Well, i am so cheap that i found an old external retro keyboard by Delux in the junk mart down the street and since it matches the look of the TR I thought I could just put one of those purple plugs at one end and usb connector on the other end cable thingees on it and XP would know what to do. Well, it didn’t, I get an unknown device in the USB root hub section, so it does see something. Do I need to find a driver or is it just not possible?  I have had that strange connector for about 5 years now and i don’t even know where it came from…
thanks!
jigs

Is that the kind of thing your are looking for ?
It is called a PS2 converter.

You ll find plenty of them if your browse through   ebay.

About drivers, try with the ones of a Basic Windows keyboard. IMO it should work fine..

hope it helps
Cheers
Thom

I assume its a PS/2 connector based keyboard. Some USB devices can be stepped down to PS/2, but it doesn’t go the other way. In order to do that you need a usb controller; I think they make ps/2 to usb adapters, but have no idea what they cost. You might be able to jury rig something; I’ll look into it because I’m curious.

Do you just want an external keyboard or does the origanal not function properly? Because I do know off hand of a way to replace most laptop keyboards, including those of the TR2A, with a standard ps/2 keyboard; it would likely be messy as hell on the TR2A though.

yes, it’s just an older PS2 keyboard, and I have the adapter from a box in the closet. but i don’t think the keyboard has any intelligence as a usb device? so the TR sees it as a generic unknown usb controller/hub? I think you were right,  can go one way but not the other.  But suggestions that don’t require tearing apart the TR (too badly) are welcome.
thanks!!!
jigs
ps. i’ll post a pic soon, it really is a cool matching keyboard, chinese Delux silver with blue keys in a small format…

You can use something like this to use the old keyboard.

yeh drac, i thought of that, and i might even be able to find one of those here, as it’s all made in china anyway… but i have a cable like that, but without that fat bit, which must be the PS/2 to USB bridge chip yes?  I was hoping to tear apart an older usb keyboard and somehow wire the Delux PS/2 up using the parts.  I have a beautiful I-key Ice keyboard brought back from the usa, but IT WAS CRAP build. the letters wore off after 6 months and the little chicklet keys started to fall off like scales on a snake. oh well..thanks!!