Model M Troubleshooting

Grantm56 · May 14, 2020

My grandparents were PC enthusiasts back in the 80's and 90's. While cleaning out their basement, they found an old IBM Model M from 1989. I currently have a Das Keyboard Ultimate 4 with Cherry MX blues. The buckling spring feel is certainly incredible. I would absolutely love to try it with my PC, but it seems like the PS2 port on my motherboard isn't providing the proper power for the keyboard. The lights blink on at first then nothing.

Any suggestions on active PS2 to USB interfaces? There's a SDL to USB interface on eBay, but it costs $50 USD. Any suggestions?

kelvinhall05 · May 14, 2020

You can build a Soarer's converter with a $5 Pro Micro and a female PS/2 port (probably less than $1).

You are doing this with the computer off, right? PS/2 keyboards can generally be removed and plugged back in when the computer is on, but not swapped or just outright plugged in for the first time when it's on.

HKG · May 23, 2020

Try to see if your keyboard works in the BIOS. If so, then it is Windows 10 (which disables the PS/2 port because its "legacy"). You can enable the PS/2 port by modifying a registry setting: https://connectwww.com/how-to-solve-ps-2-keyboard-and-mouse-not-working-after-windows-10-update/60806/

And as @kelvinhall05 said, the PS/2 port is NOT hot-swappable.