[XP] What are the signs that the PS/2 Port is going out?

For the last 2 weeks I've been having problems with the keyboard and mouse that are plugged into the ps/2 ports. I fixed the issue with the mouse by moving it to a USB port, but the keyboard is still on the other ps/2 port. The keyboard is fine/good and have even tried 2 other keyboards (new) on the ps/2 port and the problem is still there. Have uninstalled the driver and re-installed, no help.
Here's the problem, at times when I press a key, the alarm on the motherboard starts to sound continuously, at times it'll go on for minuets and the keyboard will quit working. (It has nothing to do the mobo temps, have already checked that area...) The alarm will even continue as I'm shutting it down. If I remove the keyboard before a reboot, I have no problem what so ever, just the lack of a keyboard, I have to use the On-Screen Keyboard in XP to type...
I tried using a keyboard with a USB adapter at the end, but my PC will not recognize the keyboard. I checked the BIOS to enable that option if there was an option under the BIOS, but I didn't see anything relating to enabling USB/keyboard support under the BIOS... (Using latest BIOS, may have to go back to an older version, because I believe I've seen an option to enable USB Keyboard support on the previous BIOS version I had.) Any clues???

The motherboard is an ASUS A7N266-E and has been in full operation for 6 years. OS is Win XP Pro SP2.

Set USB Legacy support to Enabled

Try plugging and unplugging the PS/2 about 3 - 5 times. That will tend to clean the contacts and stopped that mess with my A7V series mobos.

Still have to do it once in a while with newer motherboards.

Thanks Train for the reply. I waited a few days before posting back to see and test the PC. I tried cleaning the PS/2 contacts and that didn't help, the problem would still show up in spurts. The BIOS was set as Legacy Enabled, I went and purchased a better keyboard than I did a few days back and the new wireless keyboard and mouse are working better than I had hoped (I never really wanted to go wireless, but I had very few choses of keyboards to select from). I pray this completely corrects the problem, 'cause I started looking at spending $1000+ for a new custom built system.

Sometimes that is what we have to do. Buy new. :( "D

Thanks for posting the fix.