Don't like that laptop keyboard

March 5, 2006 10:25 AM

Having problems connecting a PS/2-style keyboard to a USB port.

I've got a model 2883-R51 IBM Thinkpad, and want to be able to use a standard keyboard with it. My spare keyboard has a PS/2-style connector, and the laptop doesn't have a matching plug.

For $4 I bought a PS/2 to USB adaptor, but Windows XP sees it as an unrecognized device, with no device driver found. So:

1) Is it possible to use an external keyboard with my laptop?
2) If so, how is it done?

posted by Daddio to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

USB keyboards have some on board code in their USB layer, that "announces" some device details to Windows XP service whenever they connect to the USB bus. In theory, the adaptor you bought should be doing this, allowing Windows to load the appropriate driver for a standard keyboard, but apparently it is not. I'd try plugging in a USB keyboard directly, and see what happens. You might need to disable the laptop keyboard and pointing device in BIOS, as well, but I'd be surprised if you did, on as recent a machine as you are using.
posted by paulsc at 11:06 AM on March 5, 2006

Response by poster: I was trying to avoid buying a USB keyboard, but if I can't get the adapter to work then that's my plan B.
posted by Daddio at 11:12 AM on March 5, 2006

Does XP see the adapter if there is no keyboard plugged into it?

If not, it's possibly not a generic PS/2 to USB adaptor but a proprietary one for a specific model of keyboard.
If so, try using Unknown Device Identifier to identify and then obtain working drivers for it.
If all else fails, it certainly can be done. I use one of these, which works perfectly out of the box.
posted by ed\26h at 11:28 AM on March 5, 2006

There are specific PS/2-to-USB adaptors for mice, and for keyboards, and they're different. Make sure you've got the right one -- it's easy to mess it up. Often they're colour-coded, a sort of seafoam green for mice, and a bubble-gum purple for keyboards.
posted by blacklite at 12:08 PM on March 5, 2006

Response by poster: ed\26h: If I unplug everything, reboot, and then plug in just the adapter with no keyboard attached, Windows doesn't notice that anything's happened and Device Manager doesn't change. I tried running that Unknown Device Identifier but it seems to just list all of my devices without calling out any particular one that can't be identified. If I tell it to "find device drive" it launches a Google search.

blacklite The package says "PS2 Keyboard/USB Port Adapter", and it's bubble-gum purple. I think I got the right one.
posted by Daddio at 1:02 PM on March 5, 2006

Best answer: Most of those small cheap USB/PS2 plug adapters won't work. They just change the shape of the plug, and the mouse or keyboard actually needs to speak USB, which isn't likely, especially with older keyboards. Something http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812156004">like this will do the job. The big hint is that it has both mouse and keyboard plugs on it.
posted by zsazsa at 1:06 PM on March 5, 2006

fixed link
posted by zsazsa at 1:06 PM on March 5, 2006

For $4 it's probably a simple pass-thru adaptor - is it a single piece of plastic or are there wires? If the former then you are out of luck.

I bought a PS/2 to USB converter from RadioShack for my Model M - if memory serves it was about $20. It has a bulbous center piece and wires coming out with PS/2 and USB connections. That's probably what you'll need - if it works with a Model M it'll work with anything.
posted by ny_scotsman at 1:31 PM on March 5, 2006

Best answer: I think zsazsa is right.

I have two MS natural PS/2 / USB keyboards. These were made five years ago, when USB keyboards were still pretty new, so they made the plug PS/2 but gave you a USB adaptor.

The thing is, these keyboards "speak" both USB and PS/2 and can tell which way it is plugged in (and there is a warning that the USB adaptor won't work with regular PS/2 keyboards in the manual). Your adaptor is made for this style of keyboard (and the maker is probably banking on you not knowing that).

Your keyboard only speaks PS/2. Thus you can't get the adaptor that only changes the pins from PS/2 to USB. You must get one that does the appropriate translation from PS/2 to USB, if you will allow me to abuse the metaphor some more.
posted by teece at 2:17 PM on March 5, 2006

Response by poster: zsazsa and teece were right. I took my cheapo adapter back to the store, and replaced it with one that does mouse and keyboard to one USB port. Works like a champ.

Thanks, all!
posted by Daddio at 9:13 PM on March 6, 2006