Final answer:
When a mouse or keyboard is connected via USB, Windows usually installs generic drivers automatically. For devices connected via PS/2, the system may require a restart to recognize them.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you plug a mouse or keyboard into a USB port on a Windows computer, typically Windows will immediately recognize the device and install generic drivers without the need for a restart or the manual installation of drivers. This process is known as Plug and Play. On the other hand, when you plug a mouse or keyboard into a PS/2 port, these devices are usually recognized at boot time, meaning that if they are connected while the computer is on, a restart may be required for the operating system to recognize them.