Connecting 2 pcs together

vipereire

I have thralled through endless youtube and websites on how to connect both my old XP Tower and New Vista together, using same monitor/keyboard/mouse. I have attached a diagram (rough mind you) so you can see. I do not have a switch box but i have a list of things I do.

1 x ZyTel wireless router with 4 ports
2 x yellow cables to connect pc to router
2 X KEYBOARDS/MOUSE
2 x RJ45 Network connection cables
1 X RJ45 Crossover adaptor (PC/PC)
1 X Connector (Jack/Jack)
1X USB Connector cable.

1. Can i use any of these to accomplise what i need to do without a switchbox?
2. If not, How do I use both pc with monitors when they are connected with a crossover cable and then to router?
Thank you so much

Spear

vipereire wrote: »

I have thralled through endless youtube and websites on how to connect both my old XP Tower and New Vista together, using same monitor/keyboard/mouse. I have attached a diagram (rough mind you) so you can see. I do not have a switch box but i have a list of things I do.

1 x ZyTel wireless router with 4 ports
2 x yellow cables to connect pc to router
2 X KEYBOARDS/MOUSE
2 x RJ45 Network connection cables
1 X RJ45 Crossover adaptor (PC/PC)
1 X Connector (Jack/Jack)
1X USB Connector cable.

1. Can i use any of these to accomplise what i need to do without a switchbox?
2. If not, How do I use both pc with monitors when they are connected with a crossover cable and then to router?
Thank you so much

I'm not sure what you mean here by use them together. Do you need to control one remotely? RDP or VNC will do that.

mp22

I have a set up like the one you want you need to get a kvm 2 port switch
on my set-up there is only one pc on line at a time

vipereire

You have lost me on the RDP And VNC. What would you do in my situation?

Overheal

you need a KVM switch. Its precisely what the Switch was designed to do.

Your other alternative is Remote Desktop Connection. Vista Home Prem has no problem logging into and controlling an XP Pro machine over network.

Spear

vipereire wrote: »

You have lost me on the RDP And VNC. What would you do in my situation?

You need to explain more about what you're trying to do. If you just want the one keyboard and mice for the two boxes, then get a KVM. If you just need an example of XP running, run it as a virtual image. If you want to control one from the other remotely use RDP or VNC apps.

vipereire

Ok, I have it now, I will have to buy a KVM switch because i want to use keyboard and mouse for both PC.
The alternative was to have both computers running with own keyboards etc. Thanks for your help, nuch appreciated!

Amalgam

vipereire, no harm in putting a wanted ad in http://www.adverts.ie/, a lot of members would have KVM's lying around, it's just one of those items.. You might get a freebie, you might not..

polyfusion

I'm doing the same (XP to XP though), but don't use a KVM switch, just a network cable joining the 2 PCs, with one keyboard, mouse and monitor. Using Remote Desktop. Control of the second PC is just like using another application in the main PC. Second PC can use the internet just like the first as well, for updating antivirus or OS, or browsing.

It's fast enough to run any application, or even play video from the other PC. Not sure about games though.

Depending on the age of the network points in your PCs, you may need to use the crossover cable (if they're autosensing, a regular straight cable will work fine).

There is plenty of info available with a decent google. No harm in trying it with the applications you need to use with it, but if you find it restrictive or something doesn't work well over Remote Desktop, a KVM switch would probably work better.

EDIT: Just looked at your pic - you'd be able to ditch the "crappy Dell monster monitor" using Remote Desktop.

Overheal

odd.

Microsofts site says you cant connect from a Vista machine to an XP machine but im sure ive done this in the past.

But yeah it wouldnt be good for games. Especially not wireless. The Host machine wouldnt do the Graphics Rendering I wouldnt think, but even still, there would be an awful lot of information that would need to be passed back and forth all the same. I think it would be slow and poor to respond.

vipereire

This is brilliant info. I am currently looking for a KVM, I am looking on ebay and advertier etc. I think it is better i do this as I do not want the performance to slow down. And i will be delighted to rid myself of the crappy Dell lmao! Thanks again

johntreacy

Another option without spending money is synergy any open source application that passes the keyboard and mouse to the second PC once you move the mouse pointer over onto it. This means that PC1 will have to be running to be able to control PC2 but get's rid of second keyboard and mouse. P.S ( I have not tested this myself but look like it may be worth a try.) Some info on synergy http://dailycupoftech.com/multiple-computer-setup/5/