Are PS/2 ports interchangeable

[fr]

If my keyboard (purple) is broken, can I just plug it into the mouse (green) port? Vice-versa?

 

[Budman]

No they are not,that's why they are different colours so you dont put the wrong periph in the wrong port.

 

[AndyHui]

No. The ports are wired differently....if you plugged it in incorrectly, you get some very screwy results.

Buy a USB adapter.

 

[ProjectPat]

hells no

 

[MallowJr]

its weird i have the small port for a keyboard and my keyboard wont fit ..it keeps falling out?!? i have the small connector..its an abit kt7...its weird how the keyboard wont fit well and has to "hang" there or else it will fall out and lose connection.

WOOT i got all replies on the board at this time on page 1...great moring =)

 

[TheCorm]

AndyHui - I didn't realise they made PS/2 to USB adaptors, I've seen USB to PS/2, Does this then make the mice pully Plug and lay with say, Windows 98 even if it's an old mouse?. What if you go nuts and use a Serial to PS/2 then a PS/2 to USB??

MallowJr - What keyboard is it? Generic? might be the keyboard plug...my Logitech iFeel keyboard fits fine on my KT7

Corm

 

[Mday]

there are no adapters that convert ps2 ports to usb. by port, i refer to the end at your motherboard.
there are adapters that convert ps2 plugs to usb plugs. by plug, i refer to the end at your mouse\keyboard.

the serial port to ps2 don't exist. there are ones that convert plugs, however, unless your mouse was designed to accept serial AND ps2, they are useless. converting a serial port to usb is retarded.

 

[shathal]

Some motherboards (at least certain server boards - think some desktop boards as well) work with mouse & keyboard plugged into the wrong PS/2 port as well.

Not many though, AFAIK. It's still a nice feature for people who forget (or can't see) which port is where .

 

[HVAC]

My work computer (forced buy from this company, don't shoot me please) is a Gateway with an Athlon inside. It has a motherboard in which the PS/2 ports are color-coded but apparently interchangeable. When I had a mouse problem, Gateway tech support had me switch the keyboard and mouse to test things.

 

[oldfart]

My Dell laptop has a PS2 port that can be either mouse or keyboard.