adding a PS2 port to an old PC

Hey!

This is in reference to my other topic, but since it's somewhat different, I
decided to post a new one.

I have a rather old PC (AMD 233 Mhz) which has a mainboard only supporting a
DIN-Keyboard port and a Serial mouse port.

Since I have a mouse that doesn't support a serial port (not even with an
adapter) because it's USB/PS2, I wonder if I can add a PS2 port to the
mainboard.

Thanks for any help.
Janbiel

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 16:19:30 +0200, "Jan Biel"
wrote:

Hey!

This is in reference to my other topic, but since it's somewhat different, I
decided to post a new one.

I have a rather old PC (AMD 233 Mhz) which has a mainboard only supporting a
DIN-Keyboard port and a Serial mouse port.

Since I have a mouse that doesn't support a serial port (not even with an
adapter) because it's USB/PS2, I wonder if I can add a PS2 port to the
mainboard.

Thanks for any help.
Janbiel

2 possibilities. First, many of the socket 7 boards had a connection for
PS2 mouse on board, but required a special cable. What model board is it.

Second, and easiest, would be to add in a USB card to the older computer
and then get a KVM switch that supports USB mouse switching. Haven't seen
an optical mouse from a major manufacturer that supports serial. One of the
small companies might do it, but I haven't seen any there either. Serial
ports are disappearing on most machines, replaced by USB. That is probably
the solution you want to look at.

JT wrote:

Since I have a mouse that doesn't support a serial port (not even
with an adapter) because it's USB/PS2, I wonder if I can add a PS2
port to the mainboard.

2 possibilities. First, many of the socket 7 boards had a connection
for
PS2 mouse on board, but required a special cable. What model board is
it.

Hm, I found out that it's a rather exotic board: PC-Chips M550. I was able
to aqcuire a manual which is only in German (no problem there). It says that
there is a PS/2 kit for the board.

This creates another problem: Where to get it? The manual said that using a
different kit from the one made for the board it would probably not work due
to differently ordered pins. Any ideas?

Second, and easiest, would be to add in a USB card to the older
computer
and then get a KVM switch that supports USB mouse switching.

That's a step I didn't want to take since I just bought the switch. If I had
known that before I would have got a USB switch in the first place, since it
would be ideal for my setup. Argh, I hate this kind of misdecision.

Thanks, I hope you have some ideas left

Janbiel

Have you tried EBAY for any of the stuff you need?

- Serial compatible, ergo, PS/2 mouse
- PS/2 addon card
- M550 parts
- Different socket 7 mainboard that has PS/2 capability?

"Jan Biel" wrote in message
...
JT wrote:

Since I have a mouse that doesn't support a serial port (not even
with an adapter) because it's USB/PS2, I wonder if I can add a PS2
port to the mainboard.

2 possibilities. First, many of the socket 7 boards had a connection
for
PS2 mouse on board, but required a special cable. What model board is
it.

Hm, I found out that it's a rather exotic board: PC-Chips M550. I was able
to aqcuire a manual which is only in German (no problem there). It says
that
there is a PS/2 kit for the board.

This creates another problem: Where to get it? The manual said that using
a
different kit from the one made for the board it would probably not work
due
to differently ordered pins. Any ideas?

Second, and easiest, would be to add in a USB card to the older
computer
and then get a KVM switch that supports USB mouse switching.

That's a step I didn't want to take since I just bought the switch. If I
had
known that before I would have got a USB switch in the first place, since
it
would be ideal for my setup. Argh, I hate this kind of misdecision.

Thanks, I hope you have some ideas left

Janbiel

"Jan Biel" wrote in message
...
JT wrote:

Since I have a mouse that doesn't support a serial port (not even
with an adapter) because it's USB/PS2, I wonder if I can add a PS2
port to the mainboard.

2 possibilities. First, many of the socket 7 boards had a connection
for
PS2 mouse on board, but required a special cable. What model board is
it.

Hm, I found out that it's a rather exotic board: PC-Chips M550. I was able
to aqcuire a manual which is only in German (no problem there). It says
that
there is a PS/2 kit for the board.

This creates another problem: Where to get it? The manual said that using
a
different kit from the one made for the board it would probably not work
due
to differently ordered pins. Any ideas?

Second, and easiest, would be to add in a USB card to the older
computer
and then get a KVM switch that supports USB mouse switching.

That's a step I didn't want to take since I just bought the switch. If I
had
known that before I would have got a USB switch in the first place, since
it
would be ideal for my setup. Argh, I hate this kind of misdecision.

Thanks, I hope you have some ideas left

Janbiel


that ps/2 adaptor may be impossible to find...
but for about $15 or less you could pick up a USB-1 card and use your mouse
assuming your os supports USB

Jan Biel wrote:

Hm, I found out that it's a rather exotic board: PC-Chips M550. I was
able to aqcuire a manual which is only in German (no problem there).
It says that there is a PS/2 kit for the board.

This creates another problem: Where to get it? The manual said that
using a different kit from the one made for the board it would
probably not work due to differently ordered pins. Any ideas?

Ok, thanks for all the ideas but I guess I found a really cheap solution
that ends all my worries.

On the mainboard there are pins for a PS/2 port. As said above you can
connect to them a special PS/2 kit that adds a PS/2 port to your PC. Luckily
the manual states the exact pin assignment of the PS/2 pins on the board.

I searched the web for the pin assignment of a PS/2 port. With them I'll try
to build a PS/2 kit myself.

Here's what I'll try for those who might have a similar problem:

DISCLAIMER: I haven't tried this yet. There's no guarantee that it will
work. Even after I confirmed that it worked, I have no idea if your setup is
similar to mine. I can't take any responsibility for any damage you cause to
your computer. Keep in mind that PS/2 ports are very delicate and a mistake
can result in damaging your PC. A friend of mine once pulled out his PS/2
mouse while the PC was running. As a result his hard drive controller was
fried. So be careful and be sure you know what you're doing.

1) Parts:
1 Ribbon Cable (I took the HD cable of an old PC I had lying around)
1 Serial-PS/2 adapter (alternately a female PS/2 connector would do, which
I don't have)
1 male Serial connector (If you take the female PS/2 connector you don't
need this one)
Some wires
Tools: edge cutter, circuit indicator, hot-melt adhesive

2) Preparation:
The PS/2 pins on the mainboard are 2x4 pins, so the ribbon connector (2x17
pins) is much too wide. Cut it to about 2x8 pins with an edge cutter. The
excess pins are there to make sure cutting the ribbon connector doesn't
damage the wires.
On one end of the ribbon cable (henceforth called output end) you need to
stick a piece of wire into each hole, thus creating pins. Use some hot-melt
adhesive to secure the pins to the ribbon cable.
Connect the Serial-PS/2 adapter to the Serial connector.

3) Check what goes whe
Check the pin assignment of the PS/2 pins on the Mainboard. Plug the ribbon
connector to the pins and mark the corresponding holes on the ribbon
connector input end so you know where each pin goes and what it does.
Using a circuit indicator map the input holes of the ribbon connector to its
output pins.
With the circuit indicator map the input pins of the Serial
connector/adapter to its output pins. Make sure you know which pin does
what.

4) Build the thing:
So now you know what each mainboard pin does. You know where each of these
pins go on the ribbon connector. You know which input hole of the ribbon
connector goes to which output pin. Therefore you know what each output pin
does. You also know what each pin on your Serial-PS/2 adapter does. Now all
you have to do is solder wires from each of the ribbon connector output pins
to the corresponding adapter input pins.

5) Last checks:
For the last time use the circuit indicator to check whether each of your
construction's input holes (that's the side connected to the mainboard) is
connected to the correct corresponding output hole (on the side where you
connect a PS/2 mouse).

I hope that everything will work out. I'll report later whether it was a
success or whether I fried my system.

Wish me luck
Janbiel

Jan Biel wrote:

I hope that everything will work out. I'll report later whether it
was a success or whether I fried my system.


Ok, I just returned and what can I say: It works
I just had to activate the PS/2 mode in the BIOS and now everything is fine.

Thanks for all the contributions

Janbiel