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Build Your Own PC: The PC Keyboard

Last updated on 20 January 2008

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This article consists of six pages. You can access the other five pages by clicking the relevant hyperlink below.

Step 5

The Expansion Cards and

Peripheral Devices

This set of pages is devoted to the following adapter cards and peripheral devices. Click the relevant heading to go to information on that subject.

The Keyboard

Unless you want to buy one of exotic alternatives, such as a wireless or USB keyboard, you will have to buy a PS/2 keyboard that has a plug that fits into the PS/2 keyboard port of an ATX motherboard.

A wireless keyboard could have a radio transmitter that connects to the PS/2 keyboard port itself, or to a USB port, or it can obtain a signal from an infrared (IR) transmitter connected to an IR port on the motherboard. A Bluetooth radio transmitter is usually connected to a USB port.

Note well that if you have two or more computers in a building or house that use wireless keyboards, the signals from one downstairs (or anywhere within the range of another computer) can be picked up by one upstairs so that all kinds of different windows and dialog boxes open, programs run, folders open - even entire folders with dozens of sub-folders and several thousand files might be copied to another folder on a different drive, depending on what was being done on the other computer(s). The prime suspect is usually a virus or some kind of spyware or malware, but few people ever come to the conclusion that signals from wireless keyboards are to blame.

Although it is very difficult to find AT keyboards, or AT motherboards, or AT cases, which are no longer manufactured, you should be aware that they exist in case someone tries to sell you an AT component, or you buy them from an Internet auction site. All motherboards are currently of the ATX or, to a much lesser extent, the BTX form factors. The BTX for factor has not yet taken over from the ATX form factor. See the first Motherboards page on this site for information on motherboard form factors.

An AT keyboard has a larger plug that cannot be fitted to an ATX motherboard unless you buy an AT to ATX conversion plug.

See the USB pages of this site for information on that subject. Note that USB keyboards and mice tend to be far more problematic than the PS/2 alternatives.

The PS/2 standard for mice and keyboards has been in existence since 1987 and is still supported by Windows Vista, which is the latest incarnation of Windows that comes as several different versions. Apple has got rid of PS/2 ports in all of its desktop and laptop PCs but, at the time of writing this (November, 2007), most desktop PC motherboard manufacturers still provide PS/2 ports for a mouse and keyboard on their motherboards.

That can be useful, because the other main standard used for mice and keyboards - USB - still has some flaws in its design that make it temperamental. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find that a USB keyboard and mouse don't work, and the only solution is to use a PS/2 alternative, provided that the PC's motherboard has a PS/2 mouse or keyboard port.

Many new PCs, particularly from Gateway and Dell, only provide USB ports. However, there are currently (November, 2007) still many new computers, including most new PCs from HP, that also provide PS/2 ports.

Most of the keyboard and mouse manufacturers provide devices that can operate with both PS/2 and USB ports. Adapters are available or come with new mice and keyboards that enable a PS/2 device to plug into a USB port and a USB device to plug into a PS/2 port. Note that these adapters won't work with just any keyboard or mouse. The device has to be designed to work with both types of port.

Installation instructions for these peripherals will be found in the motherboard's user manual, which either came with the computer, was packaged with the motherboard, or can usually be downloaded from the motherboard manufacturer's website.

In a Windows 95/98/Me system, the settings for the keyboard and mouse are found in the Start => Settings => Control Panel under the headings Keyboard and Mouse.

In a Windows XP system, they are also in the Control Panel, which can be accessed directly from the Start button.

For Windows Vista, look under the Hardware and Sound category in the Control Panel. Look for Keyboards and Mice and other pointing devices.

To find out how to make the best use of the Control Panel in Windows Vista, read:

The Windows Vista Developer Story: Control Panel User Interface -

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa905329.aspx#wvdcpui_topic3

Below is an illustration of the location of the PS/2 keyboard port on an ATX motherboard from an MSI motherboard manual. All of the ports appear at the back of the PC's case when the motherboard is installed in a tower (vertical) or desktop (horizontal) case. Visit the Motherboards, PC Cases, and Power Supply Units section of this site for information on them.

You can download the manuals for the latest MSI motherboards free of charge from http://www.msi.com.tw/.

The port above it is for a PS/2 mouse. A particular PS/2 port has to be used for a keyboard or a mouse, never for both. When connecting the keyboard and mouse make sure that you connect them to the correct ports. Most computers have color-coded PS/2 ports. If the computer has coloured ports the mouse usually connects to the green or teal connection, and the keyboard to the blue or purple connection.

If you need information on how to install a PS/2 or USB keyboard, read How To Install A Keyboard.

Click here to view annotated images of two ATX motherboards showing where the parallel port and the PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports are located. Click your browser's Back button to return here…

Keyboards range in price from as low as £6 to £50 for a standard PS/2 keyboard to £50 and more for keyboards with fancy ergonomic designs that have all kinds of keys for working the system that an ordinary keyboard does not provide. But a standard 101/102 key keyboard will give you all of the functionality needed to work the system.

You can also purchase wireless keyboards, but note that they are powered by batteries, which can be a nuisance to replace or recharge.

The Optical Desktop with Fingerprint Reader is a keyboard and mouse set. The keyboard is wired and the mouse is wireless. The fingerprint reader can be used so that only users that have fingerprint profiles can gain access to the computer.

Note that unless they have an alternative mains power connector and adapter, all wireless devices are powered by batteries.

When the keyboard driver has been installed, and the keyboard is attached to the computer, it will be listed as successfully installed in the Windows Device Manager under the heading Keyboard in Windows 95/98/Me and under Keyboards in Windows XP/Windows Vista.

Only USB and FireWire keyboards can be hotplugged, hot docked (hot docking), which means that the device can be connected to the computer while it is running. If your version of Windows supports USB, the USB driver will be loaded automatically. See the USB page on this site for more information on the standard. Other (non-serial, non-USB/FireWire) devices should never be hotplugged, since doing so could damage or destroy the motherboard. Note that a serial ATA (SATA) drive is a serial device and therefore it can be hot docked to a computer.

How parallel ports and keyboards work

If you want to find out how parallel ports and keyboards work, read these articles.

How Keyboards Work -

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/keyboard.htm

How Parallel Ports Work -

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/parallel-port.htm

If you want to learn what all of the keys on a keyboard do, click the following link to a keyboard tutorial page that shows an image of a keyboard. You click on a key to bring up a page of information on the purpose of that key. -

http://www.ckls.org/~crippel/computerlab/tutorials/keyboard/page1.html

Installing a computer keyboard:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000449.htm

"Everyone has heard of Bluetooth by now. After all, this technology has been in the making for more than seven years. Now that Microsoft has released the first Bluetooth keyboard and mouse set, this seems like a good time to have a proper look at the technology. While we're at it, we'll also take a good look at that first keyboard and mouse set, the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth." -

Read the full article on Tom's Hardware Guide -

http://www.tomshardware.com/newsletter/vol3/12/bluetooth.html

How Bluetooth Works - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bluetooth.htm

Wireless keyboards and mice

There is information on wireless keyboards and mice on the MOUSE page. Click here! to go directly to it.

KVM switches

How to use two or more computers with one keyboard, monitor, and mouse

If you want to access more than one computer but don't need to network them, there is a little-known device called a KVM switch that allows the operation of two or more computers from one set of keyboard - monitor - and mouse. The letters KVM stand for keyboard video and mouse, I suppose because KVM sounds better than KMM. Some of these switches can allow thousands of computers to be accessed in this way, and some of them even allow the use of one sound card and one set of speakers. The computers and the one set of keyboard, monitor and mouse are linked to the KVM switch, and key toggles are used to switch from one computer to another. All of the computers are tricked into thinking that they have sole use of the keyboard, monitor, and mouse. This is an invaluable aid if you need to use more than one computer but you don't need to have them networked.

You can purchase KVM switches from all of the larger online electronics and computer businesses. A four-computer model is typically priced from £36/$60 to £75/$125, and a two-computer unit is about half that price. Note that the more expensive units usually have superior cables and shielding from electronic interference than the less expensive units.

KVM Switches that do DVI from Aten -

"Using a KVM switch to work on two or more computers with a single keyboard, mouse and monitor can certainly make life easier. However, we had to wait a long time for KVM switchboxes to catch up with modern technology, such as the all-digital visual interface (DVI) connectors for flat panel displays. Until recently, users had no choice but to use only D-15 analog VGA connectors with KVMs - a relic of the bygone CRT era. But such devices now not only enable switching among multiple sound and USB sources, they can even switch between systems with two monitors attached." -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/...review-1370.html

Clutter Rescue: 2 Port KVM Switches -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/clutter-rescue,review-935.html

Belkin - http://www.belkin.co.uk/ - make a good line of KVM Switches that make use of the PS/2 or USB computer ports.

Articles on keyboards

Keyboards with Backlit Keys -

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/keyboard-backlight-backlit,review-1042.html

Why Buy a Gaming Keyboard? -

"When it comes to video game input devices, the keyboard is probably the furthest from ideal. Let’s face it, keyboards were not designed to serve as game peripherals. However, PC gamers have bent their gaming habits to fit the restrictions of the standard keyboard for so many years that most prefer keyboard controls to a gamepad." -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/why-buy-a-gaming-keyboard,review-29601.html

Exclusive First Look: Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave -

"We rarely get excited about a keyboard, particularly if it is an ergonomic one, but Logitech's Cordless Desktop Wave is something a little different. Rather than rattle out a standard ergonomic model with an odd shape that you have to retrain yourself to use, Logitech has gone back to the drawing board and started from scratch..."

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/news/121112/...

A Few Office Keyboards Reviewed -

"...most desktop PC's come with a generic keyboard attached, but sometimes these keyboards don't suit ones particular needs or sensibilities of style. Some people require a keyboard that will give them an edge in a videogame, others a keyboard that won't hog up the entirety of their limited desk space..."

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/...review-1724.html

The Keyboard of the Future? -

"While tuning into 'CSI' one day I saw this neat little projection keyboard, which supposedly worked with lasers. Alright, I thought, being gadget prone, I’ll bite and see if this thing is useable. So it looks neat, but how does it perform?..." -

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/laser-keyboard,review-2369.html

Google searches

If my descriptions are not clear enough for you, you'll be able to find many sites offering illustrated information on how to install computer components by entering a phrase such as "install a xxxx" (where xxxx stands for the device, such as RAM, hard disk drive, etc.) in the Google search box at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled).

Click here! to go to Page 4c on the mouse.

PC Buyer Beware! Copyright © Eric Legge 2004-2008. All rights reserved.