400 DPI Serial Mouse and the Maxir 386

ID: Q63227

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

When you try to install a 400 PPI PS/2 serial mouse on the 9-pin serial port of a Maxir 386 machine, the mouse does not install.

This information applies to the Microsoft Serial Mouse for MS-DOS systems.

MORE INFORMATION

When the 400 PPI PS/2 serial mouse is installed on the 9-pin serial port as a serial mouse, it uses pins 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 to communicate with the serial port.

The other pins in the 9-pin connector are used when the PS/2 adapter is connected to the mouse. Pin 8 of the built-in serial port, when set to a logic zero, is 1 to 2 volts higher than the voltage that would be present on an IBM-compatible serial port. When a logic 1 is present on pin 8 and the mouse is connected to a 9-pin serial port, the mouse cannot reset. This prevents the mouse from installing.

To work around this problem, do the following: 

   Use a 9- to 25-pin serial adapter to eliminate the signal
   from pin 8. To do this, you need to purchase the adapter
   from a local electronics store. This adapter has a 9-pin
   female connector on one end and a 25-pin male connector
   on the other end.
Once you have the adapter, perform the following steps:

1. Attach the adapter you purchased to the built-in serial port of 

   your computer.
2. Attach the mouse to the 25- to 9-pin serial adapter that was 
   supplied with your mouse.
3. Attach this adapter to the 9- to 25-pin adapter that you have 
   already attached to your computer.
The Maxir product included here is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kbhw kb3rdparty KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: maxer

Last Reviewed: September 16, 1996