO GO

Ain't this just lots O' Fun ?

BillyBob

 

OOPSS !!! I forgot something.

The above test was done with WIn98 SE.

BB

 

If you decide to go USB, these sorts of things may be handy:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=542947&sku=B131-5000

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=610122&sku=K450-8402

 

I used to have a serial mouse, but I don't know what I did with it. The USB keyboard ships any day now. It's a nice keyboard with an old-fashioned spacebar, not one of these new things that can't take a harsh strike. I hit my spacebars hard and have sent many keyboards to the graveyard because of it.

 

I have had both a USB Keyboard and Mouse and believe me in overall usage they are no where near as good or reliable as a good PS2 device.

The USB Keyboard that I did have for awhile was nothng but problems. Put it on PS2 and has been there thru 98SE and now XP Pro and NO PROBLEMS. No matter where I boot from.

Unless things have changes I think you might just have a problem or two when you boot from the floppy or the CDROM.

Maybe and maybe not. I did. But maybe things have changed.

BillyBob