# USB keyboard question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271 "2004-01-02T13:23:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/1 "2004-01-02T13:23:43Z")
If I use a USB keyboard on a Windows PC, can I “hot plug” the keyboard? That is, can I unplug and reconnect the keyboard without shutting down the computer first? I ask because I saw a USB selector switch at the computer shop. I’m wondering if I can use this to control two PCs with one set of keyboard + monitor + mouse. (Assuming I use a monitor with two inputs) Only I don’t have a USB keyboard to experiment with. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/2 "2004-01-02T13:29:36Z")
I should have mentioned: I know there are selector switches for PS/2 keyboards. It’s just that USB selectors seem to be much less expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/3 "2004-01-02T13:29:37Z")
A better bet would be to get a proper KVM switch that supports USB as well as PS2 and monitor connections. But I’m almost certain that USB keyboards can be hot plugged. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/4 "2004-01-02T13:56:56Z")
USB was designed from the start to be hot swappable. Shouldn’t be a problem. PS/2 ports aren’t hot swappable, which makes PS/2 KVM switch designs more complicated (and more expensive). ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/5 "2004-01-03T07:48:42Z")
Yes, you can hot-plug a USB keyboard on a Windows box. I use a USB keyboard/mouse/switchbox combination to control a Mac and a PC from the same keyboard/mouse, for example: works like a charm. One caveat, though: Many PC BIOSes need to see keyboards at startup, or you get the dread “No keyboard detected, press F1 to continue\*” error, so the switchbox needs to be switched to the PC when it’s booted (the Mac doesn’t have this problem). Otherwise, works slick. \*seriously ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/6 "2004-01-03T11:07:03Z")
Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-keyboard-question/222271/7 "2004-01-03T19:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TimeWinder \* > \*\*One caveat, though: Many PC BIOSes need to see keyboards at startup, or you get the dread “No keyboard detected, press F1 to continue” error \*\* BIOSes tend to have a setting to get round this, I switched some setting I can’t remember offhand from “halt on all errors” to “halt on all but keyboard errors” for this reason. The only problem I can see is how quickly the PCs respond to the USB plugging - might be too slow for lots of quick switching.