Operate two mice and keyboards simultaneously?

[zekeman]

Can Windows 2000 (or XP; I may upgrade) run 2 mice and/or keyboards
simultaneously? My monitor is now my large-screen HDTV, and I can see it
while sitting outside on my patio as well as inside (of course). Want the
ability to at least mouse, if not keyboard, from out there with units I keep
out there for that purpose, and not have to carry out my interior units every
time I want to use them and then carry them back in afterward.

I'm asking because the Control Panel seems designed to handle only one each.
I imagine it's all in the drivers, though: can the OS handle two loaded mouse
and keyboard drivers without getting deep under the Registry hood? I know it
can simultaneously easily run a mouse-emulating remote control such as
supplied with ATI All-In-Wonder vidcards at the same time as a full-fledged
mouse, but that's an unacceptable downgrade in utility.

If so, any particular limitations such as the two mice and/or keyboards
needing to be the same make and model, or a conversely a different one? Any
particular limitations on wireless units (IR or RF)? Or one hard-wired into
the PS/2 port and one USB-wireless? Is there special software written/needed
to handle this?

Thanks much for any tips.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Can Windows 2000 (or XP; I may upgrade) run 2 mice and/or keyboards
simultaneously? My monitor is now my large-screen HDTV, and I can see it
while sitting outside on my patio as well as inside (of course). Want the
ability to at least mouse, if not keyboard, from out there with units I
keep
out there for that purpose, and not have to carry out my interior units
every
time I want to use them and then carry them back in afterward.

I'm asking because the Control Panel seems designed to handle only one
each.
I imagine it's all in the drivers, though: can the OS handle two loaded
mouse
and keyboard drivers without getting deep under the Registry hood? I know
it
can simultaneously easily run a mouse-emulating remote control such as
supplied with ATI All-In-Wonder vidcards at the same time as a
full-fledged
mouse, but that's an unacceptable downgrade in utility.

If so, any particular limitations such as the two mice and/or keyboards
needing to be the same make and model, or a conversely a different one?
Any
particular limitations on wireless units (IR or RF)? Or one hard-wired
into
the PS/2 port and one USB-wireless? Is there special software
written/needed
to handle this?

Thanks much for any tips.

Windows will concurrently handle a PS/2 mouse plus several USB mice without
any modification or registry hacks. Just plug them in and see what happens!

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Can Windows 2000 (or XP; I may upgrade) run 2 mice and/or keyboards
simultaneously? My monitor is now my large-screen HDTV, and I can see it
while sitting outside on my patio as well as inside (of course). Want the
ability to at least mouse, if not keyboard, from out there with units I
keep
out there for that purpose, and not have to carry out my interior units
every
time I want to use them and then carry them back in afterward.

I'm asking because the Control Panel seems designed to handle only one
each.
I imagine it's all in the drivers, though: can the OS handle two loaded
mouse
and keyboard drivers without getting deep under the Registry hood? I know
it
can simultaneously easily run a mouse-emulating remote control such as
supplied with ATI All-In-Wonder vidcards at the same time as a
full-fledged
mouse, but that's an unacceptable downgrade in utility.

If so, any particular limitations such as the two mice and/or keyboards
needing to be the same make and model, or a conversely a different one?
Any
particular limitations on wireless units (IR or RF)? Or one hard-wired
into
the PS/2 port and one USB-wireless? Is there special software
written/needed
to handle this?

Thanks much for any tips.

Windows will concurrently handle a PS/2 mouse plus several USB mice without
any modification or registry hacks. Just plug them in and see what happens!

 

[zekeman]

How does one control the settings of the extra mice, such as scroll rate,
double-click speeed, etc? Control Panel's Mouse module appears equipped to
handle only one mouse; I presume that's the PS/2 one.

 

[zekeman]

How does one control the settings of the extra mice, such as scroll rate,
double-click speeed, etc? Control Panel's Mouse module appears equipped to
handle only one mouse; I presume that's the PS/2 one.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

How does one control the settings of the extra mice, such as scroll rate,
double-click speeed, etc? Control Panel's Mouse module appears equipped to
handle only one mouse; I presume that's the PS/2 one.

I suspect that the one setting affects all mice. Why don't you run some
tests to find out?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

How does one control the settings of the extra mice, such as scroll rate,
double-click speeed, etc? Control Panel's Mouse module appears equipped to
handle only one mouse; I presume that's the PS/2 one.

I suspect that the one setting affects all mice. Why don't you run some
tests to find out?

 

[zekeman]

Why don't you run some tests to find out?

Because finding out what will and won't work beforehand affects the decision
of what models of new mouse and keyboard to buy. I was hoping someone could
post who has already run such tests and has a happily functioning system.

 

[zekeman]

Why don't you run some tests to find out?

Because finding out what will and won't work beforehand affects the decision
of what models of new mouse and keyboard to buy. I was hoping someone could
post who has already run such tests and has a happily functioning system.

 

[John John - MVP]

Because finding out what will and won't work beforehand affects the
decision of what models of new mouse and keyboard to buy. I was
hoping someone could post who has already run such tests and has a
happily functioning system.

I don' really understand how you are going to do this unless you use
wireless technology. Do you intend on having your mouse and keyboards
tethered on 50 feet cables? (Or whatever length you need when you are
on the patio.)

In your original post you say:

"My monitor is now my large-screen HDTV, and I can see it while sitting
outside on my patio as well as inside (of course). Want the ability to
at least mouse, if not keyboard, from out there with units I keep
out there for that purpose, and not have to carry out my interior units
every time I want to use them and then carry them back in afterward."

What are "units"? Sets of keyboards and mice? Where is the computer
that they connect to? How are the "units" now connected to the desktop?

John

 

[John John - MVP]

Because finding out what will and won't work beforehand affects the
decision of what models of new mouse and keyboard to buy. I was
hoping someone could post who has already run such tests and has a
happily functioning system.

I don' really understand how you are going to do this unless you use
wireless technology. Do you intend on having your mouse and keyboards
tethered on 50 feet cables? (Or whatever length you need when you are
on the patio.)

In your original post you say:

"My monitor is now my large-screen HDTV, and I can see it while sitting
outside on my patio as well as inside (of course). Want the ability to
at least mouse, if not keyboard, from out there with units I keep
out there for that purpose, and not have to carry out my interior units
every time I want to use them and then carry them back in afterward."

What are "units"? Sets of keyboards and mice? Where is the computer
that they connect to? How are the "units" now connected to the desktop?

John

 

[zekeman]

The computer box sits below the monitor. Yes, 'units' referred to the extra
mouse and keyboard. Currently a wireless USB mouse and a PS/2 keyboard on a
simple 25-ft $10 extension cable are connected to the computer, which I
operate quite successfully from across the room. (It's quite liberating not
to be chained 2 feet in front of a monitor btw.)

I want to add a 2nd keyboard and 2nd mouse to the computer. Certainly
wireless is an option I'm looking at, which is why IR and RF wireless were
mentioned specifically in the OP. And precisely why I can't "just run some
tests and find out": I don't have spare mice and keyboards laying around, and
am not inclined to buy some expensive wireless keyboard and mouse only to
find W2K can't run two of each simultaneously. Which is why I'm asking the
original question.

If it can run two mice, how to control the 2nd mouse's
snap-to-default-button, scroll-rate, and double-click-rate settings, when
Control Panel-Mouse appears to recognize only one mouse? Is adjusting those
options on the 2nd mouse simply not possible if they're not identical models
of mice? If they are identical mice, will the same Control Panel-Mouse
settings affect each, or only one?

Likewise, can W2K recognize only one model-specific keyboard driver at a
time? i.e., if a specific keyboard uses a special driver to provide function
to its extra programmable buttons, is W2K limited to having only one of these
loaded at a time?

 

[zekeman]

The computer box sits below the monitor. Yes, 'units' referred to the extra
mouse and keyboard. Currently a wireless USB mouse and a PS/2 keyboard on a
simple 25-ft $10 extension cable are connected to the computer, which I
operate quite successfully from across the room. (It's quite liberating not
to be chained 2 feet in front of a monitor btw.)

I want to add a 2nd keyboard and 2nd mouse to the computer. Certainly
wireless is an option I'm looking at, which is why IR and RF wireless were
mentioned specifically in the OP. And precisely why I can't "just run some
tests and find out": I don't have spare mice and keyboards laying around, and
am not inclined to buy some expensive wireless keyboard and mouse only to
find W2K can't run two of each simultaneously. Which is why I'm asking the
original question.

If it can run two mice, how to control the 2nd mouse's
snap-to-default-button, scroll-rate, and double-click-rate settings, when
Control Panel-Mouse appears to recognize only one mouse? Is adjusting those
options on the 2nd mouse simply not possible if they're not identical models
of mice? If they are identical mice, will the same Control Panel-Mouse
settings affect each, or only one?

Likewise, can W2K recognize only one model-specific keyboard driver at a
time? i.e., if a specific keyboard uses a special driver to provide function
to its extra programmable buttons, is W2K limited to having only one of these
loaded at a time?

 

[John John - MVP]

Do a search for KVM Splitter or PS2 splitter and you will get some
possible solutions.

John

 

[John John - MVP]

Do a search for KVM Splitter or PS2 splitter and you will get some
possible solutions.

John

 

[zekeman]

Thanks. The KVM splitter looks to be a bit of overkill considering cost and
size of external attachment, given that I don't need a duo video-monitor
capability. It does approach the functionality I'm looking for though. The
PS/2 splitters are basically Y-jacks, is that true?

The question is not on the physical connections but on the number of mouse
and keyboard drivers Windows 2000 operating system can handle simultaneously.
Inferrring from the restrictions I'm reading in the KVM splitter manuals
regarding the boot process, driver-loading, and 'hot-plugging' in a
different-functionality mouse or ball device, it seems WIndows handles only
one mouse and keyboard driver at a time.

Does anyone know a solution to set it to load two such drivers
simultaneously so that the model-specific settings such as 3-5th mouse
buttons and keyboard programmable buttons are menu-settable on each? If not,
it looks like the best solution is try for identical mice and identical
keyboards, and hope for the best.

 

[zekeman]

Thanks. The KVM splitter looks to be a bit of overkill considering cost and
size of external attachment, given that I don't need a duo video-monitor
capability. It does approach the functionality I'm looking for though. The
PS/2 splitters are basically Y-jacks, is that true?

The question is not on the physical connections but on the number of mouse
and keyboard drivers Windows 2000 operating system can handle simultaneously.
Inferrring from the restrictions I'm reading in the KVM splitter manuals
regarding the boot process, driver-loading, and 'hot-plugging' in a
different-functionality mouse or ball device, it seems WIndows handles only
one mouse and keyboard driver at a time.

Does anyone know a solution to set it to load two such drivers
simultaneously so that the model-specific settings such as 3-5th mouse
buttons and keyboard programmable buttons are menu-settable on each? If not,
it looks like the best solution is try for identical mice and identical
keyboards, and hope for the best.

 

[John John - MVP]

Thanks. The KVM splitter looks to be a bit of overkill considering cost and
size of external attachment, given that I don't need a duo video-monitor
capability. It does approach the functionality I'm looking for though. The
PS/2 splitters are basically Y-jacks, is that true?

The question is not on the physical connections but on the number of mouse
and keyboard drivers Windows 2000 operating system can handle simultaneously.
Inferrring from the restrictions I'm reading in the KVM splitter manuals
regarding the boot process, driver-loading, and 'hot-plugging' in a
different-functionality mouse or ball device, it seems WIndows handles only
one mouse and keyboard driver at a time.

Does anyone know a solution to set it to load two such drivers
simultaneously so that the model-specific settings such as 3-5th mouse
buttons and keyboard programmable buttons are menu-settable on each? If not,
it looks like the best solution is try for identical mice and identical
keyboards, and hope for the best.

Over the years my findings with wired keyboards and mouse has been that
you can plug just about any make of keyboard or mouse in the computer
and it will work without having to fiddle with drivers. The only thing
that would be affected would be special mouse functions or special
buttons on multimedia keyboards. As long as you don't use special kinds
of mouse or keyboards you shouldn't have any problems with drivers, you
shouldn't need to install different drivers. If you want to reduce the
possiblity of conflicts just use identical input devices.

I have never tried these kinds of Y splitters but these or similar
should work: http://www.connectronics.com/ymouse/

John

 

[John John - MVP]

Thanks. The KVM splitter looks to be a bit of overkill considering cost and
size of external attachment, given that I don't need a duo video-monitor
capability. It does approach the functionality I'm looking for though. The
PS/2 splitters are basically Y-jacks, is that true?

The question is not on the physical connections but on the number of mouse
and keyboard drivers Windows 2000 operating system can handle simultaneously.
Inferrring from the restrictions I'm reading in the KVM splitter manuals
regarding the boot process, driver-loading, and 'hot-plugging' in a
different-functionality mouse or ball device, it seems WIndows handles only
one mouse and keyboard driver at a time.

Does anyone know a solution to set it to load two such drivers
simultaneously so that the model-specific settings such as 3-5th mouse
buttons and keyboard programmable buttons are menu-settable on each? If not,
it looks like the best solution is try for identical mice and identical
keyboards, and hope for the best.

Over the years my findings with wired keyboards and mouse has been that
you can plug just about any make of keyboard or mouse in the computer
and it will work without having to fiddle with drivers. The only thing
that would be affected would be special mouse functions or special
buttons on multimedia keyboards. As long as you don't use special kinds
of mouse or keyboards you shouldn't have any problems with drivers, you
shouldn't need to install different drivers. If you want to reduce the
possiblity of conflicts just use identical input devices.

I have never tried these kinds of Y splitters but these or similar
should work: http://www.connectronics.com/ymouse/

John

 

[zekeman]

Yes, that's just it: though a standard keyboard suits me fine, a 5-button
mouse invaluable, especially the ability to Ctrl-scroll zoom without having
to reach for the keyboard from the relaxed position that distant
large-monitor viewing affords (which itself necessitates lots of zooming in &
out). Also rarely are the Windows-default scroll and double-click rates
tolerable for me. They don't make my favorite mouse anymore to buy a new
matching one, though perhaps can find one on craigslist or ebay.

Thanks for the comments.