KVM switch problem

[trollacious]

I recently installed a simple, Belkin 2-port PS2 KVM switch so my wife could share the mouse, keyboard, and monitor between her personal (Compaq 866Mhz) and work computer. It worked great until she switched to a different company, and their tech came in to install their computer.

Now, the work computer will not respond to mouse and keyboard activity if it's turned on first, only if the Compaq is started first. It does fine with the mouse and keyboard connected directly, so that's not the problem. I switched the sets of cables between the computers, so that's not the problem.

Compaq is running Windows ME, the other computer (custom made, probably a Pentium 1.8 or 2.0 Ghz) Windows XP Pro. I don't think the OS is a factor in this, though.

The only thing I've come up with so far is that the business computer either has too weak of a power supply to power the KVM switch, or that there's something wrong with the motherboard so the PS2 ports aren't putting out enough juice by itself.

Any ideas? Should I be expecting a power supply failure or MB failure with the company's computer?

Lee

Has anyone else

 

[franklin97355]

Is this USB or ps/2?

 

[trollacious]

It's a PS2, mentioned in the first line of my post.

Lee

 

[Freestone]

We had the same problem at work which was resolved by replacing the Belkin with a Linksys 2-port KVM.

 

[trollacious]

Since this is for home, I don't want to spend more money on a KVM switch. This one works, but only if the Compaq is turned on first. I'm curious if it's a sign of a problem with the other computer.

Looking on the Internet didn't get me anything that looked relevant, and neither did a search at Belkin's website.

Lee

 

[Freestone]

We never found an answer either. In our case, the two PCs were both IBM, one of Pentium 2 age, the other Pentium 4.

 

[edfair]

The KVM is probably a keyboard port powered switch. Robs power from the keyboard port and powers the box and the keyboard with it.
Turning one computer on gives half as much available power as having 2 machines on. So it doesn't set up correctly.

Sometimes you can buy an external power supply for them. Otherwise have the 2nd computer on.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[trollacious]

You're right that it robs power from the PS2 ports, but has no adapter for an external power supply. The problem comes from it not working with one of the computers on alone, but doing fine with either of 2 others on alone. This means that 2 of the 3 computers are putting out enough power to run the switch, but the third isn't. I wondered if that was common, or if it's an indication of something headed for failure with the one computer.

Lee

 

[micker377]

On the "failing" computer, try a different keyboard (or switch keyboards around), to see if any keyboard is loading down the power that is available.

 

[edfair]

This is an all too common problem. An earlier Cybex solution was the external supply that plugged into one of the keyboard ports for those instances where there were not enough machines plugged in to fully power the box.

Given the same problem, I would supply power from an external supply by hooking it into a keyboard extension cable in such a way as to block the supply from the keyboard port. But that would assume some level of technical skill not identified at this point.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[trollacious]

Hooking in an external power supply would mean disassembling the KVM switch and snipping wires, then finding a compatible power supply and wiring that in. I think blocking the power supply from the keyboard port would interfere with the keyboard being powered, and that wouldn't be effective.

I'll try swapping keyboards and mice when I get a chance today.

Lee

 

[edfair]

You don't have to hack the switch. You hack a keyboard extension cable. The keyboard powers from the KVM switch.

You're overthinking.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.