Two computers and one Monitor?

[Walter R.]

I am running Windows XP Sp3 with a 22" ws monitor

I am buying a new computer but would like to keep the old one (8 years old)
for experimentation and as an internal web server. The new computer will be
running xp (eventually windows 7) for general purpose computing. Nothing
fancy.

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor for
both computers. How can I switch back and forth? Change the cables at the
monitor? That's pretty awkward.

Thanks for any input

 

[olfart]

I am running Windows XP Sp3 with a 22" ws monitor

I am buying a new computer but would like to keep the old one (8 years
old) for experimentation and as an internal web server. The new computer
will be running xp (eventually windows 7) for general purpose computing.
Nothing fancy.

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor
for both computers. How can I switch back and forth? Change the cables at
the monitor? That's pretty awkward.

Thanks for any input

KVM switch

 

[Brian A.]

I am running Windows XP Sp3 with a 22" ws monitor

I am buying a new computer but would like to keep the old one (8 years
old) for experimentation and as an internal web server. The new computer
will be running xp (eventually windows 7) for general purpose computing.
Nothing fancy.

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor
for both computers. How can I switch back and forth? Change the cables at
the monitor? That's pretty awkward.

Thanks for any input

Use a USB-PS/2 KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch. Tons to choose from
ranging in price from approx $15.00 US to a couple Thousand dollars.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[John John - MVP]

You need a KVM switch. Be aware that some switches are better than
others. Different video cards and different KVM switches give different
results, some better than others. Ghosting can make your switch
difficult to use, it is pretty annoying and can cause eyestrain. Note
that KVM cables can be as expensive as the switch and that bad cables
can also contribute to ghosting problems. Also note that some switches
don't handle USB mouse and keyboards all that well. My only advice is
that you ask for return privileges when you buy the switch.

John

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am running Windows XP Sp3 with a 22" ws monitor

I am buying a new computer but would like to keep the old one (8 years old)
for experimentation and as an internal web server. The new computer will be
running xp (eventually windows 7) for general purpose computing. Nothing
fancy.

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor for
both computers. How can I switch back and forth?

Yes, you can. Buy a switch to do this. It's called a KVM switch, and
you can find them on the internet with a Google search.

 

[Guest]

You can buy a KVM switch or use RealVNC (www.realvnc.com) Free edition which
will allow you to remote between the two machines.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Walter R.:

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor for
both computers. How can I switch back and forth? Change the cables at the
monitor? That's pretty awkward.

My monitor accepts both a digital and an analog cable.

I use the digital cable for my main PC and have the monitor
hooked up to a secondary PC via the analog cable.

There's a switch on the monitor that flips between the two
cables.

YYMV.... Samsung SyncMaster 730b.

 

[Jeff Barnett]

You can buy a KVM switch or use RealVNC (www.realvnc.com) Free edition
which will allow you to remote between the two machines.

If all you want to share is the monitor, then it might be really easy.
Every monitor (LCD not CRT) that I've seen in the last several years
supports two inputs. Usually one is VGA and the other is DVI but there
are little converters so that you can use two inputs of the same kind.
One of the buttons on the monitor will switch between the two inputs; if
only one is alive, the monitor will automatically pick that one. If you
want to share keyboard and mouse also, the KVM switch might be your
solution. However, be warned that most KVM switches in most
configurations (even if they are powered) don't work worth a damn
especially when the keyboard and/or mouse is a USB device.

 

[Rich]

If all you want to share is the monitor, then it might be really easy.
Every monitor (LCD not CRT) that I've seen in the last several years
supports two inputs. Usually one is VGA and the other is DVI but there are
little converters so that you can use two inputs of the same kind. One of
the buttons on the monitor will switch between the two inputs; if only one
is alive, the monitor will automatically pick that one. If you want to
share keyboard and mouse also, the KVM switch might be your solution.
However, be warned that most KVM switches in most configurations (even if
they are powered) don't work worth a damn especially when the keyboard
and/or mouse is a USB device.

I guess this is a "your mileage may vary" situation. Originally I had a home
computer with dual gigantic Dell 22" CRT monitors. This is an old patched
together system which included a beloved Gateway 2000 Anykey keyboard. About
6 months ago my company allowed me to work at home & provided the necessary
computer. My job requires dual monitors & work provided two brand new
beautiful HP 19" LCD monitors. After about three months I had become tired
of the clutter of 4 large monitors surrounding me & the desk space wasted to
accommodate a second workstation on a modular desk meant for only one. So,
about three months ago I purchased a dual monitor Linkskey(?) KVM switch. I
replaced the 90 pound CRT's with the company's LCD's, retained my own Anykey
keyboard (which is great for programming, into the keyboard, user ID's &
passwords that needed to be entered & re-entered multiple times during the
day for my work PC) & stuck the much smaller company CPU under my desk.
The Linkskey comes with all the cables & cost about $105 for a dual monitor
device. Single monitor KVM are much cheaper. Now, with just a press of a
button on the KVM, which sits on top of my home computer at my feet, or a
double click of the "scroll lock" key on my keyboard, I switch
instantaneously between the two computers. Now my family can't even tell
when they walk in my office whether I am working "on the clock" or finished
working & cruising the internet. It's simply a dual purpose single computer
work station.
I am using a PS2 mouse & keyboard & I am not an IT professional, which you
may be & have vast bad experience with KVM switches, but my anecdotal single
experience has been great & for the price of a single monitor KVM, I think
the OP should definitely pursue that solution.

Regards,

Rich (also from AZ but not to be confused with the other frequenter of this
group)

 

[Twayne]

You can buy a KVM switch or use RealVNC (www.realvnc.com) Free
edition which will allow you to remote between the two machines.

Good solution, and the one I use. I use the more current ultra-VNC, but
same thing, same company. You can have the other monitor right there on
your own monitir in a window, just like any other program, so the second
monitor doesn't even need to be located where you can see it.
Pros: Can't send machine commans such as CTRL-ALT-DEL to the other
machine for obvious reasons.
Cons: The other monitor appears in a window on your monitor and all
programs except as above are runnable from your computer too. Like a
KVM switch but no wires if there is already a network installed.
Personal: I went to ultra-VNC after my second KVM switch gave up to,
I think, surges. IOGear and a Belkin. Apparently they don't do put
protection on them; dunno.
Oh, and VNC is free but has a setup to go thru.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Ian D]

I am running Windows XP Sp3 with a 22" ws monitor

I am buying a new computer but would like to keep the old one (8 years
old) for experimentation and as an internal web server. The new computer
will be running xp (eventually windows 7) for general purpose computing.
Nothing fancy.

Is there any way I can hook up my system so that I can use one monitor
for both computers. How can I switch back and forth? Change the cables at
the monitor? That's pretty awkward.

Thanks for any input

If your monitor is a wide screen LCD, are you sure it doesn't have
dual selectable inputs? It may be a combo of VGA and DVI inputs.

 

[SC Tom]

I used TightVNC (http://www.tightvnc.com/), another freebie remote program.
Easy to install, easy to set up, and easy to use. All commands are also
available (including CTRL-ALT-DEL). The only problem we ever had was the
newer versions of Kaspersky picked it up as a virus, but that was a year
ago, and their definitions may have changed by now.

SC Tom

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per SC Tom:

I used TightVNC (http://www.tightvnc.com/), another freebie remote program.
Easy to install, easy to set up, and easy to use.

Have you tried it outside of a LAN?

i.e. Is there any hope of my installing it on my PC up in Philly
and on my daughter's PC down in Ocean City and being able to
troubleshoot here desktop from Philadelphia across ISPs?

 

[olfart]

Per SC Tom:

Have you tried it outside of a LAN?

i.e. Is there any hope of my installing it on my PC up in Philly
and on my daughter's PC down in Ocean City and being able to
troubleshoot here desktop from Philadelphia across ISPs?

www.logmein.com

 

[Twayne]

Yes, it should be reasonably easy to do that; especially if you set up a
remote connection first. Usually you'd set it up so she was the server
and your machine was the client.

Logmein looks interesting too but I didn't see a free version off
hand; it's probably there someplace though. Too pricey for my tastes.

tightVNC looks "OK" except they're so new on the market they don't even
have a list yet of the differences between them and their competition.
Their features list reads a lot like realVNC's list so I am assuming
it's an off-shoot or copycat type of program just getting started.
Personally I'd stick with realVNC or better yet ultraVNC for all the
added features & usability, but that's just my opinion, nothing more.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[SC Tom]

Yes, it should be reasonably easy to do that; especially if you set up a
remote connection first. Usually you'd set it up so she was the server and
your machine was the client.

Logmein looks interesting too but I didn't see a free version off hand;
it's probably there someplace though. Too pricey for my tastes.

tightVNC looks "OK" except they're so new on the market they don't even
have a list yet of the differences between them and their competition.
Their features list reads a lot like realVNC's list so I am assuming it's
an off-shoot or copycat type of program just getting started. Personally
I'd stick with realVNC or better yet ultraVNC for all the added features &
usability, but that's just my opinion, nothing more.

HTH,

Twayne`

I don't know how new they are; we had been using it for a good 3-4 years
before I retired last year.
I'm not sure if it would work across ISP's. We used it within our WAN
between SC and OH, and locally.

SC Tom

 

[Anthony Buckland]

Why bother? Monitors are a damn sight cheaper than system units.
I think you'll find a lot more people trying to use multiple montors for
a single system unit. Buy two monitors. Three. They're easily adaptable.
If you have one or more left over afterwards, give them to friends.