Recently one of the ps/2 ports on my computer was damaged. The plastic pin from the keyboard plug broke off in the port. I've tried getting it out, but no luck. I've also tried using the same keyboard since the plug fits, but it won't work. The computer makes a high pitched whine if anything is plugged in. So next I plugged the keyboard into the other ps/2 port, removed the mouse from device manager, and plugged a combo PS/2 or serial mouse into com1. This didn't work either. It found the keyboard (in the good ps/2 port) fine, but won't see anything plugged into com1. I can get either the keyboard or the mouse to work fine in the one good port, just not both together. I've tried using both comm ports (one at a time), and tried changing each comm ports address in bios, but nothing has worked so far. I suspect it needs the ps/2 port to be disabled before it looks at com1, but I can't find any way to do that. The port is soldered onto the motherboard and the BIOS doesn't provide an option to disable it. Next I bought a ps/2 splitter which allows mouse and keyboard to share a port as might be used for a notebook, but this also didn't work. Only one device is recognized, either keyboard or mouse, but not both. Is there anything else I can try? Can the soldered-on port be removed or replaced? The computer is old (P100) but still usable until this happened. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Links for more info about this system:

System overview: http://www.ari-service.com/blender/cache/501964-301.htm

Picture of motherboard: http://www.ari-service.com/blender/data/29065/221475.gif

BIOS options available: http://www.ari-service.com/blender/data/28469/MorrisCMOS.txt

Yes, this port can be de-soldered and a new one soldered in, but find a good, experienced tech and don't trust the clowns at CompUSA to do it.

If all else fails, Yawning Dog Computer Systems of Va. Beach is qualified and will be happy to perform this operation http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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He thrusts his fists against the posts but still insists he sees the ghosts.

Try a very small drop of Super Glue on the end of a toothpick to extract the plastic piece.

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')

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