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Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

post #1 of 6
2/26/08 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
Title says it all. Without going into all the gory details (unless someone wants to know) I'd like to know if it's possible to set up a pair of PC's so they use one monitor, keyboard and mouse without unpluging each time I need the other PC. Is there some sort of switcher box that allows this?


TIA
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post #2 of 6
2/26/08 at 4:00pm

Re: Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

Yep. What your looking for is called a KVM switch (for "keyboard/video/mouse") and you can find them in many configurations. Here are a couple of examples, a USB from D-Link and a PS/2 model from Zonet. These happen to be on CompUSA.com, but any store that carries computer components and accessories will have a selection of KVMs.

Regards,

Joe
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post #3 of 6
2/26/08 at 4:38pm

Re: Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

or you can use 'remote desktop' which is included in xp. im not sure about vista.

i haven't used it in 4 years, but it works. makes a remote computer a 'window' on your base computer that you can toggle to much like you do your regular windows.
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post #4 of 6
2/26/08 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

KVM switch....excellent. I figured there was something out there. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Diallo, if the KVM doesn't do the job I'll try your suggestion.
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post #5 of 6
2/26/08 at 10:02pm

Re: Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

I've been using an ATEN KVM switch for the past couple of years with 3 computers and it has always worked flawlessly. That brand was highly recommended when I was doing my research on what to buy.
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post #6 of 6
2/28/08 at 1:28pm

Re: Can you run 2 computers with one monitor/keyboard/mouse?

A no-expense and very smooth way is to get Synergy.

Synergy

Though you need two screens...

However, you use only one keyboard and mouse. The computers talk on the network and you can just seamlessly move the mouse pointer from computer to computer and type on the one keyboard. Very useful if you want to use two computers at once without switching back and forth.
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