Two computers, one monitor

Muzman on 27/7/2011 at 09:32

Riddle me this dear fellowes. Would using one monitor (or one set of two monitors ) one two separate systems be a good idea?

The train of thought goes like this: It's high time I upgraded my OS (XP 32) and some other things, but after wading through the potential process I keep putting it off. My drives are in this weird fragmented configuration (somewhere back on win 98 the E drive became my primary partition. No I don't know why any more). I have loads of legacy software in weird configurations, filled with custom presets that I like and no real idea if I have any of it backed up properly or able to be reinstalled any more. I can see a full format putting me out of action for weeks and then irritating me to death for months afterwards as I discover things I forgot I didn't have or no longer work. Because of this functional mess, dual booting seems just as irritating too.

It seems most cost and, particularly, time effective (believe it or not) to just buy a fresh new box put Windows 7 on it and start over, but keep the old one sitting next to it for various legacy projects and safety etc.

If I did this I really wouldn't want to get another monitor for the new box. I would rather switch between systems entirely: Use the new box for work and, say, set it rendering and then switch over to the other one to surf the net or play games or whatever.

What interesting ways are there available to do something like this besides re-cableing every time?

Matthew on 27/7/2011 at 09:44

I believe that something like (http://www.maplin.co.uk/keyboard-and-monitor-switch-boxes-13351?ordercode=VC46A) this for the monitor and something like (http://www.maplin.co.uk/2-port-usb-kvm-117418) this for keyboard and mouse could be what you're looking for?

Edit: in fact, I think that second type does the monitor switching as well.

Renzatic on 27/7/2011 at 09:48

This is an easy one. Use a (http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=143&name=KVM-Switches) KVM Switch. They're dead simple to use. You run all your appropriate cables from the computers to the switch (mouse, keyboard, video cables), then run one VGA or DVI cable to your monitor. From there, all you have to do is hit a special key combination usually set to some barely used key on your keyboard (pause break-pause break is the one I mostly see), and it'll flip you back and forth between computers. The only hard part is finding out what to do with your new mess of wires.

Edit: What Matthew said.

Al_B on 27/7/2011 at 11:43

The other option is to use some form of remote access software - either the in-built remote desktop software if you get the professional or ultimate version of Windows 7 but you could use (http://www.tightvnc.com/) a version of VNC if not. The advantage is that it won't require any additional hardware (other than both being networked) and Window's remote desktop is decent for general purpose work. You could then monitor what it was doing in a window on your XP machine and switch to it when it finishes rendering (for example).

Muzman on 27/7/2011 at 20:00

Very interesting. Thanks chaps.

I was exploring the KVM switch option for a while there and noticed it could be tricky since very few of them seem to support my monitor's native res (mostly lower or higher, bizarrely enough).

Then I remembered the monitor has multiple inputs.
Oh how I did laugh.

I guess what I need is a K...M switch instead.

Has anyone used one of those things outside of server management situations? There are warnings about latency problems. I doubt I'm hardcore enough to care in most situations, I'm just looking for peoples experiences.

(still pondering yours Al, don't worry)

Al_B on 27/7/2011 at 21:27

I'm not worried - just wanted to throw in an alternative :).

If you can switch between two computers on one monitor (particularly if you then got another as a primary monitor for one of the computers) then you could also consider using (http://synergy-foss.org/) Synergy to share your keyboard / mouse. I've used it a few times to share a mouse and keyboard between a laptop and a desktop PC and it works very well.

june gloom on 27/7/2011 at 21:59

i thought this thread was going to be about some really geeky porno :(

Matthew on 27/7/2011 at 22:41

Oh yeah, look at that cute little mini DIN baby

lost_soul on 27/7/2011 at 22:53

The other day we picked up a two-computer KVM switch at Radio Shack for $10. It came with cables too! The thing is self-powered (from USB), so the wiring isn't so bad. Your keyboard and mouse are run through one cable and the video is through the other. These two cables are stuck together though to prevent clutter. The one we got is made by Trendnet.

theBlackman on 29/7/2011 at 03:41

I use two KVM switches. On controls three computers to a single Keyboard, monitor, mouse, and the other controls 5 systems.

No problems with any of the systems and I can run W98, XP, W7 on individual computers and use a single keyboard etc.

I also have a dual computer KVM switch by IOGEAR that needs no aux power.