Want to use PS2 Mouse

First thing is to run BIOS setup and make sure the PS/2 mouse port is turned on.

Are you connecting the PS/2 mouse while the PC is turned on? That won't work and is a shortcut to frying your system. Power off the PC, plug in the PS/2 mouse and then power on.

You can only plug/unplug USB devices while the system is on. You should never do that with PS/2, serial, parallel, video or audio connections.

Ron

Ron,

Thanks for the reply.  I had already checked the BIOS but I checked it again and I did not see any settings that have anything to do with the PS2 port(s) being enabled or disabled.  My keyboard is currently operating via the PS2 keyboard connection without any problems.

When I set up the system I connected the PS2 mouse prior to the system being started so I believe I avoided any problems or issues with a PS2 device not being a plug/play device. 

Is it possible that there is no device driver currently installed for a PS2 style mouse?

Thaniks for your help, it is appreciated.

Dave Adams.

Dave,
No offense intended, but do you know this PS/2 mouse actually works? Can you try it on another system? Or borrow a PS/2 mouse that you know works and test it on this system?

Don't know bios on your system but on my 8400, there's an option to turn off the mouse PS/2 port in bios even though I use PS/2 keyboard. Have you looked in XP's Device Manager to see if PS/2 port is listed? I have it turned off so don't see a PS/2 entry (and don't know for sure that XP shows one).

May not apply to you but my Logitech MX1000 cordless laser mouse won't work via PS/2 on my 8400 even though Logitech says it should. I have to use USB. My old Logitech cordless ball mouse does work on the same PS/2 port. Logitech says Dell's PS/2 port (at least on the 8400) may not be fully up to industry standards for PS/2. Dell just says "so use USB".

Ron

Ron,

I did check the "Device Manager" and the only mouse listed is the USB mouse which is why I thought that maybe a device driver was not installed.  The mouse I am using worked on another system a couple of weeks ago but I will try another mouse to rule out a hardware problem (no offense taken).  Thanks.

Dave.

PS/2 mice are so generic that most/all should have at least minimal function with XP's built-in drivers so I tend to doubt that's the problem. You could always run a system file check to replace any damaged XP files:

click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok

sfc will replace any missing/damaged system files. Insert your XP CD if sfc prompts you for it.

And if that doesn't do it, you have to consider that either the port is dead (have you ever used it?) or the port isn't compatible with this mouse -like my situation.

Ron