PS/2 Y splitter doesn't work

PS/2 Y splitter doesn't work

Document number: 39067

The PS/2 y splitter is intended to allow a keyboard and a mouse to both be connected to one PS/2 port. This is useful when the serial port is being used by another device such as the Palm cradle. Unfortunately it doesn't always work. These steps assume that the mouse and the keyboard work properly when not being used with the splitter.

The first step is to make sure you are using the supported PS/2 splitter - a Belkin splitter.

Second, try switching the plugs around. Put the mouse into the keyboard plug and the keyboard into the mouse plug.

Next you need a Toshiba keyboard. If you have the Microsoft keyboard and a mouse running through the splitter, often only the mouse will work. Running the keyboard through the splitter solo works fine, and running the mouse through the splitter solo works fine, but running both will cause the keyboard to fail. In testing we've found lots of other keyboards that cause the same problems, HP keyboards, Logitech keyboards, Belkin keyboards, etc. Most of the Toshiba keyboards will work through the splitter with a mouse attached. So the simplest answer to this problem is to find a Toshiba keyboard. PeopleSoft standard is the Microsoft keyboard so a Toshiba one may not be available. If they are available they are a recycle item. Submit a request through NorthStar. See document 70001 — How to create a service ticket in NorthStar. If one is not available you may need to purchase it for yourself. If you can persuade your manager that you have a business purpose for requiring one submit a purchase request. For information about a purchase requisition, see Eureka! document 17202 — How to Enter a New Requisition using ePro.

If you're running Windows 2000 you can get yourself a USB device. Doesn't matter if it's a mouse, a keyboard, or both. USB support is one of the better features in Windows 2000. Unfortunately USB devices are not standard equipment. If you can persuade your manager that you have a business purpose for requiring one submit a purchase request. For information about a purchase requisition, see Eureka! document 17202 — How to Enter a New Requisition using ePro. USB is not supported in Windows NT4. It is possible to configure the BIOS to allow use of USB devices but it is not a supported feature.