Creating Bootless Adapters

For all the impractical, unnecessary, and poorly executed ‘solutions’ in the tech world, none has been truly bootless. By this I mean none has been bootless by design (I too have my share of neigh unusable computer equipment). Some may see this as a triumph of the free market. I see it as an opportunity for some good clean hardware hacking.

WARNING:

The following serves no practical purpose; any time you waste in reading and following this ‘how to’ will not be returned under ANY circumstances.

WARNING:

Any equipment you damage attempting the following is your responsibility. I accept no liability for any results of anyone who attempts to use the following information for any purpose whatsoever.

WARNING:

I will also not be held responsible for any adverse physical or mental health conditions that may arise as a result of the following information.

Now that we have the legal bases covered, I will begin with a little history:

I never actually intended to design a bootless device – this was simply a case of spontaneous creation. When I was organizing and storing some computer related odds and ends, I realized I had inadvertently connected a PS/2 to USB adapter to a USB to PS/2 adapter. In much the same way many futurists predict the advent of the forthcoming Robozombpocalyps, the random interaction of various distinct components has created a novel structure. While some may protest that I in fact had designed the device, I assure you I was merely the driving force underlying the Chaos. I had no intention of creating something when this event occurred.

To make your own bootless device, you will need an equal number of PS/2 to USB adapters and USB to PS/2 adapters.

1. Pick up one USB adapter in one hand and one PS/2 adapter in the other;
2. Identify the male USB plug and the female USB plug for each device;
3. Line up the male USB plug of the PS/2 to USB adapter such that it will engage the female USB plug of the USB to PS/2 adapter;
4. Gently move the male USB plug of the PS/2 to USB adapter towards the female USB plug of the USB to PS/2;
5. Upon contact, continue to thrust each toward the other;
6. When you encounter firm ressitance to further foward movement, the bootless adapter is completed.

At this point you now have a PS/2 to PS/2 adapter. One side is female while the other is male. If the male end is inserted into the PS/2 port on the back of your computer, you can attach keyboards and mice as you normally would to a standard PS/2 port.

When properly assembled and fully functioning, it works as though it does not even exist. I would like to stress ‘properly assembled’. If improperly arranged, such a device may serve as an extension. As we all know, in certain situations an extension to a plug can be a highly useful, possibly even practical, device. To avoid such a contingency, I would recommend arranging the device to extend in a direction orthogonal to the vector connecting the attached peripheral to your PC.

One final note:

As many of the more astute readers may have noticed, my directions called for an unspecified equal number of adapters. This is because it is possible to attach multiple devices in series so as to create a multiple bootless, or polybootless, device. Once again, it is critical to arrange the device in a manner similar to what was previously stated. As the length of your polybootless device grows, so too does the risk that it could inadvertently become an extension.

Ian Anderson