Solve : IBM Model M Keyboard not working on my computer??

1.	Solve : IBM Model M Keyboard not working on my computer??
Answer» I was so excited when my IBM keyboard came in the mail today, I couldn't wait to try it out. I turned off my system, plugged in the keyboard, started my computer up, and nothing! My new keyboard doesn't work! Its plugged into the PS/2 port, but it doesn't show up on my system. It doesn't even show up/work in BIOS. Its not in device manager, or anywhere else. The PS/2 port was just working moments before with my other keyboard, an '02 Dell OEM one. It was working prior to the system shutdown, plugging in the IBM keyboard, system start up. Am I missing something here? for now I'm using my crummy old one (PS/2) that feels like typing on sponge. Pls help me!If it was working before the shutdown, and was working when you put the old keyboard back, the IBM one is probably dead. If it's an IBM branded keyboard, it's at least 15 YEARS old (when IBM made the last Model Ms).YEAH i suspected that, but I did test it to make sure it works on a different computer, the only other working computer in my house with a PS/2 port is some old PowerSpec PC with windows 95 (was my first computer). so the keyboard definitely works. but the huge difference in OS doesn't really give me any help there. [edit] some good news, after several restarts I'm able to get my PC to turn on the num lock light on the keyboard, so that means at least for the split second the computer turns on the keyboard is connected and recognized? currently the num pad light is on, so the keyboard does have power however it doesn't do anything else. device manager still see my IBM keyboard. Not sure if this will work but you could try the keyboard in a PS2 to USB adapter, they are pretty cheap.Some PS/2 ports on motherboards are more robust than others. Some PS/2 ports stick closer to the spec than others. It is possible for a a bad keyboard to be not recognised (or even kill the PS/2 port) on one computer but still work OK on a different computer. I tried my keyboard at work today, it works great on the Windows XP Pro. It didn't work on the PS/2 port so I bought the adapter. I bought it home with high hopes the adapter solves the problem, it does not. the keyboard is recognized by windows & BIOS, but it doesn't work in either MODE, none of the keys work, the num lock light turns on when the system starts up and stays on, but nothing else happens. in BIOS/POST the computer sees 2 keyboards & 1 mouse, 2nd keyboard being the logitech I'm using right now. in Windows (Vista) its seen as a "Human Interface Device", and windows claims its working properly despite me not being able to use it at all. it did automatically install drivers for "HID keyboard device" when i first plugged it in today. I also tried every USB port I have on my PC to see maybe that might IMPROVE things (8 total), it made no difference. I don't understand why doesn't it work on my computer. what else could be the problem?Have you tried only having one keyboard hooked up at a time?yeah. doesn't help me. besides, i had the 2 keyboard setup for a while now, its never had any issues. but one keyboard was one the ps/2 port, the other usb. (dell keyboard, logitech illuminated) right now the IBM is still connected, even though it doesn't do anything. the other keyboard, the one I'm using, the logitech, works fine. normally if you have two keyboards its possible to use them at hte same time (if you have 4 hands) or one at a time. if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running, the keyboard will not be seen again until the next restart. (typical of ps/2 keyboards). Quote from: 10twenty on May 25, 2011, 08:23:58 AM if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running This is not a good idea. PS/2 ports are designed to connect the digital I/O lines of the microcontroller in the external device directly to the digital lines of the microcontroller on the motherboard. They are not designed to be hot swappable. Hot swapping PS/2 devices usually does not cause damage due to the fact that more modern microcontrollers tend to have more robust I/O lines built into them which are harder to damage than those of older controllers; however, hot swapping can still potentially cause damage on older machines, or machines with less robust port implementations. Like I said above. oh, i didn't know that, but I almost never do that ever anyways, becasue ps/2 stuff isn't hot-swappable. i just leave it plugged in when ever the system is running. Quote from: 10twenty on May 25, 2011, 11:32:46 AM but I almost never do that ever anyways "Almost never" is a meaningless concept. Like almost being a virgin. You wrote "if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running, the keyboard will not be seen again until the next restart". How do you know this unless you have done it al least once? Once is all you need to cause damage. Of course, you are perfectly free to ignore what I have written, if you don't like it. I absolutely agree with SalmonTrout.I haven't done that with the IBM, but remember from experience with my first computer. anyway, this isn't the problem, the problem is the IBM keyboard not working with my computer but it works fine on any other computer. I still haven't be able to figure out what is causing the problem and how to fix it. Going back thru your post you state the key board didn't even show up in the bios. Then after using the ps/2 - usb adapter you said your comp shows two keyboards in the bios. So i am guessing that was an improvement and a step in the right direction or do you still have two keyboards hooked up and are trying to get a third one going as well?Hi, Just goggling your keyboard it would seem that modern motherboard manufactures are not designing their PS2 ports to the old standard and as your keyboard ( the best in the word ) is quite old it doesn't work. Also it would surprise me if it worked on a USB to PS2 adapter. This is copied from http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17305-All-my-IBM-Model-Ms-won-t-work-until-I-restart./page4 Seems to me it is not the PS/2's fault modern motherboard designers ignore the correct specs. When plugged into my Lenovo Thinkpad Docking Bay's PS/2 port, IBM M keyboards work exactly as designed - no adapters needed. Perhaps IBM/Lenovo remembered to allow sufficent power at the port for all keyboards - new and old - to work. That makes the motherboards you guys want to use the actual problem. What other detail did the designers miss? An industry standard port should work, period. What motherboard are you using and there maybe a bios setting that will fix it.

Answer»

I was so excited when my IBM keyboard came in the mail today, I couldn't wait to try it out. I turned off my system, plugged in the keyboard, started my computer up, and nothing!
My new keyboard doesn't work! Its plugged into the PS/2 port, but it doesn't show up on my system. It doesn't even show up/work in BIOS. Its not in device manager, or anywhere else.
The PS/2 port was just working moments before with my other keyboard, an '02 Dell OEM one. It was working prior to the system shutdown, plugging in the IBM keyboard, system start up.
Am I missing something here?

for now I'm using my crummy old one (PS/2) that feels like typing on sponge. Pls help me!If it was working before the shutdown, and was working when you put the old keyboard back, the IBM one is probably dead. If it's an IBM branded keyboard, it's at least 15 YEARS old (when IBM made the last Model Ms).YEAH i suspected that, but I did test it to make sure it works on a different computer, the only other working computer in my house with a PS/2 port is some old PowerSpec PC with windows 95 (was my first computer).
so the keyboard definitely works. but the huge difference in OS doesn't really give me any help there.

[edit]
some good news, after several restarts I'm able to get my PC to turn on the num lock light on the keyboard, so that means at least for the split second the computer turns on the keyboard is connected and recognized?
currently the num pad light is on, so the keyboard does have power however it doesn't do anything else. device manager still see my IBM keyboard. Not sure if this will work but you could try the keyboard in a PS2 to USB adapter, they are pretty cheap.Some PS/2 ports on motherboards are more robust than others. Some PS/2 ports stick closer to the spec than others. It is possible for a a bad keyboard to be not recognised (or even kill the PS/2 port) on one computer but still work OK on a different computer.

I tried my keyboard at work today, it works great on the Windows XP Pro. It didn't work on the PS/2 port so I bought the adapter.
I bought it home with high hopes the adapter solves the problem, it does not. the keyboard is recognized by windows & BIOS, but it doesn't work in either MODE, none of the keys work, the num lock light turns on when the system starts up and stays on, but nothing else happens. in BIOS/POST the computer sees 2 keyboards & 1 mouse, 2nd keyboard being the logitech I'm using right now. in Windows (Vista) its seen as a "Human Interface Device", and windows claims its working properly despite me not being able to use it at all. it did automatically install drivers for "HID keyboard device" when i first plugged it in today.

I also tried every USB port I have on my PC to see maybe that might IMPROVE things (8 total), it made no difference.

I don't understand why doesn't it work on my computer. what else could be the problem?Have you tried only having one keyboard hooked up at a time?yeah. doesn't help me.
besides, i had the 2 keyboard setup for a while now, its never had any issues. but one keyboard was one the ps/2 port, the other usb. (dell keyboard, logitech illuminated)

right now the IBM is still connected, even though it doesn't do anything. the other keyboard, the one I'm using, the logitech, works fine. normally if you have two keyboards its possible to use them at hte same time (if you have 4 hands) or one at a time. if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running, the keyboard will not be seen again until the next restart. (typical of ps/2 keyboards). Quote from: 10twenty on May 25, 2011, 08:23:58 AM

if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running

This is not a good idea. PS/2 ports are designed to connect the digital I/O lines of the microcontroller in the external device directly to the digital lines of the microcontroller on the motherboard. They are not designed to be hot swappable. Hot swapping PS/2 devices usually does not cause damage due to the fact that more modern microcontrollers tend to have more robust I/O lines built into them which are harder to damage than those of older controllers; however, hot swapping can still potentially cause damage on older machines, or machines with less robust port implementations. Like I said above.

oh, i didn't know that, but I almost never do that ever anyways, becasue ps/2 stuff isn't hot-swappable. i just leave it plugged in when ever the system is running. Quote from: 10twenty on May 25, 2011, 11:32:46 AM

but I almost never do that ever anyways

"Almost never" is a meaningless concept. Like almost being a virgin. You wrote "if i disconnect the IBM anytime the system is up & running, the keyboard will not be seen again until the next restart". How do you know this unless you have done it al least once? Once is all you need to cause damage. Of course, you are perfectly free to ignore what I have written, if you don't like it.
I absolutely agree with SalmonTrout.I haven't done that with the IBM, but remember from experience with my first computer.

anyway, this isn't the problem, the problem is the IBM keyboard not working with my computer but it works fine on any other computer. I still haven't be able to figure out what is causing the problem and how to fix it. Going back thru your post you state the key board didn't even show up in the bios. Then after using the ps/2 - usb adapter you said your comp shows two keyboards in the bios. So i am guessing that was an improvement and a step in the right direction or do you still have two keyboards hooked up and are trying to get a third one going as well?Hi,

Just goggling your keyboard it would seem that modern motherboard manufactures are not designing their PS2 ports to the old standard and as your keyboard ( the best in the word ) is quite old it doesn't work. Also it would surprise me if it worked on a USB to PS2 adapter. This is copied from
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17305-All-my-IBM-Model-Ms-won-t-work-until-I-restart./page4

Seems to me it is not the PS/2's fault modern motherboard designers ignore the correct specs. When plugged into my Lenovo Thinkpad Docking Bay's PS/2 port, IBM M keyboards work exactly as designed - no adapters needed.

Perhaps IBM/Lenovo remembered to allow sufficent power at the port for all keyboards - new and old - to work. That makes the motherboards you guys want to use the actual problem. What other detail did the designers miss? An industry standard port should work, period.

What motherboard are you using and there maybe a bios setting that will fix it.

Solve : IBM Model M Keyboard not working on my computer??

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