How do I connect the mouse to an ancient computer

[Magnum]

I found a computer from a bank.

It got both types of floppy drives on it and a CD player.

No, it had no hard drive.  :thumbu

I am putting Win 98 on it.

I can't connect the mouse.

I had to use an adaptor to connect the keyboard.

I saw a couple of serial ports in the back.

[Gunner]

Why can't you connect the mouse?  I doubt a bank would use a computer without a mouse...  Probably needs a PS/2 mouse... the PS/2 port is round (about 3/8" round) and green.  If you have a usb mouse, you will need a USB > PS/2 adapter

Make of computer?

[Magnum]

It definitely does not have a port for both a mouse and keyboard.

It's either a mouse or the keyboard.

I have been "tabbing" around for now.

Nothing on the case  except for a K lock, and a turbo button that doesn't seem to do anything.

AMD K-6, 64 Megs RAM,

There are 2 connections with 5 pins on one row and 4 pins on another.

There is a card I can not identify, will pull it and see what it is.

I am going to give it to my 7 yr. old grandson, if I can get a mouse working.

[Gunner]

There are 2 connections with 5 pins on one row and 4 pins on another.

Those are serial ports... they do make PS/2 > serial adapters... so you should be able to hook up a mouse, but you will have to make sure you get serial mouse drivers...

[MichaelW]

IIRC not all PS/2 mice will work with a serial port adapter. And Windows 98 should have no problem with a serial mouse.

[Magnum]

I found and installed a USB card, so my mouse is going.

For some reason, it can't detect a thumbdrive.

I had to use a CD to install some progs.

System Information for Windows could not identify the motherboard.

I need that information because the cable for the Turbo mode is disconnected.

I will try msinfo32.exe.

[dedndave]

the USB drive may be formatted as EX-FAT or NTFS
i don't think win98 will recognize it if it is

another program you might try to ID the m/b is aida32...

http://majorgeeks.com/download181.html

oh - another is CPU-Z

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

the d/l link is on the right
i know it looks like it only ID's the cpu, but it ID's a lot of other h/w, as well

[FORTRANS]

Hi,

   PS/2 to serial, and serial to PS/2, are manufacturer specific.
I found Logitech and Microsoft to be incompatible.  Back when.
How big a thumbdrive?  2 Gig was the limit for older systems
(depending on just about everything, but a FAT16 thing).

Regards,

Steve

[Magnum]

the USB drive may be formatted as EX-FAT or NTFS
i don't think win98 will recognize it if it is

another program you might try to ID the m/b is aida32...

http://majorgeeks.com/download181.html

oh - another is CPU-Z

aida32 properly identified the board.

cpu-z would not work under win 98.

The thumbdrive was FAT 32, it would recognize it when plugged in and tried to install a driver for it.

[Magnum]

Steve,

The thumbdrive is 2 Gb.

It has an O.S. on it, maybe that was an issue.

[dedndave]

if it isn't the format, perhaps it is the USB version
although, i thought USB-2.0 has been around a while

[Magnum]

The BIOS is 1998.

I don't think it knows what a thumbdrive is.

[Tedd]

The problem isn't even that advanced :bdg
Win98 has no generic USB Mass-Storage Device driver, so you need a specific driver for every device ::)

[Magnum]

It's a moot point now.

I recycled what I can and ditched it.

It's 128 Megs of RAM was a little slow.

I am now debating some IBM Selectric typewriters.

There are some heavy suckers.  :dazzled:

They probably don't make the ink anymore.

Andy