Ext keyboard no work but ext mouse does

I bought a $5 ps2 to usb adapter to run a ps2 keyboard and ps2 mouse.
When I plug it in, the keyboard doesn't work but the mouse does?
Any help would be appreciated. Do I have to get a usb keyboard? Will that work?

 

Must be the adapter -- I just plugged in a USB (Mac) keyboard, and everything is normal.

 

thanks. maybe I'll see if I can pick up a cheap usb keyboard.

 

without ps2 to usb keyboard
[user@localhost ~]$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:d101 Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c00c Logitech, Inc. Optical Wheel Mouse
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
[user@localhost ~]$

with ps2 to usb keyboard

[user@localhost ~]$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:d101 Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 13ba:0017
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c00c Logitech, Inc. Optical Wheel Mouse
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
[user@localhost ~]$

 

that's what I get when I try to use the ps2 keyboard. Obviously it sees the keyboard but no carrot!
funny thing is, my win98se computer sees the keyboard but not the ps2 mouse unless its plugged directly into the computer. weird!

 

Bought a cheap $25 Dynex usb keyboard made for vista... god help us!
Some of the extra keys actually work but here's the clincher. My windoze98 tried to install drivers for it but can't find a dll for this keyboard and yet the other ps2 keyboard with the usb adapter worked fine. How does that make any sense?
The new keyboard comes with a usb to ps2 adapter in pretty purple colour. It works fine without having to worry about drivers on my aspire one so I'm happy with that and my usb mouse works good too. Glad there are 3 usb ports. 2 are already taken.
Guess this issue is resolved. Thanks.