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Plug in and Use PS/2 Mouse After Boot Time

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rayen99

Technical User
Sep 7, 2002
74
US
Is it possible to boot the computer without a PS/2 mouse and then plug one in later and use it. If so how would I do this? I've tried plugging it in and going to Device Manager and clicking "Scan New Hardware Changes", but it didn't find anything. Nothing shows up in my devices list in the mouse cpl in Control Panel. I know you can do this on most laptops which makes me think that I should be able to on a desktop PC. Any ideas?
 
Well in some cases it is possible, depends largely on the Motherboard, and how new the computer is. Newer ones tend to allow this, but older ones dont support it. Try pluggin in a Serial mouse, or even a USB mouse. Or does it have to be a PS2 mouse.

And sorry for the question, but why can't you plug it in before you boot up the computer???

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
 
Vacunita thanks for the reply. I could use a serial or USB mouse and I could plug it in before boot time, but I'm mostly asking because I'm just plain curious about it as I've wondered if this was possible for a long time. Many times I'll be working on multiple computers with no KVM switch, just one kbd and mouse. In this case it's a hassle to move the cables everytime I boot one of the computers. It would be nice to avoid this. In Linux and MS-DOS this is easy to do, irregardless of the motherboard make/model. I don't understand why it's a hassle in Windows.
 
never been able to do this on older or newer mobos!

so if you find a way......
 
It's not good practice to plug or unplug PS/2 devices whilst the motherboard is powered up. I believe there is insufficient buffering on PS/2 compared with USB. I've seen keyboard and mouse port PS/2 interfaces irretrievably damaged by users having done this - no other explanation could be found. You may get away with it nine times out of ten, but it's not something I'd want to chance...

ROGER - G0AOZ.
 
I have never been able to plug in a PS/2 mouse after boot and get it to work.

Shannan
 
I have been able to do it, but only in certain PC's. My deskopt at home, does it, however my deskopt at work does not.

Both of them are custom built by me, the only difference is the motherboard. My home PC has an Intel MB, forget the model, and the office one is a generic brand MB. Mice are both the same. Genius PS2 mouse with scroller. Although the one at home also has a Microsoft USB Optical trackball plugged in. The PS2 is there because my girlfriend doesnt like the trackball when she plays solitaire.

Anyway, i can unplug the PS2 and plug it back in no problems. But at the office if I unplug the mouse, i have to either plug in a USB or serial, or reboot the PC. It does not pickup the PS2 mouse after its been disconnected unless I reboot.

I don't have a definite answer as to why, except to say the different brands and models of MB will support it while others wont.




----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
 
If you put the computer to sleep and plug the mouse in it should see it when it wakes up.
Works on my Asus NForce mobo at least, and this cheapy Dell at work here.
 
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