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Use an active USB-to-PS/2 converter. Plug the converter’s USB connector into a motherboard USB port (or an internal USB header when using a bracket-style adapter), then connect the PS/2 keyboard to the purple socket and the PS/2 mouse to the green socket. The converter translates USB host signals into the PS/2 protocols that the older devices require.
A simple color-coded plug is not enough. Passive adapters only work in special cases where the keyboard or mouse already supports both USB and PS/2 signaling. A PS/2-only device needs active electronics in the adapter.
What you need
For a motherboard with no PS/2 socket, assemble these parts:
- A PS/2 keyboard, mouse, or both.
- An active USB host-to-PS/2 device converter. Search for “active USB to PS/2 adapter for keyboard and mouse.”
- A free USB port, or a vacant motherboard USB header if the adapter is an internal rear-bracket model.
- A motherboard manual if you need to identify the correct internal USB-header pins or firmware settings.
A documented example is the StarTech USBPS2PLATE, which provides one USB host connection and separate PS/2 sockets for a keyboard and mouse. The important specification is the conversion direction: the computer connects through USB, while the legacy peripherals connect through PS/2.
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Why a passive green-and-purple adapter usually fails
USB and PS/2 are different signaling systems. A passive plug changes the physical connector but does not translate the protocol. StarTech describes the limitation directly: “Newer USB keyboards and mice cannot simply use simple adapters to connect to PS/2 ports, as the signal is of a different nature, so active conversion is required for full functionality.”
Passive adapters can work only when the particular keyboard or mouse was designed to detect the alternate protocol itself. That capability is not universal, especially with newer USB devices. If your device is genuinely PS/2-only, buy an adapter advertised as an active USB-to-PS/2 converter rather than relying on connector color.
Choose the correct adapter
Check every item below before purchasing or installing. The adapter’s direction matters more than the shape of its plugs.
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| Selection point | What you need for a USB-only motherboard | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion direction | USB host to PS/2 device | The motherboard is the USB host; the keyboard and mouse are PS/2 devices. |
| Conversion method | Active electronics | Protocol translation is required. A passive pin adapter cannot provide it for a PS/2-only peripheral. |
| PS/2 sockets | One socket for a single device, or two labeled sockets for keyboard and mouse | Two-socket models let you retain both peripherals through one USB connection. |
| Computer-side connection | External USB plug or internal USB-header cable | Choose the installation style that matches the ports available in your case. |
| Pre-boot support | Explicit BIOS, DOS, or legacy-USB support when required | Operating-system detection does not guarantee that the keyboard will work in firmware setup. |
| Physical construction | Secure plugs, clear labeling, and a suitably protected cable or bracket | A loose connector or unclear wiring can cause intermittent input or an unsafe header connection. |
External adapter versus internal bracket
An external converter is the simplest option: connect it to a rear USB port and leave it outside the case. An internal bracket mounts in a free rear expansion position and routes a supplied cable to a motherboard USB header. The bracket can provide tidy, permanently mounted PS/2 sockets, but it requires opening the case and correctly identifying the header orientation.
Install an external USB-to-PS/2 converter
- Shut down the computer. If you are replacing existing input hardware, wait until the system is fully off.
- Plug the converter’s USB connector into a USB port on the motherboard or its rear I/O panel.
- Insert the PS/2 mouse into the socket labeled with a mouse symbol or green color.
- Insert the PS/2 keyboard into the socket labeled with a keyboard symbol or purple color.
- Start the computer and allow the operating system to detect the adapter. The documented converter is designed for plug-and-play detection.
- Test both devices separately. Move the mouse, type in a text field, and confirm that each device responds before relying on the setup for firmware work.
Use the product labels rather than color alone if the markings differ. A two-port adapter may not accept the devices in arbitrary sockets.
Install an internal USB-header bracket
Internal installation adds a wiring step, so treat the motherboard header pinout as a requirement rather than an assumption.
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- Shut down the computer, switch off the power supply if it has a switch, disconnect the AC power cable, and remove the case panel according to the case instructions.
- Choose a free rear expansion position and secure the bracket so its PS/2 sockets are accessible from outside the case.
- Locate a vacant motherboard USB header. Compare the connector key, pin layout, and orientation with the motherboard manual and the adapter manual.
- Connect the supplied cable to the header in the specified orientation. Do not force a connector or rely on wire colors alone; incorrect wiring 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 connection.
- Connect the PS/2 mouse to the green-labeled socket and the PS/2 keyboard to the purple-labeled socket.
- Close the case, reconnect power, and start the computer. The operating system should detect the adapter without a special driver when the model supports plug-and-play.
Make the keyboard work before the operating system loads
There are two separate compatibility stages: the operating system and the motherboard firmware. A converter can work after Windows or Linux starts while still being unavailable in BIOS, a boot menu, or a DOS environment.
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Enter firmware setup using whatever input method is currently available, then look for settings named USB Keyboard Support, USB Mouse Support, Legacy USB Support, or similar. Enable the relevant options when they are present. Menu names and behavior vary by motherboard and firmware version.
Some boards also have firmware-specific power-on behavior. ASUS documents that motherboard implementations differ and that some BIOS versions do not support powering on the computer with a USB keyboard. Therefore, an adapter that works at the firmware screen may still not provide a USB-keyboard power-on function.
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DOS and other pre-OS environments
The installation instructions for the documented bracket advise enabling “USB Mouse Support” or “USB Keyboard Support” for DOS and other pre-OS environments when those options exist. Without firmware-level USB support, the converter may not receive usable input until an operating system loads its USB stack.
Understand the native PS/2 Y-cable setting
A motherboard’s PS2 Y-cable option is not a substitute for a USB-to-PS/2 converter. It applies only to a board that already has a PS/2 port capable of sharing keyboard and mouse functions through a compatible Y-cable.
ASRock’s guidance distinguishes boards with two physical PS/2 sockets from boards with one shared socket: on a two-port board, the green socket is used for the mouse; on a single shared port, a PS2 Y-cable setting may need to be enabled. That information is relevant only when the motherboard actually provides a native PS/2 port. A USB-only board cannot gain PS/2 signaling by enabling this option.
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Troubleshoot a converter that does not work
Nothing works at any time
- Confirm that the product is labeled USB-to-PS/2, not PS/2-to-USB. The latter is intended to attach USB peripherals to a computer that has a legacy PS/2-only port, which is the reverse direction.
- Check that the USB connector is fully inserted into a motherboard USB port. If you used a front-panel or hub port, test a direct rear motherboard port to remove another variable.
- Verify the keyboard and mouse are in the labeled purple and green sockets.
- Test one PS/2 device at a time. This distinguishes a failed peripheral from a converter or power problem.
- Recheck that the adapter is active. A small passive plug with no conversion electronics cannot be expected to translate a PS/2-only signal.
It works in the operating system but not in BIOS
- Enter firmware settings with another known-working input device if possible.
- Enable legacy USB, USB keyboard, and USB mouse support where the firmware exposes those controls.
- Read the motherboard manual for firmware-specific restrictions. BIOS support is not guaranteed merely because the operating system detects the converter.
- If the goal is power-on from the keyboard, check the board’s documented USB power-on capability separately; some BIOS versions do not support it.
The internal bracket causes instability or is not detected
- Power the computer down and disconnect AC power before touching the header.
- Compare the connector key and pinout against both manuals. A header that looks similar may have a different position or orientation.
- Inspect whether the plug is offset by one pin or reversed. Do not continue testing a connection that required force.
- If no suitable header exists, remove the internal connection and use the adapter’s documented external USB connection through a rear port.
Only the mouse or only the keyboard works
- Check that each device is in the correct socket rather than assuming the two PS/2 connectors are interchangeable.
- Disconnect the working device and test the other one alone.
- Try the peripherals on another compatible converter or computer if available; this helps identify a failed PS/2 device.
- Review firmware support if the failure occurs only before the operating system loads.
Can a USB hub replace the converter?
No. A USB hub can add more USB host ports, but it does not translate USB signaling into PS/2 protocol. You still need an active USB-to-PS/2 converter between the motherboard and the PS/2 keyboard or mouse. A hub is relevant only as an optional port-expansion device, and pre-boot firmware may not initialize every hub in the same way as a direct motherboard connection.
When this setup is a good choice
- You have a preferred PS/2 keyboard or mouse and a newer motherboard that removed native PS/2 sockets.
- You need to keep a legacy input device for a specialized application or pre-OS environment.
- You want both PS/2 devices connected through one motherboard USB port and have a two-socket active converter.
- You can verify firmware settings when BIOS or DOS access is part of the requirement.
When to choose a different solution
- Your only requirement is ordinary operating-system input and a modern USB keyboard or mouse is available; direct USB avoids protocol conversion.
- You need guaranteed firmware power-on behavior but the motherboard documentation does not support it for USB keyboards.
- Your case has no suitable internal USB header and you specifically require a permanently mounted bracket; use an external converter instead of unsafe wiring.
- The PS/2 device depends on features that the converter does not document. Active conversion enables basic compatibility, but model-specific functions should not be assumed without documentation.
Quick decision checklist
- Is the motherboard USB-only? If yes, plan for active conversion.
- Are the peripherals PS/2-only? If yes, reject a passive color-coded plug.
- Does the adapter say USB host-to-PS/2 device? If not, it may be the reverse-direction product.
- Do you need one device or two? Select the corresponding number of labeled PS/2 sockets.
- Will you install internally? Confirm a compatible USB header and its pin orientation first.
- Must the keyboard work in BIOS or DOS? Check and enable the motherboard’s legacy USB options.
- Do you need keyboard power-on? Verify that feature independently; adapter detection alone does not prove it.
The Bottom Line
For a USB-only motherboard, the reliable path is an active USB-to-PS/2 converter connected in the correct direction. Use the labeled green and purple sockets, follow the motherboard USB-header pinout for internal brackets, and enable legacy USB support when you need input before the operating system starts.
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