PS/2 to DIN-adapter not working \ VOGONS

PS/2 to DIN-adapter not working

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First post, by TwOne

Posted on 2015-01-31, 19:00

TwOne Offline

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Joined: 2014-06-01, 08:40
Location: the Netherlands

So, recently I picked up this modded Laser Expression 512P (dated 1996 according to the BIOS) for 7,50€ from a thrift store.

I also got a PS/2 to DIN-adapter here http://www.allekabels.nl/toetsenbord-kabel/22 … 2-naar-din.html (Dutch)

So, I got it in the mail today, used it to connect my cheap PS/2 keyboard to the system and... well nothing much happened. The system booted into BIOS, but I got the well known "keyboard error". The keyboard didn't respond to any button being pressed. I looked at the lights on the keyboard, and they all were blinking REALLY fast.

I decided to unplug the keyboard, and plug it into a modern PC with PS/2 ports (system is running Windows 7). It worked normally, all buttons worked fine, only the num lock light was on, so everything was correct.

So, what could the problem be? The system was claimed to be "working, just plug 'n' play" (this was the actual description the thrift shop people gave me). The adapter should work, since I read reviews on different sites about a extremely similar product, they all claimed that it worked properly.

A 90's kid reliving the 90's.
Win8.1: Core i5-4200H, GeForce 840M 2GB, 8GB RAM, 750GB HDD
Win7: Athlon II X2 220, GeForce GT 610 1GB, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD
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Reply 1 of 1, by alexanrs

Posted on 2015-01-31, 19:14

alexanrs Offline

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The PS/2 to DIN adapter is nothing out of the ordinary, the keyboards are eletrically compatible, just with a different connector. I'd take a multimeter (if you have one) and try a continuity test to see if the DIN pins are connected to their PS/2 counterparts... If that is correct, than the adapter is not at fault and for some reason your PC doesn't like your keyboard.

BTW have you tested it with another PS/2 keyboard? And a mini-DIN keyboard? It could be the PCs keyboard controller acting up.

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