PS2(F) USB (M) adapter

Hi,

I have a question with the USB(M) to PS/2(F) adapter.

I have a laptop which does not have a PS/2 port and now I have bought a mouse GPS. I went to Radio Shack and picked up a USB-PS/2 converter and to my surprise it was a active adapter. As soon as i pulged it into my laptop, Windows recognised it as a USB Human Interface Device. I paid $15 for this and i today found one for $5 at Frys. I bought it and this one seems to be a passive one.

Can anyone tell me what is the difference between the two and what is the circuitary used inside.


I have another question....... This mouse GPS that i bought, has a software which works only with serial ports. The manufacturer sells a USB-PS/2 converter along with a USB-Serial Bridge driver s/w. Is it possible for me to mimic this somehow on my laptop with just a passive USB-PS/2 adapter. Any help will be appreciated.


Thanks in advane

Sreekar

Most available Ps2 to USB converters are simple passive adapters that simply change the plug shape to match the outlet.  These adapters only function to connect the ps/2 wires to the approximate USB wires as you have already discovered.

In general, most users having trouble connecting their keyboard to newer computers are looking for a ps/2 to USB signal converter. These devices use an integrated circuit (pre-programmed chip) to actively translate the ps/2 keyboard signal and convert it into a USB keyboard signal.

This allows the vintage ps/2 keyboard to be automatically recognized by the operating system as if it were a standard, modern USB keyboard. A well-designed active ps/2 to USB converter will use the built-in operating system drivers for a USB keyboard (for example in Microsoft Windows XP, kbdclass.sys and kbdhid.sys).

Hope this helps!

Please, no gravedigging.  The guy posted that question five and a half years ago, and never made another post.  I'm pretty sure he's long gone.

OMG this post is SO OLD! How did he even FIND it???

lol! That's so ridiculous!

Welcome to HotHardware, Jim. Even though it was an old post, I do appreciate your taking the time to answer it as I did actually learn something from it!