I have an old Portable AST 386 SX25 running with DOS 5.0 and Win 3.1 and want to use an external keyboard and a mouse. I use the keypad plug for the keyboard and the serial for the mouse. I found a mouse PS/2-->serial adapter in the box of a logitech cordless desktop and tried to use it, but the PC would not detect the mouse, is there a particular driver I need or a manipulation I have to do in order to get it working? Thanks.

Adapters dont work well as I have found out too. Just use a real serial mouse (if you can find one). I don't know why ps/mouse is standard now, but things are even getting worse with USB mice ;-)

Speaking of USB ports, what is the function of having USB mice, keyboards, and joysticks. These are just input devices that input a 1 bit per stroke, pixel movement, or click. They do not need to communicate with the machine at 100Mbps like scanners and other high data transfer input devices. Can someone tell me what is up with the "USB fad"? I think it is getting just rediculous.

I found a new serial mouse for about 5.5 dollars, so at least the problem is settled. I must admit I don't see the utility of making USB mouses, keyboards or joysticks (except for the Force Feedback ones).

I have electrical surge and my computer go off,I had raperied most of the things but still my keyboard dont work whit ps/2 port,mouse is ok,I have usb port,will usb-keyboard work?keyboard is ok on another computer,everything else work fine.