hot-pluggable PS/2 ports in laptops ?

[rh71]

I've always been told (and in my A+ studies way back when) that serial and PS/2 ports are not hot-pluggable... which means you shouldn't plug/unplug while the machine is on. Well I was wondering if that's still the case these days. The MIS guys at work don't care and plug/unplug keyboards, etc. all the time even when the machine is on.

So I have this laptop here and was wondering if I could just throw a PS/2 mouse in the port even while this thing is on...

 

[Heisenberg]

I wouldn't.

 

[Zugzwang152]

it's worked for me, i've switched out PS2 mice all right, no problems...i'm not sure what the problem would be. Wouldn't be an issue with the bios, whether or not hot switching is okay?

 

[amnesiac]

It won't break anything but sometimes the comp might freeze.

 

[RossMAN]

I wouldn't.

 

[bmacd]

if you didn't have a ps2 mouse in when you booted, it probably won't recognize it.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: bmacd
if you didn't have a ps2 mouse in when you booted, it probably won't recognize it.

-=bmacd=-

but if you unplug the ps2 and put in a usb mouse, it will work.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: bmacd
if you didn't have a ps2 mouse in when you booted, it probably won't recognize it.

-=bmacd=-

I didn't think it would... but keyboards on desktops detect fine if you did it that way... was just curious.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: bmacd
if you didn't have a ps2 mouse in when you booted, it probably won't recognize it.

-=bmacd=-

but if you unplug the ps2 and put in a usb mouse, it will work.

Yes, I found this to be true... USB anything is hot-pluggable... but I wish the extra mouse I have laying around were USB... but it isn't...

 

[brunswickite]

i wouldnt, its not meant to, could fvck it up

 

[Evadman]

Over in hardware, I have heard of reports of that toasting the PS/2 ports. Never had that heppen to me as I have blugged and unplugged keyboards before. *shrugs*

 

[Jynx980]

You can but your not supposed to. Worst case scenario it would probably just freeze up.

 

[MacBaine]

I've done it all the time on my dad's old laptop... IBM Thinkpad.. never had any problems.. just took a few seconds to start working.

 

[amdforever2]

I've killed keyboard PS/2 ports that way.

Really sucks if bios isnt setup for USB keyboard and you fry the PS/2 port.

bye bye mainboard.

 

[kami333]

I've done it, no problems.

 

[Autumnscarbi]

I've done it with my laptop....no problems....

 

[rh71]

It's my work laptop (Thinkpad) so I best not do it then. Not because I'd get in trouble, but it'd be a PITA to have to replace stuff on it.

 

[Vadatajs]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
I wouldn't.

I can and do with my laptop. It's not going to fuch anything up. The only thing that could happen is it could freeze (but it doesn't).

 

[DaFinn]

Hmmm,

works on my thinkpad... everytime! And also in the Compaqs we have at work... Done so for 3 years that we have had lappies at work. I haven't managed to break any ps/2 ports yet (knocks on wood).

 

[stevewm]

PS/2 ports are not electrically designed to be hot-swapped. In hot-plug capable connectors the pins/contacts are arranged so that the Ground pins are sure to make contact first before anything else. (look inside a USB plug, notice how 2 pins are longer than the others?) With PS/2/Serial/Parallel connectors this is not the case.

Personally I've fried 2 keyboards and ruined the keyboard port on 1 motherboard by hot-plugging.


If when doing this you make sure all the pins connect/disconnect at the same time you're not likely to have troubles. Just remember to pull the plug out straight, and fast.

For serial or parallel ports hot-plugging isn't really a issue. These ports do not have active signals on them unless you are sending data to them. Just stop using the attached device and close any application using the port before you plug/unplug the device

PS/2 ports on the other hand have a active signal all the time, even if your not actively using the devices attached to them.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: stevewm
PS/2 ports are not electrically designed to be hot-swapped. In hot-plug capable connectors the pins/contacts are arranged so that the Ground pins are sure to make contact first before anything else. (look inside a USB plug, notice how 2 pins are longer than the others?) With PS/2/Serial/Parallel connectors this is not the case.

Personally I've fried 2 keyboards and ruined the keyboard port on 1 motherboard by hot-plugging.


If when doing this you make sure all the pins connect/disconnect at the same time you're not likely to have troubles. Just remember to pull the plug out straight, and fast.

For serial or parallel ports hot-plugging isn't really a issue. These ports do not have active signals on them unless you are sending data to them. Just stop using the attached device and close any application using the port before you plug/unplug the device

PS/2 ports on the other hand have a active signal all the time, even if your not actively using the devices attached to them.

Good info! THanx.