PS/2 barcode scanner with USB & Windows 7
November 5, 2014 2:27 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to get some old barcode scanners with PS/2 cables to work with our Windows 7 machines, without much luck.
The computers have USB ports, including USB for the keyboard and mouse, but no PS2 ports.
The scanner cable connects to a little transformer/box with barcodes printed on it to program the scanners for specific functions. The boxes then have a Y-shaped cable to connect to the computer: one female PS2 cable and one male PS2 cable.
I purchased PS2-to-USB adapters online and plugged the male PS2 scanner cable into one, then into the computer. The female PS2 cable remains untouched. The scanner beeps to let me know it's turned on and fires the red reading laser, but does not read the barcode. I have tried scanning different barcodes into Word, Excel, Textpad, etc.
I've read some help threads and have tried such things as:
* priming the USB port for keyboard function by first plugging a PS2 keyboard into it, then switching it for the PS2 scanner cable
* doing the above when the USB keyboard is plugged in; and not plugged in
* plugging in the scanner both when the computer is on and when it is off
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The computers have USB ports, including USB for the keyboard and mouse, but no PS2 ports.
The scanner cable connects to a little transformer/box with barcodes printed on it to program the scanners for specific functions. The boxes then have a Y-shaped cable to connect to the computer: one female PS2 cable and one male PS2 cable.
I purchased PS2-to-USB adapters online and plugged the male PS2 scanner cable into one, then into the computer. The female PS2 cable remains untouched. The scanner beeps to let me know it's turned on and fires the red reading laser, but does not read the barcode. I have tried scanning different barcodes into Word, Excel, Textpad, etc.
I've read some help threads and have tried such things as:
* priming the USB port for keyboard function by first plugging a PS2 keyboard into it, then switching it for the PS2 scanner cable
* doing the above when the USB keyboard is plugged in; and not plugged in
* plugging in the scanner both when the computer is on and when it is off
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Never had much luck with PS/2-to-USB or SCSI-to-USB adapters. Perhaps try a PCI card, to extend your machine with dedicated PS/2 ports.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:38 PM on November 5, 2014
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:38 PM on November 5, 2014
Does this reader have drivers? Or was it basically just an HID device that spat in what it scanned like a keyboard. The latter is pretty common.
Your only solution here may be to go on newegg and buy a cheap refurb box that has a PS/2 port just for running this scanner. This isn't an unheard of, or terrible thing to do.
This is of course assuming there's a reason, like proprietary software, that you need THAT scanner. If not, just buy a cheap one like what was suggested.
I've had horrible luck with this kind of thing and PCI cards as well. So many driver snafus or inexplicable failures through them using chipsets that don't exactly adhere to the standards for the serial/etc port.
posted by emptythought at 2:41 PM on November 5, 2014
Your only solution here may be to go on newegg and buy a cheap refurb box that has a PS/2 port just for running this scanner. This isn't an unheard of, or terrible thing to do.
This is of course assuming there's a reason, like proprietary software, that you need THAT scanner. If not, just buy a cheap one like what was suggested.
I've had horrible luck with this kind of thing and PCI cards as well. So many driver snafus or inexplicable failures through them using chipsets that don't exactly adhere to the standards for the serial/etc port.
posted by emptythought at 2:41 PM on November 5, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks for the hardware recommendations.
We were given 6 of these scanners for free (from a bookstore that closed) and we want to use them if we can. It sounds like I can't make it work in the time I have, so I will probably just purchase new ones.
posted by wintersonata9 at 4:57 PM on November 5, 2014
We were given 6 of these scanners for free (from a bookstore that closed) and we want to use them if we can. It sounds like I can't make it work in the time I have, so I will probably just purchase new ones.
posted by wintersonata9 at 4:57 PM on November 5, 2014
I had to do this exact thing after upgrading a computer in the school library to one that came with its own USB keyboard.
Find an old PS/2 keyboard lying around in a cupboard and connect that to the currently-unused PS/2 socket on the scanner. Betcha it comes alive. Those Y-cable PS/2 barcode scanners are designed to intercept, not originate, PS/2 keyboard signalling.
When they're wired right, what comes out of them is electrically identical to what would come out of a PS/2 keyboard typing the same thing you scanned. If your PS/2 to USB adapter actually does work with a PS/2 keyboard, it will almost certainly work with the scanner as well.
posted by flabdablet at 6:57 AM on November 6, 2014
Find an old PS/2 keyboard lying around in a cupboard and connect that to the currently-unused PS/2 socket on the scanner. Betcha it comes alive. Those Y-cable PS/2 barcode scanners are designed to intercept, not originate, PS/2 keyboard signalling.
When they're wired right, what comes out of them is electrically identical to what would come out of a PS/2 keyboard typing the same thing you scanned. If your PS/2 to USB adapter actually does work with a PS/2 keyboard, it will almost certainly work with the scanner as well.
posted by flabdablet at 6:57 AM on November 6, 2014
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posted by Too-Ticky at 2:37 PM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]