Vista - One Monitor Two PC's

I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share keyboard,
mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is at
a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
access.
--
Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
the table?

Yes, it's called a KVM. A Google search will yield results.

--
----
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"Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
>I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> keyboard,
> mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> at
> a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> access.
> --
> Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> the table?

Hi Jorge,

You may need a KVM switch. Find out about this, here:

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/KVM_switch.html

Happy hunting.
--
freddy


"Jorge" wrote:

> I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share keyboard,
> mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is at
> a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> access.
> --
> Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> the table?

KVM switch
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&CMP=KNC-GOOGL




"Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
>I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> keyboard,
> mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> at
> a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> access.
> --
> Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> the table?

Thank you. When I was young (er?) HiFi was the thing. Switching and sharing
components (peripherals) was the thing - "spaghetti hell". Paralell
reasoning led me to think that it would be possible with PC's. Thanks again.
--
Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
the table?


"Dave B." wrote:

> Yes, it's called a KVM. A Google search will yield results.
>
> --
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
> >I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> > so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> > keyboard,
> > mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> > at
> > a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> > access.
> > --
> > Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> > the table?
>
>
>

If your primary need is to share the monitor and the monitor has two inputs
you can connect one to each of the PCs and switch the input manually at the
monitor.

Otherwise, you need a KVM switch. Be sure it has the correct inputs - USB or
PS2 - for the mouse and keyboard connections you use and that it has
sufficient bandwidth for the monitor. Cheap KVM switches are unlikely to be
able to handle the data streams for a high resolution monitor. Some switches
can also switch the sound so speakers can be shared.



"Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
>I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> keyboard,
> mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> at
> a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> access.
> --
> Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> the table?

Just go to your nearest Radio Shack ... ask for the IOGear MiniView Micro
KVM Switch ($US30). Model: GCS62
Catalog #: 25-103
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2353884&cp

I use it for two desktop computers placed side by side but out of the way
under the counter, Vista & WinXP ... I use one wireless keyboard/mouse and
one monitor and it works fine. Double tap the Pause/Break key to
immediately switch between OS's.
--
HTH, Fred

"Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
>I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> keyboard,
> mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> at
> a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> access.
> --
> Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> the table?

Fred,
Are you using a USB adapter for the Vista computer, or did you upgrade a
computer that you already had to Vista? My new computer came with Vista and
is USB only, so I ordered a PS/2 to USB adapter for my current KVM, but now
that it's not working correctly, I thought I should just get a USB KVM.
--
Thanks,
Stephanie


"Frederick Pouy (Fred)" wrote:

> Just go to your nearest Radio Shack ... ask for the IOGear MiniView Micro
> KVM Switch ($US30). Model: GCS62
> Catalog #: 25-103
> http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2353884&cp
>
> I use it for two desktop computers placed side by side but out of the way
> under the counter, Vista & WinXP ... I use one wireless keyboard/mouse and
> one monitor and it works fine. Double tap the Pause/Break key to
> immediately switch between OS's.
> --
> HTH, Fred
>
> "Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
> >I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my programs
> > so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> > keyboard,
> > mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space is
> > at
> > a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use remote
> > access.
> > --
> > Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring to
> > the table?
>
>

Stephanie ... my latest computer came with Vista, but that should have
nothing to do with the KVM switch. The computer happens to have PS/2
outlets so I use those, but a USB port with an adapter works just as well.

I would think that most KVMs sold would come with PS/2 connectors (sell to
the largest possible market theory) but perhaps you've been able to find one
with USB ... still, it should make no difference.

What exactly is 'not working correctly'? Video? Keyboard? Mouse? Audio?
--
Regards, Fred

"soulsrfing" <soulsrfing@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news4CF7B4E-84E5-48C4-AA3C-B0369BCD1715@microsoft.com...
> Fred,
> Are you using a USB adapter for the Vista computer, or did you upgrade a
> computer that you already had to Vista? My new computer came with Vista
> and
> is USB only, so I ordered a PS/2 to USB adapter for my current KVM, but
> now
> that it's not working correctly, I thought I should just get a USB KVM.
> --
> Thanks,
> Stephanie
>
>
> "Frederick Pouy (Fred)" wrote:
>
>> Just go to your nearest Radio Shack ... ask for the IOGear MiniView Micro
>> KVM Switch ($US30). Model: GCS62
>> Catalog #: 25-103
>> http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2353884&cp
>>
>> I use it for two desktop computers placed side by side but out of the way
>> under the counter, Vista & WinXP ... I use one wireless keyboard/mouse
>> and
>> one monitor and it works fine. Double tap the Pause/Break key to
>> immediately switch between OS's.
>> --
>> HTH, Fred
>>
>> "Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
>> >I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my
>> >programs
>> > so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
>> > keyboard,
>> > mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space
>> > is
>> > at
>> > a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use
>> > remote
>> > access.
>> > --
>> > Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring
>> > to
>> > the table?
>>
>>

Hi Fred,
My new computer with Vista (5 days old) came with only USB ports, no PS/2.
My old KVM and old computer are PS/2. When using the KVM, my monitor receives
a signal from the XP, but not Vista - the indicator light shows activity from
the XP, but nothing from the Vista. The monitor works fine when hooked
directly to the Vista. I can't tell you if the mouse and keyboard would work
through thte KVM because I am waiting for the adapter to modify my current
PS/2 connectors to USB so I can plug them into the Vista (I'm not using the
mouse/keyboard that came with the computer). This KVM works just fine with my
2 XPs connected, but for some reason (which none of the tech people can
explain) it won't work with the Vista. Iogear and LG (monitor manufacturer)
say the problem is Vista, MS blames Dell, Dell blames Iogear. I'm ready to
box it up, send it back to Dell, and just add more RAM to my old computers.
--
Thanks for any thoughts/ideas you might have,
Stephanie


"FredP (Fred)" wrote:

> Stephanie ... my latest computer came with Vista, but that should have
> nothing to do with the KVM switch. The computer happens to have PS/2
> outlets so I use those, but a USB port with an adapter works just as well.
>
> I would think that most KVMs sold would come with PS/2 connectors (sell to
> the largest possible market theory) but perhaps you've been able to find one
> with USB ... still, it should make no difference.
>
> What exactly is 'not working correctly'? Video? Keyboard? Mouse? Audio?
> --
> Regards, Fred
>
> "soulsrfing" <soulsrfing@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news4CF7B4E-84E5-48C4-AA3C-B0369BCD1715@microsoft.com...
> > Fred,
> > Are you using a USB adapter for the Vista computer, or did you upgrade a
> > computer that you already had to Vista? My new computer came with Vista
> > and
> > is USB only, so I ordered a PS/2 to USB adapter for my current KVM, but
> > now
> > that it's not working correctly, I thought I should just get a USB KVM.
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Stephanie
> >
> >
> > "Frederick Pouy (Fred)" wrote:
> >
> >> Just go to your nearest Radio Shack ... ask for the IOGear MiniView Micro
> >> KVM Switch ($US30). Model: GCS62
> >> Catalog #: 25-103
> >> http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2353884&cp
> >>
> >> I use it for two desktop computers placed side by side but out of the way
> >> under the counter, Vista & WinXP ... I use one wireless keyboard/mouse
> >> and
> >> one monitor and it works fine. Double tap the Pause/Break key to
> >> immediately switch between OS's.
> >> --
> >> HTH, Fred
> >>
> >> "Jorge" <Jorge@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:C41EEEDE-4CE5-4282-B91D-B13F970782E1@microsoft.com...
> >> >I bought a new PC with Vista (POS). I am unable to use most of my
> >> >programs
> >> > so networking does not fill all my needs. Is there a way to share
> >> > keyboard,
> >> > mouse and monitor between two PC's (primarily the monitor). Desk space
> >> > is
> >> > at
> >> > a premium. The old PC is running Windows 2000 Pro and I cannot use
> >> > remote
> >> > access.
> >> > --
> >> > Life is not a banquet; it is a covered dish dinner. What do you bring
> >> > to
> >> > the table?
> >>
> >>
>
>