IBM Trackpoint 4 Keyboard Driver (PS/2 connectors) for Dell XPS 410 (USB)

[MadDog_]

Hi.

I have a fairly new Dell XPS 410 computer (if it matters), but I have an IBM Trackpoint 4 keyboard with PS/2 connectors that I have connected to my computer's USB through a PS/2 to USB adapter. I use the trackpoint instead of the mouse.

I'm noticing that my cursor is frequently "running away" across the screen, much more so than the normal drift that's associated with the Trackpoint.

When I look in Device Manager, The Keyboard is named "HID Keyboard Device" and uses Microsoft Driver 5.1.2600.2825, dated 7/1/2001.

The Mouse is named "HID-compliant mouse" and used Microsoft Driver 5.1.2600.0, dated 7/1/2001.

I've tried another IBM Trackpoint keyboard, and it still happens, which leads me to believe I need a Trackpoint driver.

Can someone please tell me where I can get the latest IBM driver for my keyboard, or if this is even the right solution?

Thanks.

[quaxo]

Here's the driver:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=YAST-3WGLKY

However, you're connecting a PS2 port to a USB port, this driver may not work properly or even recognize that the keyboard is there.

[MadDog_]

Thanks for the link. I'm seeing that these drivers date back to the Windows 95/98/2000 years. Now I know I'm getting old

I forgot to mention that I'm running XP and was seriously thinking about upgrading (?) to Vista. Any idea if there are any XP drivers available for Trackpoint keyboards?

Thanks.

[quaxo]

Trackpoint 4 USB drivers:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-4YPSMM

Again, not for XP, so I can't promise it'll work.

As far as I can tell, there is no driver from them for that keyboard to work in XP. These are the only two Trackpoint 4 drivers I can find. Older versions of the keyboard seemed to not have drivers.

[MadDog_]

Thanks, I'll try this tomorrow and see what happens.  Thanks. 

[2k_dummy]

Many older IBM trackpoint devices (the 390 models in particular), required no  PS2 driver to work. All you had to do was a complete shutdown, connect the PS2 mouse, and reboot. There may have been some trivial features missing but nothing that would prevent use of the PS2 mouse. I use a PS2 mouse regularly on my ancient IBM 390E.

[MadDog_]

It has nothing to do with a driver for a PS/2 mouse.

I'll be sitting here watching the screen and all of a sudden, the cursor takes off across the screen. Some drifting is inherent in the Trackpoint, but this goes far beyond that.

An IBM certified tech was just telling me yesterday that I needed to get a multimeter and check my cables, motherboard, and all that, saying he had found a ground leak problem this way. I don't think I have the ability to do that.

I was kind of hoping it's something simple, like a driver.

[quaxo]

Yeah, any device like that moves slightly from time to time without the user touching it. It does this as an auto-recentering kind of thing.

My old Toshiba laptop (and by old I mean old, it was a 486) had the same problem after 6 years. The pointer would just go nuts like that and shoot across the screen. Sad to say, the pointer quit working a short time after that started. I hope that's not the case with yours.

If you don't mind me asking, why are you using this with a USB adapter? Is there not a PS/2 port?

[MadDog_]

No, there are no PS/2 ports for the keyboard. When I got my computer, I went to plug in my keyboard and went, *censored*? There are only USB ports, so that's why I needed the converter.

I'm familiar with the "normal drift" as I've been using Trackpoint forever. This goes way beyond that, kind of like you're describing, but it comes and goes.

The IBM tech dude thinks that there may be some feedback or conflict happening in that Y connector. From what he said, it makes sense. He gave me an idea to try, which was to use a seperate USB port for the keyboard cable and mouse cable, so I'm going to try that. It's a low cost test, cheaper than the keyboard I scored on ebay.

[angel13]

thats ok dude!!!!!!!