The only option you have to connect an external mouse to that laptop is using the serial port (the 9-pin one) on the back of the laptop. However, there are no optical mice compatible with serial ports, you'd have to get an old ball mouse.

You can connect Serial mouse via serial com port:

only optional port replicator contain ps/2 and VGA ports: PA2703U

aha2940 wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:48:

However, there are no optical mice compatible with serial ports, you'd have to get an old ball mouse.

Really?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OPtical-Laser-Serial … in/172255744441

MAZter wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:50:

You can connect Serial mouse via serial com port: […]
Show full quote

You can connect Serial mouse via serial com port:

is there any recommendation as to what brand to buy or sites most reliable to buy from? i forgot that i did in fact by a serial mouse from amazon, but it just didnt work at all. i would rather not risk that again. would it be best to purchase from ebay and not a random source on amazon? additionally, would an adapter possibly work? like serial to ps2? i know i have working ps2 mice.

MAZter wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:50:

aha2940 wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:48:

However, there are no optical mice compatible with serial ports, you'd have to get an old ball mouse.

Really?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OPtical-Laser-Serial … in/172255744441

Does that require the special mouse pad though?

morrysillusion wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:54:

is there any recommendation as to what brand to buy or sites most reliable to buy from? i forgot that i did in fact by a serial mouse from amazon, but it just didnt work at all. i would rather not risk that again. would an adapter possibly work? like serial to ps2?

Adapters exist but they are just wires. The mouse specifically has to support both serial and PS/2. It's the same situation as those that can do either USB or PS/2 with a passive adapter.

jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:55:

morrysillusion wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:54:

is there any recommendation as to what brand to buy or sites most reliable to buy from? i forgot that i did in fact by a serial mouse from amazon, but it just didnt work at all. i would rather not risk that again. would an adapter possibly work? like serial to ps2?

Adapters exist but they are just wires. The mouse specifically has to support both serial and PS/2. It's the same situation as those that can do either USB or PS/2 with a passive adapter.

alright, thank you for letting me know.

jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:54:

Does that require the special mouse pad though?

Yes, and it's included to package.

MAZter wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:50:

You can connect Serial mouse via serial com port: […]
Show full quote

You can connect Serial mouse via serial com port:

aha2940 wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:48:

However, there are no optical mice compatible with serial ports, you'd have to get an old ball mouse.

Really?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OPtical-Laser-Serial … in/172255744441

I meant more like a modern optical mouse that works on any surface, not old ones requiring a custom mousepad to work. The price on that one is not that bad though, might be interesting for OP.

morrysillusion wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:54:

is there any recommendation as to what brand to buy or sites most reliable to buy from? i forgot that i did in fact by a serial mouse from amazon, but it just didnt work at all. i would rather not risk that again. would it be best to purchase from ebay and not a random source on amazon? additionally, would an adapter possibly work? like serial to ps2? i know i have working ps2 mice.

Not every ps/2 mouse works together with ps/2/serial adapter.
So for fully authenticity I strong recommend to buy serial mouse, or mouse that described as special ps/2/serial compatible mouse. Any mouse (or pointer) require Dos driver to work, most well known is ctmouse. So make sure your pointer not working after loading this driver.

MAZter wrote on 2020-06-13, 03:03:

morrysillusion wrote on 2020-06-13, 02:54:

is there any recommendation as to what brand to buy or sites most reliable to buy from? i forgot that i did in fact by a serial mouse from amazon, but it just didnt work at all. i would rather not risk that again. would it be best to purchase from ebay and not a random source on amazon? additionally, would an adapter possibly work? like serial to ps2? i know i have working ps2 mice.

Not every ps/2 mouse works together with ps/2/serial adapter.
So for fully authenticity I strong recommend to buy serial mouse, or mouse that described as special ps/2/serial compatible mouse. Any mouse (or pointer) require Dos driver to work, most well known is ctmouse. So make sure your pointer not working after loading this driver.

alrigh, thanks. i will try the adapter (which i believe i have already) with the ps2 mice i have and if that doesnt work ill probably just go and get a serial mouse anyways. i will also be sure to looking ctmouse, i vaguely recall looking into that when trying to solce this issue months back but cant recall what i did at this point.

morrysillusion wrote on 2020-06-13, 01:06:

1) is there a way to fix the pointer?

At least pointer cap should be replaced. I'm not sure if it possible to buy original without keyboard.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Laptop-Keybo … 40/192848829290

Sometimes my laptop pointer stops working if the cap is not installed correctly