Question

I am attempting to simply detect whether there is a keyboard attached to the PS/2 port on my machine. The idea is that the computer will boot up, although if it detects a USB device or PS/2 keyboard, it reboots into an administrator mode.

I have handled the USB aspect, although I have had no luck in finding any documentation for the PS/2 port. Some posts have said it is not possible to detect a keyboard plugged into a PS/2 port after boot, although I simply wish to check whether there is one connected at boot time.

I am using C# for my program and therefore any solution in this language would be very helpful, although assistance in any language would be beneficial.

Answer 1

WMI seems to be doing it:

ConnectionOptions opts = new ConnectionOptions();
ManagementScope scope = new ManagementScope(@"\\.\root\cimv2", opts);
string query = "select * from Win32_Keyboard";
System.Management.ObjectQuery oQuery = new ObjectQuery(query);
ManagementObjectSearcher searcher = new ManagementObjectSearcher(scope, oQuery);
ManagementObjectCollection recordSet = searcher.Get();
foreach (ManagementObject record in recordSet)
{
    Console.WriteLine("" + record.Properties["Description"].Value);
    Console.WriteLine("" + record.Properties["Layout"].Value);
    Console.WriteLine("" + record.Properties["DeviceID"].Value);
    Console.WriteLine("" + record.Properties["PNPDeviceID"].Value);
    Console.WriteLine("" + record.Properties["Status"].Value + "\n");
}

returns:

USB Human Interface Device
0000040C
USB\VID_03F0&PID_0024\6&1A939CC4&0&1
USB\VID_03F0&PID_0024\6&1A939CC4&0&1
OK

Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
0000040C
ACPI\PNP0303\4&3432CBB0&0
ACPI\PNP0303\4&3432CBB0&0
Error

I don’t have a PS/2 keyboard, so the status gives an error, but you should have an OK status if one is connected.