Are USB Keyboards generally pretty compatible?

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Threepwood

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I really need a new keyboard, and have this prejudice against USB keyboards, thinking that for some reason they are less compatible and give problems more often, though I'm not quite sure what this prejudice is based on exactly.

Other than that I might want to use it with some quite old PCs from time to time, like my old pentium 166 maybe, as I still use it now and again for old games, also wondering about Windows 98 compatibilty.

I have a USB to PS2 adapter, would that perhaps make it work in a system that otherwise rejects USB keyboards? I would have to use that in my old P166 anyway 'cos that hasn't got any USB. Pretty sure it never existed back then.

FYI this is what I'm eyeballing:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3046&cl=za,en

It looks nice has good reviews on Newegg.com, and is just a straight up keyboard, I hate all those shortcut keys and multimedia buttons.
 
Hi,

From my experience the whole USB keyboard thing isnt a major hassle. Your primary concern is in the Bios (Usually under advanced cmos setup) to enable USB Keyboard / Mouse support. Since the startup and dos areas of your PC dont have "drivers" or support for USB natively, this function in the bios enables the PC to support a USB keyboard / mouse out of the box in a dos environment.

Your only problem (since you mentioned your old faithful 166) might be that the BIOS doesnt have the functionality for enabling USB keyboard / mouse. You could try to check the manufacturers website for the last bios update they had for the motherboard you have (it might enable this function) - but dont try to find it in the main section of the support / downloads. It might be under legacy or discontinued areas of the website.

If you are running Windows 95(b) then there was a USB patch that was brought out for it, however, in my experience this didnt really work so well. Win98 was of course allot better.

Some boot disks (Ultimate BootCD / Hirens) have Dos drivers for USB, so that could also be a possibility if you are investigating playing old games on the system with your USB keyboard (Just google DOS USB driver). I hope you still know your DOS days, since you will have to do some editing in Autoexec.bat and Config.sys :D

Hope that helps
 
I prefer them.
I have "lost/blown/destroyed" PS2 ports before, but never a USB port.
 
I love my usb keyboard, never had any issues, except with the bios, for some strange reason my bios refuses to even recognise the keyboard (think the bios might be a bit screwy), so I still have an ol ps2 keyboard lying under my table if I need to get into the bios
 
I have a MS comfort Curve USB and never had a day of trouble with it......PS2 is old tech, go with USB.
 
You can use the usb keyboard with all your computers. If you have an issue with an older computer, you can use your adapter. I am using my usb keyboard with an old pc via the adapter.

Just one thing I picked up with a new pc. Please keep your ps2 keyboard for a rainy day. My new computer does not have ps2 ports at all, and I wanted to install windowsXP. It was not possible. :o
 
If you want to be absolutely sure, get a Microsoft USB keyboard. I have had no problems. As long as your BIOS supports "USB keyboard Support" or "Support USB legacy devices" then you are OK. I have had four of the Microsoft USB Ergonomic 4000 keyboards. They are great!
 
Okay seems like I'll probably go with the USB then.

My current keyboard is so screwed though (main enter key and backspace don't work very well), I don't think it's really worth keeping for a rainy day. Though if it may help installing an OS etc, probably a good idea even considering how messed up it is.

One thing I wonder though is, if you have to set up a USB keyboard in the BIOS with a USB keyboard from the start, that could be a problem. I'll get around it though I'm sure.
 
In my bios I have no issues. Even dos/linux/vista works. But NOT windowsXP. It seems that during the install, while loading the drivers, it disables the usb legacy mode, (as the keyboard lights go out) and never activates the keyboard again. There is a work around by using an unattended install (but I folded and installed vista).
 
Threepwood said:
Okay seems like I'll probably go with the USB then.

My current keyboard is so screwed though (main enter key and backspace don't work very well), I don't think it's really worth keeping for a rainy day. Though if it may help installing an OS etc, probably a good idea even considering how messed up it is.

One thing I wonder though is, if you have to set up a USB keyboard in the BIOS with a USB keyboard from the start, that could be a problem. I'll get around it though I'm sure.
Click to expand...

As far as I know the BIOS interface automatically turns on keyboard support while you are in the BIOS Interface, BUT... the very first time you want to hit DEL or F2 to get into the BIOS... you better have an old PS2 keyboard handy. ;)
 
Do you think using a USB > PS2 adapter would help with that?

For sure the only way to know 100% is try...
 
Most BIOSes written after 1999 should natively support USB keyboards.

I have never had a problem with my ASUS P5B, or the board I had before it.

I have a USB to PS2 adapter, would that perhaps make it work in a system that otherwise rejects USB keyboards?
Click to expand...

With 99% of keyboards. Fancy ones often don't like PS/2 adapters. My Logitech G15 won't work with one.
 
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