Not a computer person here, but I have asked a few of these vanities myself, so I will Bump ya back to the top.
Sounds like you need the drivers for your adapter. If there is a CD that came with the packaging, you might try that. If you don't have any software, try the vendor's website; they might allow you to download the drivers.
What model computer and operating system are you using?
Not a definitive answer...but your computer may not boot properly if it doesn't see a proper keyboard; and if it won't boot, it surely won't see a USB device.
Isn't a PS2/USB adapter more expensive than a new kbd??
Late so no formatting. Go to control panel - system - device manager - remove all keyboards and mice. Run software that came with the keyboard - download if neccessary. Reboot. Plug in devices - they should be recognized - watch the bottom right tool tray be patient.
Remember: Always install USB device software FIRST before plugging in the device,
Hope this helps. Nite. ;-)
As you probably now realize, make sure you know for sure what isn't working before you try to "fix" it... definately before spending $$!
Check that the keyboard is OK... plug it into another computer and see what happens. Also plug a known good keyboard into your computer and see what happens. I have had an unfortunate run of keyboards going Tango Uniform silently recently. Most computers will not even boot if the keyboard isn't plugged in due to a setting in the BIOS, but I have had several occasions where a broken keyboard was plugged in and it booted OK but wouldn't work.
If you don't have any spares, take the keyboard down to the local computer store (that sells keyboards) and ask to check it out. Most will do it IF you give them reason to believe you will be buying a repacement if it is bad.
Are you positive that your mouse is good? I worked on a computer once that had the same sort of symptoms as yours. The mouse was bad. Plugging the bad mouse in the regular mouse port would disable the keyboard. You could try a different mouse to test.
Reboot and enter your bios
Go to "intergrated Peripherals"
Scroll to "USB Connection"
Find "USB mouse controlled by bios/os ........Pick "bios"
Find "USB keyboard controlled by bios/os .......pick "bios"
Save and exit bios.
Boot it up.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I have two those USB converters. Both work intermittently. I tried to get one to work last week and no luck at all. I bought them for a motherboard with fried PS/2 ports. That motherboard went completely bad so the USB converters are not used much
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Many keyboards and mice are designed to accept multiple signalling protocols. Nearly all adapters for "PS2 to serial" or vice versa, and "PS2 to USB" are pinout adapters only, and do not do any signalling conversion; they will thus only work with keyboards that are designed to accept the signalling protocol in question.