Point taken.

However, just to clarify, in my case the hardware did not change, the OS 
did.  As I stated in my original post, the PS/2 ports worked with SL5x, 
but not with SL6.

Either way, the problem is easy to check for and relatively cheap to 
correct.

Jon

On 29 Apr 2011 at 9:32, Robert William Fuller wrote:

> Guys,
> 
> Certain manufacturers seem to have produced certain models where the
> PS/2 ports do not work, even though they are present on the 
> motherboards.  These computers shipped with USB keyboards and mice. 
> Although the motherboards have PS/2 ports, they simply do not work 
> correctly.  I do not know whether it is a BIOS problem or a hardware
> problem because I never followed up with the manufacturer (mentioned
> in 
> this thread....)  I bet Google would tell us something.
> 
> Rob
> 
> Jon wrote:
> > Jon,
> > 
> > Your suggestion worked.  I dug up a PS/2-to-USB adapter**, hooked up
> > the mouse and keyboard to the docking station's USB port and let
> > 'er rip.  The laptop booted without a hitch & I'm good to go.
> > 
> > Looks like PS/2 may be on the deprecation trail.
> > 
> > Thanks.
> > 
> > Jon
> > 
> > ** Sabrent USB to 2-Port PS/2 Splitter Cable Converter
> >    <http://tinyurl.com/nde3v>
> > 
> > On 28 Apr 2011 at 14:57, jon wrote:
> > 
> >> Hi
> >>
> >> From my experience with a number of linux distributions my PS/2 
> >> keyboard on my desktop computer did not work with some of them. 
> >> It did not work with one version of ubuntu and opensuse, but it did
> >> work with arch linux.  I now use a usb keyboard, so i cannot
> >> provide any further feedback. 
> >>
> >> Jon