Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both?
So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
BTW, a few months ago, Amazon went from showing the Q&A to making you
ask a question first, even when there are only a few questions already.
It took me longer than it should have but putting in one letter, like an
a, will give you a look at every question that includes the letter or
maybe the word a.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to
PC, I need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more
than 2 computers all have HDMI outputs.
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:35 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I >>need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2 >>computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable, >>but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So >>what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
If either of your PCs can support Remote Desktop (RDP), I would 100% recommend >that approach over a KVM. I had two KVM switches a long time ago, but they've >both gone to Goodwill. Good riddance.
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you want to use, but with
RDP you simply click in a window, or if the 2nd PC is running full screen, just
click anywhere in that screen. It's so much faster, easier, and convenient.
micky wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
I have several old (probably 15 years old) KVM switches in a cupboard >somewhere. You would be welcome to them. Where are you? I'm near
Thetford in Norfolk.
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you
want to use, but with RDP you simply click in a window
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Char,
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you
want to use, but with RDP you simply click in a window
I'm not all that sure what you think switching using the mouse is less work >than doing the same using the keyboard.
My old D-link did it with a scroll-lock double-tap and than 1...4 for the >selection. My current one makes it a more complex : on the numberpad >press-and-hold numlock, press-and-release the minus sign, release numlock, >and than press 1...7 for the selection.
Yep, that really feels like a /lot/ of work. :-)
Though to be honest, I can't seem to get my muscle-memory to remember the >"release minus before NumLock" order consistently. :-\
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:36:29 -0600, Char
Jackson <none@none.invalid> wrote:
On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:35 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my >>>desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set >>>up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I >>>need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2 >>>computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just >>>because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all >>>USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable, >>>but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So >>>what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at >>>both so easily .
If either of your PCs can support Remote Desktop (RDP), I would 100% recommend
that approach over a KVM. I had two KVM switches a long time ago, but they've >>both gone to Goodwill. Good riddance.
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you want to use, but with
RDP you simply click in a window, or if the 2nd PC is running full screen, just
click anywhere in that screen. It's so much faster, easier, and convenient.
You folks have given me a lot to think about. I had planned to cut out >thinking when I retired. This is like joining a gym after years of
lethargy. I will look into RDP and, David,synergy.
On 11/16/2023 2:10 PM, micky wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
There are the following graphics converters.
This is not an exhaustive list. I own three out of this
set, and multiple of some of them. Having multiple even
came in handy (accidental foresight).
HDMI to VGA (active, cheap)
DP to VGA (active, cheap)
DP++ to HDMI (passive, cheap)
DP to HDMi (active, cheap) [For the Optiplex 780, which isn't DP++ capable]
DVI to HDMI (could be passive)
DL-DVI to HDMI (active, likely $$)
(Anything DVI-I or DVI-D is pretty obscure now. Modern vid cards no longer have DVI-I.)
There are converters for just about anything. But you must
acquire a set, before they go out of production. The last
HDMI to VGA I bought, I had to go upmarket a bit and get
one with an analog audio output (stereo), in order to get
an adapter. Startech was almost wiped out by COVID. And
my local computer store, just doesn't have the stock any more.
Conversion at high resolution, can have more issues. I don't
have any 4K stuff here to experiment with.
*******
I would run a KVM on two computers, and leave the third
computer separate. I refuse to believe the three machines
need "equal access".
For example, one machine here functions
as a NAS, and it hardly needs a screen when it is doing that.
I could sit that in the kitchen, and hardly ever look at it.
I could see if one machine was running Linux,
another Windows,
the third machine was your file server, you might use a dual-port
KVM. KVM pricing is not "rational", and you will pay too much
in any case.
Switching could be done with a button or knob on top of the KVM.
Intercepting key presses is for the birds. Not all computers
seem to be compatible, and you have to be a Level 39 Wizard
to solve all the KVM problems. KVM setup is hardly ever a
joyful experience. It's expensive, and craptastic.
That's why the answer you got, with a monitor having three
HDMI inputs, that exemplifies the "easy" part of the problem,
the routing of graphics to a monitor. But some of the other
conversions (PS/2 interfaces to USB outputs or something),
that stuff can be pretty rough.
I don't own a KVM here. And I don't plan on fattening any
KVM company profits either.
I have two monitors, two keyboards,
two mice here. For two machines. I put a PC in the kitchen
if I need a third.
Paul
I don't own a KVM here. And I don't plan on fattening any
KVM company profits either.
I have two monitors, two keyboards,
two mice here. For two machines.
Char,
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you
want to use, but with RDP you simply click in a window
I'm not all that sure what you think switching using the mouse is less work >than doing the same using the keyboard.
My old D-link did it with a scroll-lock double-tap and than 1...4 for the
selection. My current one makes it a more complex : on the numberpad >press-and-hold numlock, press-and-release the minus sign, release numlock, >and than press 1...7 for the selection.
Yep, that really feels like a /lot/ of work. :-)
Though to be honest, I can't seem to get my muscle-memory to remember the >"release minus before NumLock" order consistently. :-\
Mickey,
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to
PC, I need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more
than 2 computers all have HDMI outputs.
I also use a KVM, and the last one I bought is now ... just over a year old >and has SVGA input and USB keyboard and mouse. Than again, its an 8-port >one and not really ment for the home market.
The one before that was a D-Link 4-port DKVM-4U (which uses standard SVGA >and USB cables).
https://me.dlink.com/en/consumer/products/accessories/kvm-switches/dkvm-4u
I'm not sure if you can still get it though. New I mean. You might try >Amazon and its ilk for a second-hand one.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:35 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I >>need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2 >>computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable, >>but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So >>what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
If either of your PCs can support Remote Desktop (RDP), I would 100% recommend
that approach over a KVM. I had two KVM switches a long time ago, but they've >both gone to Goodwill. Good riddance.
With a KVM, you normally have to switch to the PC that you want to use, but with
RDP you simply click in a window, or if the 2nd PC is running full screen, just
click anywhere in that screen. It's so much faster, easier, and convenient.
On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:35 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Instead of a hardware approach, I use a software/network approach. >https://symless.com/synergy
Part of it is open source, so for linux user's it can be installed without >having to buy it. It has to be configured by manually editing the text >configuration files, or you can buy the commercial software that includes a >graphical interface to simplify the configuration.
I still need a local keyboard to login to each computer, but once logged in
I use one keyboard/mouse for both systems, each of which has it's own monitor. >As I use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo, I can just move the usb dongle >temporarily when booting/logging into the the other two systems.
I only use linux, so likely can't help with configuration for windows.
It works well on my three linux systems. No flashing or other unwanted >artifacts.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
And yet you read this ng. (Unless you're reading t he hardware ng?)
That's big of you.
On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:22:22 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
And yet you read this ng. (Unless you're reading t he hardware ng?)
That's big of you.
I'm subscribed to alt.comp.hardware. I'm not subscribed to any windows newsgroups.
Windows XP was the last version of windows that I used. I prefer to control >what's installed in my computer rather then some company that does what's best >for them. I used to help people diagnose and fix malware infections. Got tired >of seeing every version of windows be worse than the version before it.
I dual booted windows and linux for a few months. Once I was comfortable with >how linux works, I switched to it completely and deleted windows to free up >the disk space.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
It's not that the 3rd box, which isn't even functional yet ;-), needs
equal access. It's that I don't feel I have room on the desk for two keyboards. For the last 18 months I've had one flat and one tilted
behind it. I can't touch-type on the rear one. I have to hunt and
peck.
That's fine for 2 or 3 words, but if I have something long to write I've tried reversing their positions, but then I get all mixed up and type in
the wrong computer.
It must be pretty good. Reconditioned, it's selling for
108 dollars or more.
I'm not all that sure what you think switching using the mouse
is less work than doing the same using the keyboard.
Start with the simplest case of one PC and two simultaneously
running applications.
My old D-link did it with a scroll-lock double-tap and than
1...4 for the
I had a D-Link KVM that operated that way! Annoying. :-)
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
On 16/11/2023 19:10, micky wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Something like this ought to do it if I understand your requirements >correctly:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B74SPYFN/
On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:22:22 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
And yet you read this ng. (Unless you're reading t he hardware ng?)
That's big of you.
I'm subscribed to alt.comp.hardware. I'm not subscribed to any windows newsgroups.
Windows XP was the last version of windows that I used. I prefer to control what's installed in my computer rather then some company that does
what's best
for them. I used to help people diagnose and fix malware infections. Got tired
of seeing every version of windows be worse than the version before it.
I dual booted windows and linux for a few months. Once I was comfortable with
how linux works, I switched to it completely and deleted windows to free up the disk space.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:03:57 -0500, "David W. >Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:22:22 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
And yet you read this ng. (Unless you're reading t he hardware ng?)
That's big of you.
I'm subscribed to alt.comp.hardware. I'm not subscribed to any windows newsgroups.
Windows XP was the last version of windows that I used. I prefer to control >>what's installed in my computer rather then some company that does what's best
for them. I used to help people diagnose and fix malware infections. Got tired
of seeing every version of windows be worse than the version before it.
I dual booted windows and linux for a few months. Once I was comfortable with >>how linux works, I switched to it completely and deleted windows to free up >>the disk space.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
I'm glad I included the hardware group. I looked at it and it seemed no
one had posted anything worthwhile in a long time, but I included it
anyhow.
Char,
I'm not all that sure what you think switching using the mouse
is less work than doing the same using the keyboard.
Start with the simplest case of one PC and two simultaneously
running applications.
[snip]
Yeah, I know how it works, you don't have to describe it to me.
You still forgot to bring anything forward about how switching by mouseclick >is simpler than doing the same by keyboard ...
My old D-link did it with a scroll-lock double-tap and than
1...4 for the
I had a D-Link KVM that operated that way! Annoying. :-)
:-) You could always have gone for an even older version, the ones with the >selection buttons on the KVMs front, or even yet older, with the rotary >switch. :-p
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:37:16 -0500, micky ><NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:03:57 -0500, "David W. >>Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:22:22 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote: >>>> And yet you read this ng. (Unless you're reading t he hardware ng?)
That's big of you.
I'm subscribed to alt.comp.hardware. I'm not subscribed to any windows newsgroups.
Windows XP was the last version of windows that I used. I prefer to control >>>what's installed in my computer rather then some company that does what's best
for them. I used to help people diagnose and fix malware infections. Got tired
of seeing every version of windows be worse than the version before it.
I dual booted windows and linux for a few months. Once I was comfortable with
how linux works, I switched to it completely and deleted windows to free up >>>the disk space.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
I'm glad I included the hardware group. I looked at it and it seemed no >>one had posted anything worthwhile in a long time, but I included it >>anyhow.
Well, they are sneaky sons of a gun, it seems. AFTER I paid, they said >"We're working hard to develop Synergy 3 into stable software. Please
bear with us while we complete this phase of development. If you have
any problems, then please either contact us for technical support or use >Synergy 1 instead."
And sure enough it didn't install on the laptop and didn't give any >indication why. When I tried the desktop, it said that Firefox had
either to be closed or the PC rebooted later. It actually gave a list
100 items long, all of them Firefox. (I 10 windows of FF with well over
100 tabs.) I closed Firefox and it installed, so I went back to the
first computer and closed FF and it installed.
But then it wouldn't work. The cursors were each trapped in their own >monitor. I fiddled for almost an hour, restarted the computers, read >everything on their webpage,finally put in a request for help. And
then, though I had done nothing more, it started to work.
Right now it's working pretty well!!! I think I like it. Thanks again.
Of course there are many other ways to be unstable. ;-)
Right now it [synergy] 's working pretty well!!! I think I like it. Thanks again.
Of course there are many other ways to be unstable. ;-)
Like any of the suggestions, it takes some getting used to.
On the left hand computer, I can't just move the cursor all the way to
the right without looking and know I'll be in the vertical scroll bar. >Instead I'm in the right-hand computer.
And I use AutoHotKey to reassign the Pause key to Sound Off/On, and the
/ and * keys to lower and raise volume. Before having this, I could
just press Pause on the righthand keyboard and the sound would turn on
or off. Now I have to move the cursor to that computer first.
Most importantly AHKey still works on the righthand computer, win10 Pro,
but on the lefthand, Home, it stopped working when I installed Synergy.
I wonder why.
I've rebooted and was going to reintall but I can't tell which of three
files I used to install. I went to their webpage and they're now
emphasizing ver 2 instead of ver 1 but they said that scripts for 1
could be incompatible with version 2, so I have to read about that, dl 1 >again or if there are sufficient improvements accomodate my short simple >script to version 2. Maybe even if not mentioned, 2 won't be
succeptible to conflict with Synergy. Always enough to keep busy!
On Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:35 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
Running two computers at once.
It happened sort of by accident but now I'm runing my laptop and my
desktop all the time. And I have a spare computer I really should set
up.
To use just one mouse and one keyboard and switch them from PC to PC, I
need a KVM switch, but it seems that those that supply more than 2
computers all have HDMI outputs. And maybe I should get HDMI just
because it's newer than USB. But my laptop and desktop inputs are all
USB. I gather someone like me is supposed to get an HDMI to USB cable,
but that seems to connect only the mouse OR the keyboard, not both? So
what am I to do?
I don't want to use only one monitor. It's good to be able to look at
both so easily .
Instead of a hardware approach, I use a software/network approach. >https://symless.com/synergy
Part of it is open source, so for linux user's it can be installed without >having to buy it. It has to be configured by manually editing the text >configuration files, or you can buy the commercial software that includes a >graphical interface to simplify the configuration.
I still need a local keyboard to login to each computer, but once logged in
I use one keyboard/mouse for both systems, each of which has it's own monitor. >As I use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo, I can just move the usb dongle >temporarily when booting/logging into the the other two systems.
I only use linux, so likely can't help with configuration for windows.
It works well on my three linux systems. No flashing or other unwanted >artifacts.
Regards, Dave Hodgins
I never had any trouble with the KVM switch but when this works, it
allows copy and paste to span pc's and that's really nice, and saves me
a lot of time. We'll see if its annoyances outweight its benefits.
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