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#289653 - 12/11/2006 20:42 Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ?
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
I killed the keyboard port on my main desktop machine today.

Whoever "designed" my IcyBox external hard disk box decided that it would be a good idea to use a PS/2 plug as the power connector, stupid.

I had never noticed that it used a PS/2 plug and today accidentally plugged it into my keyboard port, stupid.

Clearly the voltages on the hard disk PSU disagreed with the PS/2 port, even though it was only connected for a second or so, as it doesn't work any more.

Unfortunately my preferred keyboard is a PS/2 one, so it looks like I'll be buying a new motherboard

For the moment I'm using my Mac keyboard.
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#289654 - 12/11/2006 20:52 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: andy]
lectric
pooh-bah

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 2085
Loc: New Orleans, LA
A PS/2 to USB converter would be MUCH cheaper.

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#289655 - 12/11/2006 21:02 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: lectric]
CrackersMcCheese
pooh-bah

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2489
I've only seen USB -> PS2. Do you get them the other way around?

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#289656 - 12/11/2006 21:06 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14493
Loc: Canada
Quote:
I've only seen USB -> PS2. Do you get them the other way around?


Yes, they do. Quite commonplace, actually. Most any computer shop around here stocks them.

Cheers

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#289657 - 12/11/2006 21:09 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: lectric]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
The USB-PS/2 adapter built into my KVM switch introduces a noticable delay in fast typing, so unless there are some faster ones out there I'll be sticking to pure PS/2, which means a new motherboard.

Also, I don't think my BIOS setup screen works with a USB keyboard.


Edited by andy (12/11/2006 21:12)
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#289658 - 12/11/2006 21:12 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: andy]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14493
Loc: Canada
No delay that I can perceive from this one on my desktop here:



In addition to PS/2 mouse+KB, it also has a 4-port USB 1.1 hub, a printer port, and a serial port.

I don't need it, and it cost only CDN$5. I wonder what the postage to you would be.. ?


Attachments
290407-hub.jpg (110 downloads)



Edited by mlord (12/11/2006 21:15)

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#289659 - 12/11/2006 21:18 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: andy]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14493
Loc: Canada
Quote:

Also, I don't think my BIOS setup screen works with a USB keyboard.


Mmm.. enable "Legacy USB support" and test it.. most BIOS from the past 4 years *do* work just fine with USB stuff.

Cheers

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#289660 - 12/11/2006 23:00 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: mlord]
Ladmo
addict

Registered: 04/09/2004
Posts: 525
Loc: Oklahoma
I cannot do any thing that requires a keyboard and/or mouse on my system if it cant boot to windows. If I have to go into safe mode or choose the 'boot', I have to remove my KVM from the equation and just usa the ps2 straight to the main box. The only exception being, I can get to the CMOS setup with the kvm attached.
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#289661 - 13/11/2006 06:31 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: mlord]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
Looks like my BIOS screen does indeed support USB keyboards.

I still need a new motherboard though, it looks like my moment of muppetry also took out my built in sound card, it now cracks and pops like a good'un. Who knows what else could be subtly broken.

I guess I might as well upgrade to a Core 2 Duo while I'm at it...
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#289662 - 13/11/2006 08:20 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: andy]
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
Quote:
USB-PS/2 adapter built into my KVM switch introduces a noticable delay in fast typing


The one I have (it's not built into the KVM) doesn't introduce a noticable delay in typing, but it doesn't work in games at all -- holding down the W key to move forward doesn't do anything. Obviously, when attempting to avoid zombies in HL2, this sucks slightly.

I've given up on that, and am now using a Dell USB keyboard that I lifted from work. It's not great, but it'll do.
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#289663 - 13/11/2006 10:59 Re: Who is more stupid, me or the hardware designer ? [Re: Roger]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
Quote:

I've given up on that, and am now using a Dell USB keyboard that I lifted from work. It's not great, but it'll do.


I notice that UNICOMP's UK keyboard now comes in USB as well (they only had PS/2 before)...
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