I have an old computer from work that the kids use and the mouse crapped out. Unfortunately, it has a 9-pin serial connector and all the ones at the big box stores are PS/2 or USB. The computer doesn't have a PS/2 or USB port. I bought an optical mouse and an 9-pin to PS/2 adaptor but it won't work.

Where can you buy an old school mouse with a 9-pin connector?

Or is it easier to buy a USB or PS/2 port and go with a modern mouse?

 

Wow, I have completely forgot about those. You're best bet would be to buy a usb card. Make sure you have an extra slot first though. I know a lot of the old school computers came without any spare slots.

 

Bill - I probably have one you can have. Let me dig through my boxes 'o crap in my garage.

 

Thanks Mike,

Let me know if you find anything. In the mean time, I'll take the case apart to see if it has any spare slots to accept a USB board.

 

i might have an extra usb card or a mouse sitting around my house...ill let you know

 

here are enough to last you until the apocalypse.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-of-6-Microso...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Usb cards are usually PCI, if the computer has a PCI slot it usually has a ps/2 mouse connection too. They were around before PCI was around. Most motherboards have a ps/2 connection, the trick is to find the little internal cable to use it.

 

you could use a USB-to-serial adapter.

 

Then you create a serial port out of a usb port. He already has the serial port and doesn't have the usb port at the moment. I've never seen one work the other way, and I don't think thats possible. Usb is way faster then a serial port.

 

Tried that and it didn't work . Thanks though. More specifically, I bought a new mouse with a USB connector that also included a USB to PS/2 adaptor. Then I bought a PS/2 to serial adaptor which didn't work.

 

Ahhh, i've had to use an adapter before, but not two like that. Do you have a ps/2 mouse you could try with just the 9 pin adapter? I bet that would work.

 

Yep, tried that too, doesn't work.