2 computers 1 monitor??

big_d_4

a while ago my laptop screen broke, i have loads of uni work to do so havent claimed on the insurance yet as i need it to do uni work. it still works fine i just have to plug my crt monitor into it.

i still use the monitor for my pc as well, so i have to keep swapping the lead around to display either my pc or my laptop.

is ther some sort of box i can use so they can both be plugged in at once but just say flick a switch for which one i want displayed.

i use the laptop for uni work and pc for media stuff.

i know there is something like this for scart leads, but cant find anything for 2xpc's.

cheers for any help.

welshmountingsheep

What you are after is a basic KVM lead - about £25 from pcworld.

it allows you to use 1 Keyboard, 1 Video monitor and 1 Mouse with 2 pc`s.

big_d_4

thanks, but i dont really need that, or i dont think i do.

basically to see my laptop screen i have to plug it into my monitor which is usually hooked up to my standalone pc.

i want to be able to switch between the 2 instead of having to get under the desk and unplug the lead from the monitor thats in the laptop back into the standalone pc.

i want to be able to use the laptop in its entirety on the monitor and then the pc in its entirity by switching between the 2.

OR..... lol, would i be able to control the pc with that cable with the mouse and keyboard from my laptop??

thanks again for your time.

welshmountingsheep

Sounds like you need a KVM lead to me.

I`ll describe my Belkin KVM lead to you and what I can do with it.

it`s a small box about 4 inches long by about 1 inch high; on the front there are 3 ports; 1 for the mouse, 1 for the keyboard, and 1 for the video display to the main (only) monitor used.

From the back of this box come 2 cables, each of which have the following plugs/connectors: mouse, Keyboard, video.

Basically, I plug the 3 connectors from each main cable into each of my computers, and the main monitor, mouse & keyboard into the front of the box.

Thus I can control 2 PC`s from keyboard & mouse.

It`s simple enough swapping over which pc is displayed as it`s done with a simple combination of key strokes.

Just looked on the interweb and found THIS as a better description

woo

would agree a KVM is what is needed, cheaper 2 belkin port one here http://www.micom.co.uk/pp/KVM/Switch/BELKIN_2_PORT_KVM_SWITCH_INCLUDES_CABLES.html

jampton

You can get a box to switch between two vga displays. I just googled the link below

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/pid/3249087

If you buy a KVM switch then check that it will work with your laptop. The laptops I have use usb keyboard / mouse connections and are incompatible with my switch

indiegirl_2

With some (if not all) KVM switches you don't *have* to use the keyboard and mouse ports - I run a KVM with just the VGA switching (don't ask why... I just do!)

I picked up a cheap 'n cheerful KVM from eBay (IIRC no more than £10) and it works quite happily on my system