Can I connect a Netbook to a very Old desktop PC to Operate it?

Kernel_Sanders

OnAndUp wrote: »

Don't know.....from memory it a HP Pavilion something but only has 128 or 256 ram and runs XP was never particularly good.

Pretty sure it's 256 MB like mine was, bought at the same time. It would need more RAM though to use with SP3, however it would fly with a suitable Linux distro as it is, so no need to trash it.

emptybox

prowla wrote: »

I have several PCs connected to an 8-way KVM switch; it works perfectly.

But won't really achieve what the OP wants, which is to retrieve data from the hard drive of the old PC.

If the old PC works, then just use it's own keyboard and monitor, and either copy the files to a USB stick/drive or copy over the network.
If it doesn't work, then take out the hard drive and either put it into another desktop PC, or into a USB caddy or adaptor.

prowla

emptybox wrote: »

But won't really achieve what the OP wants, which is to retrieve data from the hard drive of the old PC.

If the old PC works, then just use it's own keyboard and monitor, and either copy the files to a USB stick/drive or copy over the network.
If it doesn't work, then take out the hard drive and either put it into another desktop PC, or into a USB caddy or adaptor.

Sure - I was answering their supplementary question. (I already suggested options for transferring data, earlier.)

poppellerant

Just a thought, but this should do what the OP wants. Providing the machines are on the same network and they can see each other, I can't think why Mouse without Borders wouldn't work. It would let you use the mouse and keyboard on both computers, the only problem would be unplugging the monitor.

I think Teamviewer is your best bet, though.

emptybox

prowla wrote: »

Sure - I was answering their supplementary question. (I already suggested options for transferring data, earlier.)

Ah right sorry, I didn't see your earlier suggestion.

Yes a KVM would be useful to allow the OP to use the one monitor and keyboard/mouse with two computers, and save swapping about, if they have reused the old monitor and keyboard with the newer computer.

But I suspect the OP was thinking it would in some way allow them to control one PC with the other, which of course it wouldn't.