Use an active USB-to-PS/2 converter. Plug its USB connector into a motherboard USB port (or an internal USB header when using a bracket-style adapter), then connect the PS/2 keyboard and mouse to the converter’s labeled sockets. A passive green or purple plug is not a universal solution because USB and PS/2 use different signalling.
What the adapter actually does
A PS/2 keyboard or mouse sends data using the PS/2 protocol, while a USB-only motherboard expects USB signalling. An active converter contains electronics that translate between those protocols. The USB connector is the host-side connection to the motherboard; the PS/2 sockets are the device-side connections for your older peripherals.
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StarTech describes its USBPS2PLATE as an active converter for using PS/2 devices on computers without built-in PS/2 ports. Its product documentation also warns that newer USB keyboards and mice cannot simply use a basic adapter to connect to PS/2 because “the signal is of a different nature,” so active conversion is required for full functionality.
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Look for USB host to PS/2 device
Search for active USB to PS/2 adapter for keyboard and mouse. The wording matters: your motherboard supplies USB, while your peripherals have PS/2 plugs. A product advertised as PS/2-to-USB for connecting USB peripherals to an old PS/2-only computer is the reverse direction and will not solve this problem.
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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Why a green-and-purple passive plug may fail
Small color-coded plugs are often called adapters, but they do not necessarily translate protocols. They cannot be treated as universal converters for a modern USB motherboard and a PS/2-only keyboard or mouse. Unless the product specifically contains active USB-to-PS/2 electronics, assume it is the wrong item for this installation.
Decide between one socket and two
| Feature | What to choose | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion type | Active USB-to-PS/2 | Performs the required protocol translation; a passive plug does not provide universal conversion. |
| Direction | USB host to PS/2 device | Matches a USB-only motherboard with PS/2 peripherals. |
| PS/2 sockets | Two sockets if you need keyboard and mouse | Lets both devices connect through one converter, with each device placed in its labeled socket. |
| Installation | External USB plug or internal-header bracket | Use the external style when you want a simple rear-port connection; use a bracket when you want a permanent rear-panel installation. |
| Pre-boot support | Documentation that addresses BIOS, DOS or other pre-OS use | Operating-system detection does not guarantee that the keyboard or mouse will work in firmware menus. |
| Build quality | Secure connectors, clear labels and a documented pinout | Reduces loose connections and the risk of miswiring an internal header. |
A documented example is the StarTech USBPS2PLATE, an active unit with two PS/2 sockets and a USB host connection. Confirm the connector direction and current model details before buying; the important specification is the USB-host-to-PS/2-device path, not a similar-looking plug.
Choose external or internal installation
External adapter
An external converter is the least invasive option. It uses an available rear USB port and remains accessible if you move the keyboard or mouse to another computer. You do not open the case or connect to motherboard header pins.
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Internal expansion-bracket adapter
An internal bracket places the PS/2 sockets on an unused rear expansion position and connects to a vacant motherboard USB header. It can provide a tidy, semi-permanent connection, but the header wiring must match the adapter’s instructions and the motherboard’s pinout. Incorrect wiring can damage hardware, so do not infer the pin order from the physical shape of a connector.
Install an external USB-to-PS/2 converter
- Shut down the computer completely. Disconnect power if you will also be changing other connections.
- Plug the converter’s USB connector into a free USB port on the motherboard’s rear I/O panel. Connect directly to the motherboard rather than assuming a hub will perform conversion.
- Insert the PS/2 mouse plug into the converter socket marked with the mouse symbol or green label.
- Insert the PS/2 keyboard plug into the socket marked with the keyboard symbol or purple label.
- Restore power and start the computer. Once the operating system loads, wait for its plug-and-play detection to complete.
- Test typing and pointer movement. If only one device works, shut down again and check that each plug is in the matching labeled socket.
The converter should remain the only protocol-conversion component in this chain. A USB hub can add USB ports, but a hub alone cannot turn USB signalling into PS/2 signalling.
Install an internal bracket safely
- Shut down the computer, switch off the power supply if it has a switch, unplug the power cord and press the case power button once to discharge residual power.
- Remove the case panel according to the case manufacturer’s procedure. Keep screws and the bracket’s rear-slot hardware together.
- Select a free rear expansion position. Remove its blanking plate and mount the PS/2 bracket without forcing it against adjacent cards or the case frame.
- Locate a vacant motherboard USB header that matches the adapter cable and the motherboard manual. Do not rely on color alone; identify the keyed side, pin-one position and any missing pin.
- Connect the supplied cable exactly as shown in the adapter manual and motherboard documentation. A reversed or offset connection can damage hardware.
- If no internal header is available, use the unit’s documented external USB connection with an available rear USB port instead of improvising a header connection.
- Connect the PS/2 mouse to the green-labeled socket and the PS/2 keyboard to the purple-labeled socket.
- Reinstall the case panel, reconnect AC power and start the computer. The operating system should detect the adapter as a plug-and-play device.
Do not connect or disconnect an unknown internal header while the system is powered. If the adapter manual and motherboard manual show different header layouts, stop and resolve the pinout discrepancy before applying power.
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Set up the operating system and test both devices
After the operating system starts
Most active converters are intended to be detected automatically. Give the operating system time to enumerate the USB connection, then test every key you need and move and click the mouse. If the keyboard works but the mouse does not, check the green socket and the mouse cable before changing software settings.
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When the system needs a special driver
The supplied installation information describes plug-and-play detection. Do not install a random PS/2 driver package simply because the adapter has PS/2 sockets; first verify that the USB connection is recognized and that the adapter is the correct direction. Driver behavior can vary by operating system, so follow the adapter’s own documentation if it specifies a package or limitation.
Test before hiding an internal connection
For a bracket installation, test keyboard and mouse function with the case still accessible. Confirm that both work after a cold start and after restarting. Once the connections are stable, close the case fully.
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Make the keyboard or mouse work in BIOS and other pre-OS screens
Plug-and-play support after the operating system loads does not guarantee firmware support. The motherboard must initialize USB input before the operating system takes over.
Check legacy USB options
Enter the motherboard firmware setup using whatever input method is currently available, then look for options named USB Keyboard Support, USB Mouse Support, Legacy USB Support or similar. Enable the relevant option when it is present, save the change and restart. Menu names and behavior are motherboard-specific.
Understand power-on limitations
Some firmware versions can read a USB keyboard in setup but cannot use a USB keyboard to wake or power on the computer. ASUS documents motherboard-specific PS/2 power-on behavior and notes that certain BIOS versions do not support power-on by USB keyboard. If the keyboard works after startup but cannot turn the machine on, this may be a firmware limitation rather than a failed converter.
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Do not confuse a native PS/2 Y-cable setting with USB conversion
A setting such as PS2 Y-cable applies to a motherboard that already has a shared PS/2 connector. ASRock explains that boards with two native PS/2 ports use the green port for the mouse, while a single shared port may require enabling the PS2 Y-cable option. That setting does not create a PS/2 port on a USB-only board and does not replace an active USB-to-PS/2 converter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the converter in DOS or another pre-OS environment
Some older tools, boot menus and DOS configurations do not load a modern operating-system USB stack. The installation guidance for this type of bracket says to enable the motherboard’s USB Mouse Support or USB Keyboard Support options when those settings are available.
- Enable both options if you need both devices before the operating system starts.
- Save the firmware settings and perform a complete restart rather than testing only after a warm reboot.
- If the firmware has no such options, the converter may still work once the operating system loads but remain unavailable to DOS or a boot utility.
- Keep a fallback input method available while changing firmware settings, because a failed pre-boot configuration can leave you without navigation in setup.
Troubleshoot a converter that does not work
Nothing works at any time
- Verify that the product is labeled USB-to-PS/2, not PS/2-to-USB. Direction is the first check.
- Confirm that the converter is active and intended for a USB host with PS/2 devices. A passive color-coded plug is not a universal replacement.
- Move an external converter to a different rear motherboard USB port. Avoid assuming that a hub or front-panel extension is providing the same initialization.
- Check that the USB plug is fully seated and that the keyboard and mouse plugs are fully inserted into their labeled sockets.
- Test one PS/2 device at a time. This separates a failed peripheral or cable from a converter that cannot initialize either device.
It works in the operating system but not in BIOS
- Enter firmware setup by another available method and enable USB Keyboard Support, USB Mouse Support or Legacy USB Support if offered.
- Review the motherboard manual for firmware-specific USB initialization and power-on behavior.
- Try a direct rear USB connection instead of a hub, front-panel port or other intermediate device.
- Remember that a firmware limitation can prevent pre-boot or power-on use even when the converter and peripherals work normally after the operating system starts.
The mouse works but the keyboard does not, or vice versa
- Check the socket labels rather than relying only on plug colors. Put the mouse in the green-labeled socket and the keyboard in the purple-labeled socket.
- Disconnect both, connect only the failing device and restart. If it still fails, test that device on a known-compatible active converter or computer.
- Inspect the PS/2 plug for bent pins and verify that the cable is not under tension.
- If the operating system recognizes the USB converter but one PS/2 device never responds, the fault may be in that device, its cable or the converter’s individual socket.
An internal bracket causes instability
- Power off and unplug the computer before touching the header.
- Compare the cable orientation, keyed position and pin-one location with both manuals.
- Look for an offset connector, a header with a different pin arrangement or a cable intended for an external USB connection.
- Do not keep testing a questionable connection under power; incorrect wiring can damage the motherboard or adapter.
Can a USB hub solve the problem?
A hub can provide additional USB host ports when the computer has too few available connections, but it does not perform PS/2 protocol conversion. The active USB-to-PS/2 converter must still be in the chain. For the most reliable pre-boot test, connect the converter directly to a motherboard USB port first; add a hub only after normal operation is confirmed and the firmware supports that path.
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Practical setup checklist
- Motherboard has USB ports but no native PS/2 sockets.
- Keyboard and/or mouse has a PS/2 plug.
- Adapter is explicitly active and labeled USB host to PS/2 device.
- Adapter has the required number of PS/2 sockets.
- Mouse is connected to the green-labeled socket and keyboard to the purple-labeled socket.
- External installation uses a direct rear motherboard USB port, or internal installation follows the exact header pinout.
- Firmware USB keyboard and mouse support is enabled when pre-OS input is required.
- BIOS power-on behavior is treated as motherboard- and firmware-dependent.
When replacing the peripherals is the better choice
An active converter is useful when a specialized PS/2 keyboard or mouse is important, when a legacy system must be maintained, or when you already own reliable peripherals. Replacement may be simpler if you need guaranteed firmware controls, if the old device has damaged connectors, or if the adapter’s pre-boot behavior is incompatible with your motherboard. The deciding factor is not the presence of a green or purple plug; it is whether the complete USB-to-PS/2 path meets your operating-system and firmware requirements.
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