How old is your computer? Only 2 USB ports is pretty rare in newer ones. Is this a desktop or laptop? On desktops, there are usually 2 or more ports in the front and 4 in the back (in a cluster). Sometimes the ones in the front are hidden by a cover. Most newer laptops have 4. If you really only have 2, you can get a USB hub which plugs into one of the existing USB ports and will give you 4 or more new ports. Just get one that is powered by an AC adaptor rather than one that is not. Hope this helps.

Tom, my computer is a little over 2 years old and is an HP desktop. I have two in the front under a cover and none in the back.
Good to know I can get an adapter and thank you for the advice to get one powered by an AC adaptor.
Looks like, if I get the adaptor, my problem is solved.
Thank you so much.

You can go with a hub or buy something like a PS2 to USB adapter ... nothing fancy no big deal.

(The prices are probably better elsewhere.)

marf

Here is a link that might be useful: Ps2 to USB adapter

Now I am going to show you the novice I really am. LOL.
Could you explain a hub and a PS2 to USB adapter. Is there somewhere on my computer I would plug each of these in?
Thanks.

A hub is a bunch of ports...usually USB,
in a boxy shape that are connected to one port on your computer.

A hub is many ports...and can cause potential problems by exceeding the limits of the one port the hub is connected to.

The adapter just changes one of your PS2 connections to a USB.

For ports think of an electrical strip plugged to an outlet.

An adapter would be analogous to changing a two prong electrical plug into a three pronged electrical plug with a plugin extension cord. It doesn't add any extra outlets.

Thanks for the explanation, Martha---sure appreciate everyone's patience with the novices on this board.

I must be way out of the loop. Are not cordless just what they say? No muss no fuss. No cords or cables. How can you have cordless with a USB cable?

You have to attach a reciever. You have to plug in a cordless keyboard just as you do a corded keyboard. Its usually an Infra Red signal receiver, much like what is built in to your TV set so you can use your TV remote. The IR receiver/transmitter specific to the cordless mouse and/or cordless keyboard is not, however, built in to your computer (unless maybe if its bluetooth-which I'm not familiar with at all). The majoriy of the affordable cordless mice/keyboards are still non-bluetooth and need to be hooked up so they can communicate with your computer.

Some recievers/transmitters are cabled to a square that you can place on your desk, others resemble a 5 stick gum package that plugs into your computers port acting like an antenna. Cordless mice and keyboards are just like corded keyboards and mice with the cords removed with IR transmitters/receivers as attachements.

gma-
Are you really sure you only have 2 USB ports? My desktop is 5 years old and came with 2 in front and 4 in back. Now getting a USB hub is not a big deal, but I encourage you to doublecheck to see if you really might not have more USB ports than you think. I checked HP's web site and even their cheapest ($250) HP desktop has 2 front and 2 back USB ports, and I can't imagine that it would have been that much different 2 years ago, especially if you didn't buy the very cheapest model.

kudzu9, I rechecked my post and my computer is a little over 4 years old (not 2, as I stated above). The model # on my HP in pavilion 753n. I looked again and I still cannot see any USB ports in the back - just the 2 in the front. Does that seem reasonable with my computer being 4 years old? Or do you think I am just not seeing the obvious in the back? Thanks

A review I looked at says you have 4 USB ports on the rear or the computer. Here is part of the review:
Plenty of ports adorn the Pavilion's rear panel: PS/2 mouse and keyboard, parallel, serial, VGA, Ethernet, four USB 2.0, and audio line-in, line-out, and microphone jacks as well as the powered jack for the supplied Polk Audio stereo speakers. With no subwoofer, the latter - designed to be hung on the sides of an HP monitor, but also able to stand on your desk

If you had only 2 USB ports, was your other Keyboard plugged into one, or do you have 2USB's and 2 PS2's for hook ups?

If you only have 2 USB's and no PS2's then by all means pick a USB HUB and that will add the extra ports that you need. To find a USB 2.0 hub with A/C plugin they might have them at Office Max and Staples and all over, probably even Target.

I assumed that when you stated the new keyboard had a USB connection and both were in use...that therefore the older keyboard was connected by a PS2 connection (because if the older keyboard had been disconnected from one of the two USB ports... one would be available). Or did I presume too much...again?

Below is a nice example of an electrical plugin/usb plug in at Amazon. Although I can't figure out what those four pegs stuck on top of the box are supposed to be on the picture from a owner.

Some hubs just plug into your computer and thereby draw extra electrical energy through it. The better ones plug into your computer but come also with an A/C plug to get the energy needed to run out of a wall socket, instead of drawing the extra through your computer. Just as TomH had suggested. The boys from along time ago made the same suggestion to me with my notebook and they are right.

Its looks like Bob14 found your two hidden USB ports! None-the less you will probably want a hub sooner or later anyway. Between speakers, mice, keyboards, printers, external hard drives...and OHYEAH Game Pads!...they fill up fairly quickly. Bob14 a nice guy. He's fun too.

marf

Here is a link that might be useful: D Link AC plugged 2.0 USB Hub

I found them!!!!!!! Thanks to all for not giving up on me.
There are two USB ports on the back (thanks Bob14) that I thought were something different because the ones on the back are black and the ones on the front are white. (Everything seemed to be color-coded so I was looking for something white.)
Thanks again, Martha for your last explanation.
Seems like I'm learning more about computers all the time.
You guys are the best........Jeanie

Thanks for jogging my memory. I forgot about that recieving end of the wireless. My mistake.
bc.