Posted on 05/19/2017 11:55:22 AM PDT by Allen In Texas Hill Country
Ahhh, the resource is back. As popular as the Drudge website is, I never have and still don't like the format. Don't know if this is a resolvable computer problem. I've always had two desktops. One was for recording all TV shows that I would then watch without commercials. It was also the backup to the primary desktop but the machine recording video failed sometime last year. Tried to have it fixed to no avail. Got a replacement (refurbished) and put the primary disk drive in and up it came. This was in the shop where they take care of my computer problems these days.
Took it home where I have only one keyboard, monitor and mouse. A KVM switch I've used for several years still works fine. But,,,, the new desktop does not have PS2 ports that the KVM switch puts out. Bought two PS2 to USB converters and plugged 'em into the new machine and brought it up. Machine boots up fine, but no keyboard or mouse. Monitor is fine.
This may or may not sound complicated but is there a known problem converting PS2 to USB outputted from a KVM switch??? Is there a workaround or do I have to buy another keyboard and mouse with no room to put them?
A KVM seems like overkill for only 2 boxes but if you already have it, I guess it makes sense. KVM heads (the part that connects to your pc) are available in USB that is what we for our USB boxes.
Logitech K400 920-007119 Plus Wireless Touch Keyboard with Keyboard for TV Connected Computer
Set the bios to boot up without a keyboard and mouse attached and use either Windows Remote Desktop to connect to the second computer or use TeamViewer.
I have several (ok, five) computers only one of which has a keyboard and mouse. The rest I all remote desktop to, no KVM necessary!
Connect the keyboard and mouse directly to eliminate any problem with the kvm box.
A KVM seems like overkill for only 2 boxes but if you already have it, I guess it makes sense. KVM heads (the part that connects to your pc) are available in USB that is what we for our USB boxes.
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But then I would have to buy USB to PS2 converters for the primary machine (PS2 inlets) which I guess would not work.
Connect the keyboard and mouse directly to eliminate any problem with the kvm box.
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Which requires 2 keyboards, mice and monitors. :<(((
Set the bios to boot up without a keyboard and mouse attached and use either Windows Remote Desktop to connect to the second computer or use TeamViewer.
I have several (ok, five) computers only one of which has a keyboard and mouse. The rest I all remote desktop to, no KVM necessary!
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OK, no rocks or stones. This feature is available on XP Pro? Hmmm still got to have a keyboard connected to get into the BIOS of the new machine. Temporarily I assume.
Ok, maybe I’m not clear on your setup. My KVM has a bunch of ports that connect to cables which are mechanically Ethernet cables, those cables connect to adapters that connect to the test machine. We call them “heads” and we use different ones depending on whether we want to connect to the USB or PS2 ports of the test machine.
“Connect the keyboard and mouse directly to eliminate any problem with the kvm box.”
Or you can find simple mechanical switches that work great if you are only talking about connecting two systems to one keyboard and monitor.
Not 100% sure of what you are looking for so I will post a couple of things
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817107417
Yes. Remote Desktop capabilities are built into the OS. You simply need to configure it. Some prefer TeamViewer which does the exact same thing, functionally speaking.
Hmmm still got to have a keyboard connected to get into the BIOS of the new machine. Temporarily I assume.
Correct.
If you live around Austin or San Antonio (implied by your login), take your KVM to Altex and explain your needs to them. There are PS2-to-USB and USB-to-PS2 conversion cables that will probably fix your issues. A word of warning, don’t get the cheapest cable they have. Those generally do not have the electronics included to make things work correctly. There are some signals and voltages that must be jiggered with internally to properly convert these plugs.
I have several of these type of ‘pigtails’ in use around here. One type has a USB plug on one end and a small chunk on the other end. The chunk has the internal electronics and two PS2 female plugs, one for the mouse and one for the keyboard. The USB side goes into the computer and the PS2 cables plug into the KVM.
Works just fine ... not expensive.
I bought a 4 machine KVM switch about 5 or 6 years ago.
It accepts PS2 or USB for keyboard or mouse and was under $100.
I think I got it on Amazon. I don’t know if it is still available though. The one I got was yellow and I think it was from IOGEAR.
Just temporarily to rule out any problem with the kvm
I believe there are PS2/USB KVM switches...
Do a search to find the options you need. It will be cheaper than replacing a high-end keyboard that you love.
Mark
I appreciate the time and input. The back and forth got this ancient mind thinking again and I think I can get it fixed. I didn’t want to complicate the configuration and I did not say that my mouse is USB but before it plugs into the KVM switch (which only accepts PS2) I have a USB to PS2 converter. This is going into the KVM, not coming out. And it has always worked.
So I disconnected the mouse from the KVM and plugged it directly into the USB port of the primary machine and it started working immediately with no reboot. That surprised the hell outta me.
So I’ll get a USB keyboard and cheap USB KVM switch and use the USB ports on the both machines with no converters. Thanks again.................
Wow!! Altex is where I go when I’m at the end of the rope. And in fact that is where I bought the ‘cheap’ PS2 to USB converters. And those are in fact the ones that didn’t/won’t work. Maybe I should give them a call and tell them what happened before I make that long drive. Thanks.
Yes, there is a known problem. Not all PS2 to USB cables will work. The cable has to have some internal handshaking (small amount of electronics built into the cable) to "translate" the comms correctly. I ran into this last year. Sorry I can't give details, as I long ago lost the receipts and specific part numbers. But there "is" information about this on-line.
Dunno if this will help your or not, but here is something I experienced:
Had to replace the HDD on a dual-boot ‘doze/linux machine and restored the XP partition from a “PartImage” older image file. Minor problem was that when XP originally installed on the machine the KB and MS were PS2 devices and I had later on switched over to USB ones instead.
Right, well, after XP came up and re-scanned the HDD and then rebooted, I no longer had any KB or MS functionality. Went quietly bonkers a bit trying to figure it out.
After all else failed, I finally gave up and powered off the machine - “pulled the plug” (I use a power centre that uses illuminated rocker switches to shut off the mains source).
Turned it on again the next morning and KB and MS were working and I went ahead and installed the drivers for the machine with little difficulty.
Linux, on the other hand, had absolutely no problem and booted up beautifully.
YMMV.
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