Have you checked the AT DIN connector carefully? I've had motherboards where the AT connector weren't properly fastened to the board (most likely due to shipping/handling damage) and the keyboard would not register. I think every time I tested that by applying pressure on the cable/connector downwards towards the motherboard while I rebooted the system. I then either resoldered the connection or soldered on a new AT DIN connector.

Other than that the PS/2 keyboard should work with that adapter.

Thanks for the reply,

hmmm, ive taken the board out and cant see any visible signs of damaged, and i've tried applying pressure
but no luck so far

If you want to adapt a USB keyboard to PS/2, it would have to support the PS/2 protocol. I've never tried to go USB to PS/2 to AT but I don't have a great deal of faith that it would work.

Pretty much any PS/2 keyboard should be able to work with a PS/2 to AT adapter.

Have you verified that the PS/2 keyboard is actually functional?

Where are you located?

ah ok then i will persist with testing with the PS/2 one, i just checked that the keyboard is functional on another machine
so that seems ok, the lights come on and its operational, but with the 5 pin adapter on my other machine nothing happens.
I'm located in the Netherlands. I'm wondering if its a mainboard issue then, hmmmm

Pics of the motherboard as well as a closeup of the keyboard connector area and the bottom of the motherboard where the keyboard connector is will help.

Here is a selection of images,

https://imgur.com/a/HzEo1xi

i dont see any thing obviously wrong with it, i can only think to use a multi-meter to test
the physical connections but i dont own one

Check the fuse near the keyboard port (f1) with a multimeter.

Also looks like the PS1 header should be for a PS/2 keyboard.

on page 19 of the manual it says PS1 is for a mouse but i will check the fuse,
i need to buy a multimeter soon, meanwhile thanks for the help ! 😀

I see its a VX board with USB header. If you don't get the AT DIN connector going using the board with USB keyboard could be an option (if it supports it outside Windows)