Introduction
This article aims to address a specific issue encountered when using a PS/2 keyboard with a Gigabyte GA-A320M-H-CF mainboard through a PS/2-to-USB converter. The keyboard, made by Siemens and built around 1994, exhibited strange behavior with several non-PC keys.
Background
The Gigabyte GA-A320M-H-CF mainboard is a Micro-ATX form factor motherboard released in 2017. It is designed to support modern components and operates primarily using USB connections. However, it still includes a PS/2 keyboard connector for compatibility with older peripherals.
The Issue
The Siemens PS/2 keyboard, which was built around 1994 and unused for many years, showed strange behavior when connected to the Gigabyte GA-A320M-H-CF mainboard using a PS/2-to-USB converter. Some non-PC keys, such as the calculator key and the Windows key, did not function as expected.
Troubleshooting
After investigating the issue, several potential solutions were explored:
Checking the Keyboard
The first step was to check the keyboard itself. The keyboard was cleaned and tested on another computer to ensure that it was functioning correctly. The results showed that the keyboard was indeed working properly.
Checking the PS/2-to-USB Converter
The next step was to test the PS/2-to-USB converter. The converter was tested with a known-working PS/2 keyboard, and the results showed that the converter was also functioning correctly.
Updating the BIOS
The BIOS on the Gigabyte GA-A320M-H-CF mainboard was updated to the latest version. This update did not resolve the issue.
Using a Different PS/2-to-USB Converter
A different PS/2-to-USB converter was tested, but the issue persisted.
Using a USB Keyboard
As a last resort, a USB keyboard was used instead of the PS/2 keyboard. The issue was resolved, and the non-PC keys functioned correctly.
Although the Gigabyte GA-A320M-H-CF mainboard includes a PS/2 keyboard connector for compatibility with older peripherals, using a PS/2 keyboard through a PS/2-to-USB converter may result in issues with certain non-PC keys. In this case, the use of a USB keyboard resolved the issue.