What Are PS/2 Ports and PS/2 Connectors? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Accessories & Hardware 31 31 people found this article helpful

What Are PS/2 Ports and Connectors?

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 14, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Accessories & Hardware Keyboards & Mice The Ultimate Guide to Keyboard Shortcuts The Ultimate Guide to Keyboards The Ultimate Guide to Computer Mice The Quick Guide to Webcams Monitors Cards HDD & SSD Printers & Scanners Raspberry Pi PS/2 is a now-defunct, standard type of connection used to connect keyboards, mice, and other input devices to a computer. Generally, it refers to the types of cables (PS/2 cable), ports (PS/2 port), and other connectors used with these types of keyboards and mice. These ports are round and consist of 6 pins. In most cases, purple PS/2 ports are intended to be used by keyboards, while green ones are to be used by mice. This connection type was first introduced in 1987 with the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal computers. The standard has been completely replaced by the much faster, and more flexible, USB standard in consumer machines. PS/2 was officially declared as a legacy port in the year 2000, paving the way for USB's complete takeover. PS2 is also short for Sony's PlayStation 2, but the cables, ports, and other related hardware of the gaming console are unrelated to the PS/2 connection type.

Is There Any Use for PS 2 Anymore

For the most part, no, PS/2 really is gone. There aren't piles of PS/2 devices sitting around with nowhere to go. Computers and their peripherals migrated to USB at roughly the same time. There was a time during the transition, however, when you might have bought a new computer that only had USB ports, but you wanted to use your trusty, PS/2-based keyboard and mouse. In those situations, a PS/2-to-USB converter might come in handy (more on that below) and might be a reason you'll still find the occasional PS/2 device at home. PS/2 does tend to work better than USB in a "switching" environment, where one keyboard, mouse, and monitor operates a number of different computers. This sort of setup is common in data centers, albeit older ones. Remote access software is now more commonly used in the business and enterprise environments, allowing anyone with access to connect to an unlimited number of other computers remotely, negating the need for PS/2 switching devices altogether. However, PS/2 might be preferred in some situations where security is critically important. If the computer runs on this older standard only, then all USB connection types can be disabled to prevent removable devices from transferring viruses to the computer or copying files off of it. Another use for PS/2 is if entering the BIOS setup utility proves difficult with a USB device. Problems with USB drivers could prevent the keyboard from interacting with the utility, something that PS/2 usually doesn't have an issue with. PS/2 might also be used if there's a limited number of USB ports. PS/2 can be used for the keyboard and mouse to free up USB ports for other devices like external hard drives.

Do PS 2 to USB Converters Work

Monoprice / Amazon PS/2-to-USB converters provide a way to connect older PS/2-based devices to a computer that only supports USB. They are a great option if you have newer input devices that use USB, but you're not quite ready to upgrade your entire computer. Just plug a converter in between the keyboard/mouse and the USB port. Unfortunately, these converter cables are notoriously buggy and often only support certain types of PS/2 keyboards and mice. This is less of a problem as time goes on and these lesser products are removed from the market, but it's something to keep in mind as you shop. Like all computer hardware, if you're in the market for this kind of converter, do some research and read product reviews—Amazon lists plenty of PS/2-to-USB converters. No doubt a highly rated converter will do the job.

What Do You Do When a PS 2 Keyboard or Mouse Locks Up

There are lots of reasons why a computer might lock up, sometimes called freezing, but when you know it's just the keyboard or mouse, and they're PS/2-based devices, the solution is usually pretty simple. Typically, this happens when the mouse or keyboard comes loose just enough to lose connection with your computer. Unfortunately, just pushing the port into the receptacle again isn't enough. Unlike the newer USB standard, PS/2 is not hot-swappable, meaning you cannot unplug and plug-back-in a PS/2 device and expect it to work. Your computer must be restarted once a firm connection is reestablished. Add this to the long list of reasons why USB is an improvement on PS/2. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix It When a Keyboard Won't Type How to Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to Steam Deck USB (Universal Serial Bus): Everything You Need to Know 8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Computer Mouse How to Set Up a Bluetooth Device on a PC How to Fix It When the Cursor Disappears in Windows 10 How to Choose an External Hard Drive What Does the Inside of Your PC Look Like? Take a Tour How to Pair a Logitech Mouse How to Unlock a Keyboard That's Locked How to Disable a Laptop Keyboard in Windows 10 Wired vs. Wireless Mice: Which Is Better? What Is a Mouse? (Computer Mouse Definition) How to Use Nintendo Switch With a Keyboard and Mouse USB-C vs. USB 3: What's the Difference? What is a USB Port and How Can You Use It? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies