Dell Inspiron + PS2 + KVM = 0

[rlb]

OK gurus.

1 ea. Dell Inspiron 3500 - XPpro& updates.
latest Synaptics drivers. ( A touch pad is buillt in)

1 Ea. Belkin PRO 8 port KVM - 5 ports in use. all PS2 connections.

The Dell is in a rack. I MUST use the KVM.
The Dell is on a client port. NOT the Master.

The symptom only occurs when the KVM is in-line
A directly attached mouse will not hang.

Neither a PS2>USB, nor a USB>PS2 adaptor works.
When either adaptor is in-line, the mouse is not recognized.
at all. Even across a power cycle.

I assume this is because either the Belkin or the Dell don't
put appropriate signals on the right pins.

Every few minutes, the Belkin blanks the screen.
( no it's not normal)

When the screen blanks, the mouse stops. usually.
It won't hang if I keep it moving.

If the mouse hangs, it's gone for good.
The only reliable way to get it back, is to:
1. power off
2. disconnect the power brick from the Docking station
( A REAL hard Reset)
3. dis/re-insert the mouses PS2 cable
( this wakes up the KVM)
4. Reboot while the port is still selected on the KVM.
( if I select another port during the Dell's boot cycle,
The mouse will not be sensed, And I have to start all over)
5. keep the mouse moving until the boot completes.
(if the port is not chattering, it may not get sensed.
And I have to start over.)

This is NOT a resonable work-around ;-}

Both Dell, and Belkin insist that it's an unsupported
configuration. So, I left to my own devices.
(pun intended.)

I think the problem is due to a cheap UART on the Dell's MB that doesn't met the protocol spec.
I CANNOT find out what chip is on the board
( I'm not allowed to crack the case)

Can I rig an adaptor on the PS2 port that will assert the right signals to keep the Belkin Happy?
for example, Does anybody know If the break may be because
the belkin does not see +5V on pin 4?
Or, maybe the Dell Port is supposed to handshake but doesn't
put out anough juice to kick the latch on the Belkins UART?

I'm seriously stuck. for a number of stupid reasons, I can't trash either box.

Any and all ideas are more than welcome.

TIA.