USB extender cable?

[The Dude]

I need an extender cable for my USB keyboard - anyone know where to buy them from?

[The Dude]

Thanks.

Actually this is a more complicated problem.

I run my Mac and an XP PC on the same monitor/mouse/keyboard using a switchbox. I use a standard Apple keyboard and a USB mouse (which is plugged into the keyboard). I was having a reorganise of the deskspace today and moved both machines lower to the floor which meant that the USB lead from the keyboard wouldn't reach the switchbox any more. I had a root around in my big box of cables as I was sure I had what resembled a USB extension cable. I have no idea where it came from as I've never knowingly bought one. Anyway, I plugged up the Mac with it and it worked fine. However, when I came to boot the PC, it got to the XP login screen but I couldn't move the mouse pointer or use the keyboard, despite not getting a "missing keyboard" error on booting the PC. Thinking it was the switchbox at fault I plugged the keyboard USB cable (+extension) straight into the PC but the same result.

Anyone know why the PC wouldn't like the extension cable, whereas the Mac is perfectly happy?

That's the reason I want to buy another extension cable, in case the found one is not a "proper" one?

[The Dude]

ThePassenger said:

magic torch said:

It's a slightly different extension cable for the Mac keyboard, the cable is altered so it'll only work on the Apple keyboard.

Really? How so as the mac keyboard works on a PC with no problems...

This is USB and not ADB we're talking about here right? *confused look*

Before I had to add the USB extension the Apple Keyboard worked fine when using the PC. It's only the addition of the extension that has made it stop working.

[The Dude]

After some trial and error (hands and knees, plugging and unplugging bits), I had to connect another keyboard and mouse to the XP machine, boot it, plug in the keyboard+mouse+extension combo and eventually after about 5 tries XP finally got itself sorted out. I then had two keyboards and mice working at the same time, unplugged the temporary ones, reboot and bob's your uncle. Seems XP suffered a bit of amnesia, forgetting that it used to be friends with my mouse/keyboard/switch combo. Nothing to do with the extension cable at all.



So, remind me again why I switched to Macs?

ETA : thanks for all your suggestions/help

Edited by The Dude on Monday 8th January 08:10