How to use the mouse port on an old R40?

[WriterMan]

For the first time since I've owned it, I have a need to connect a mouse to the mouse port on my old R40. However, I've just discovered that this port is NOT a conventional PS/2 connector - the key on it is HORIZONTAL, not VERTICAL. What kind of mouse will this port accept, and is there any way to adapt it to a conventional ps/2 mouse? Never mind finding an adapter, I can't even find a picture of this oddball mouse connector anywhere on the web!

[Neil]

Welcome to the forum, WriterMan!

There is no Serial or PS/2 port on an R40. You must be looking at the S-Video out connector. You can, however, connect a USB mouse without any trouble.

Just a question out of curiosity...why do you need a mouse? If you don't mind sharing.

[WriterMan]

Nope, I'm looking at the mouse connector. Further research has indicated it's an ADB connector (Apple Desktop Bus)!!! What the...??? Don't know why IBM (this is a pre-Lenovo machine) would want to put an ADB mouse connector on a Windows laptop, but they did.

Now the question is, what can I do with it? Do I buy an old Apple ADB mouse and see if it will work under Windows XP? Find a ps/2 to ADB adapter and see if it can be used to make a ps/2 mouse work one an ADP port?

And BTW, this R40 does have a 9-pin serial connector as well.

As for why I want to hook up an external mouse, I'm setting up the laptop on a sit/stand desk where both it's keyboard and trackpad will out of reach, so I have to be able to hook up both an external keyboard and mouse to it.

[twistero]

Now it's really clear that you are indeed looking at an S-video port.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Desktop_Bus

The connectors are exactly the same.

Also, check out IBM's Hardware Maintenance Manual: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 3n6183.pdf
Go to "Locations" - "Rear View" section, and notice that there's an S-video port.

Rest assured that neither IBM nor Lenovo have ever put Apple Desktop Bus ports on any of the ThinkPads.


As for your usage, USB mouse/keyboard should work just fine.

[WriterMan]

twistero:

You are absolutely, positively CORRECT, sir! Duh. S-video out, I should'a known.

Now the world makes sense again. Thanks for the info!