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Devices => PC's and Other Hardware => Topic started by: benn600 on September 10, 2008, 09:13:55 am

Title: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: benn600 on September 10, 2008, 09:13:55 am
With some of my home theater PC's, I am required to have a keyboard hooked up.  Thankfully the new ones I am building now in nice HTPC enclosures do not require one, but a few of the older ones do.  So does anyone know of a tiny PS/2 or USB dongle that will simply mimic a non-usable keyboard?  It would be worth not having to pile a gigantic, disgusting keyboard with each machine.
Title: Re: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: rpalmer68 on September 10, 2008, 04:46:01 pm
With some of my home theater PC's, I am required to have a keyboard hooked up.  Thankfully the new ones I am building now in nice HTPC enclosures do not require one, but a few of the older ones do.  So does anyone know of a tiny PS/2 or USB dongle that will simply mimic a non-usable keyboard?  It would be worth not having to pile a gigantic, disgusting keyboard with each machine.

Isn't there normally a bios setting to fix this?
Title: Re: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: zxsix on September 10, 2008, 05:25:02 pm
That's what I'm thinking.  It's called 'halt on keyboard error' in mine.
Title: Re: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: benn600 on September 11, 2008, 10:09:38 am
Unfortunately, one of the two computers I'm having this problem with has minimal bios settings.  The other is one I built myself with a much more full bios.  I should definitely check for the option.

But still, it could be as simple as a wireless keyboard & mouse, just throwing away the keyboard and mouse!  Just a tiny wireless keyboard dongle!  I know, I'll call up Microsoft and say I have their keyboard, the one with the TINY wireless dongle.  I lost it!  Free replacement?
Title: Re: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: zxsix on September 11, 2008, 01:11:27 pm
$25 will get you the dongle and keyboard.  Throw the keyboard in a desk drawer or closet.
Just a bluetooth dongle would be less $, but not sure the keyboard would accept that unless an actual keyboard was detected and driver installed the first time.  Probably should get the set.
Title: Re: Fake Keyboard Dongle?
Post by: benn600 on September 11, 2008, 04:57:01 pm
Exactly.  Unfortunately, I already have too much old junk but I could probably manage some solution.