Yojimbo

My system downstairs is a homebuilt based around a A7N8X mobo with good RAM,
graphics card, etc. running XP. It's not cutting edge but I'd sooner not
throw it out. For now, it won't run because it doesn't detect the keyboard.
Late last week, the cat got bored with sitting beside me and jumped on my
shoulder. Except he's gained weight since the times when it was cute. Claws
dug in. The keyboard went flying and three of the keyboard's pins broke off
in the PS2 socket. Of course, another keyboard won't work because the pins
are still in. I set up my old PC for now running W98 (took some time until I
found out about the Tango setup CD from the MTS service agent, then easy)
though it's more vulnerable than my XP setup. Then I researched ways to try
tp fix it.
Point is, option 1 was to get a dental pick and extrude the pins from the
inside. But the plug is enclosed on all sides. The alternative seems to be
either to find a place to unsolder and replace the keyboard/mouse part or
replace the mobo. And the XP may not boot the HD's (one 60G IDE and one 100
SATA) with a different model of mobo.
I got an email when I was trolling for suggestions; some McGuyver suggested
I use a paerclip and Krazy Glue.

I talked to the local PC repair shop and he's suggesting I use a USB
keyboard. But it halts in the BIOS boot. The USB is an install after the
Wndows installation on the ASUS disk. I'm sure it won't work but the USB
keyboard is the suggestion I've being getting often. Would a USB keyboard
work? and does anyone have a good suggestion?