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Wireless USB keyboard bypass?

Anonymous
2022-04-28T20:10:21+00:00

Basically, the subject is the question: can I bypass the wireless USB dongle and connect a wireless keyboard directly to my PC using a USB-to-(whatever variant port the keyboard itself comes standard)port?

I prefer wired keyboards and my aging Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000 has torn through the A and E key silicon membrane (example image below). They now stay stuck in the depressed position and no longer come back up, occasionally simply repeating the same key during keystrokes. A becomes aaaaaa, and e becomes eeeeee.

I cannot seem to find a silicone interface replacement, not that I even know how to go about replacing one if I did, and my hands/fingers are not as nimble as they once were in order to repair the domes using a silicone adhesive.

I simply can't justify spending nearly $80 to replace a keyboard with an almost identical one that once cost barely $25, in favor of a wireless one which is of security concerns.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-04-29T05:41:40+00:00

    I guess I misunderstood your question, which seems to be: can you connect a wireless keyboard with a wire?

    In general, the answer to that question is no. There is no connector on a basic wireless keyboard to which you can attach anything.

    Thus, if you purchase a wireless keyboard **** and you would like to know if you can use it as a wired keyboard, the answer for most wireless keyboards is no, you can't.

    There are more expensive keyboards that include both wired and wireless connectivity, such as this $60 model that can connect by wireless (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth (a different variety of wireless), or wired USB (and it lights up in multiple colors, to boot): https://www.amazon.com/Tezarre-TK61Pro-Bluetooth-Mechanical-Hotswappable/dp/B09FPD197K/?th=1

    If a wireless keyboard has an internal rechargeable battery, it probably will use a USB cable to charge the battery. Not all such keyboards will be able to use that USB cable to communicate with the computer, as the one linked above does.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-29T06:20:42+00:00

    This was exactly what I needed to know, thank you for the clarification.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-29T00:22:10+00:00

    What I'm currently using is (pictured), and I'd prefer to continue using a wired keyboard for security reasons. What I'd like to know is if I can bypass the dongle on a wireless keyboard entirely, and I'm pretty sure you answered my question, but would just like clarification; if I purchase a wireless(which I do NOT currently own) keyboard(without mouse), do they support a port-to-port data transfer(keystroke) without the need for the USB dongle or battery supply?Image

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  3. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-04-28T23:38:31+00:00

    Unless you have a wireless mouse that came as a set with the wireless keyboard, you can remove (and discard) the USB dongle for the now-defunct wireless keyboard.

    Then buy any USB-connected keyboard, plug it in, and it will work. If you get a "fancy" keyboard that has various special keys, you will probably need to install the driver (from the keyboard's manufacturer), but you won't need to install a driver to get basic keyboard functionality.

    For example: https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100160863%20600009731 or https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb+keyboard+wired 

    I wouldn't suggest getting the absolute cheapest one, but you don't have to spend very much to get a decent workable wired keyboard.

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