Back to the shared monitor thread

That will switch a USB mouse, USB keyboard and VGA displays so you would need a USB mouse, a USB keyboard and VGA connectors on both PCs and the monitor.

Only thing I would say is that one that switches HDMI would be more "future proof" as it is a more modern standard and pretty well all modern monitors use it. However, older PCs don't necessarily.

Tim: I was faced with that problem back in around 2004. For a while I ran two machines. Then I bit the bullet and somehow transferred the old windows XP machine to a *virtual* machine on VirtualBox, and that virtual machine has been copied to 4 different desktops since then.

It seems to me that you want to think a bit more laterally.

If its only *data* on the W7 that is important, why not copy it to a USB drive Or a networked drive...

If you need to access *code* that only runs on that W7 machine why not virtualise it and put it as a virtual machine on your main box.?

Unless you have some hardware for which drivers only exist on the W7, I cant see the point in retaining the hardware at all.

If both machines work on the monitor using VGA (blue 15 pin cable then that sort of thing is all you need, personally I wouldn't use a no-name, but this

Hmm. There is no way in my remaining years I would succeed in attempting virtual Box migration! Too much technical jargon for my very limited expertise.

Rather where this job started. I invited some local assistance and got an estimate of £150 for the copy job. Means lumping both boxes to their office and then answering any queries. Fine for Thunderbird stuff but not good for Turnpike where I have 20+ years of stuff:-)

The plan is to move news group access to T bird. Be nice to stick with Turnpike but you are back to the technical stuff! How likely am I to grasp virtual machines?

Only Turnpike. Everything else has moved along.

I'll have a look at the other's comments this evening.

Worth noting that HDMI and VGA just need a simple short cable to convert between them if one is different.

And if you prefer not to have no-name, avoid Belkin. I use a lot of ATEN stuff and it always just works.

Ah. I see.

Oh OK. And turnpike uses a special data format? The way to go might be to install win7 on a virtual machine and install turnpike and copy its data files over, and not attempt a full W7 migration.

Right so the *core* of the issue is to be able to access old turnpike data.

Which necessitates a version of turnpike running on *something*

And that means a win7 installation - or less. (or Linux + WINE, but I know how you feel about Linux)

You're shortest path *given your technical skill* is to hook a win 7 box up to a keyboard, mouse and monitor switch.

The fact that a virtual machine would work far better, is irrelevant if you cant implement one. Or *don't know anyone who will do it for you*.

In message <vels02$1m3bg$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, The Natural Philosopher snipped-for-privacy@invalid.invalid writes

Turnpike happily works on a W10/32 bit VM. I've been running it that way for 5.5 years.

Adrian

Usually, when you see a KVM for sale, it doesn't match the ports you've got. You have to check all of that stuff. Sometimes. a simple adapter can fix it. Sometimes, not.

Whether the mouse is USB or PS/2 in each case (or Bluetooth or Unifying Receiver).

Whether the keyboard is USB or PS/2 in each case (or Bluetooth or Unifying Receiver).

Whether the video output is limited to VGA, or other standards are available. It would be nice if the monitor and both PCs, had consistent standard(s) choices on them, to cobble together a uniform solution. You must tell us what the choices are.

Machine #1 VGA DVI HDMI +---+ VGA LCD Display DisplayPort |???| DVI +---+ HDMI Machine #2 VGA Displayport DVI HDMI DisplayPort

KVMs get more expensive, if they have to accommodate more variables. But the audience can tell you how to cobble together bits and pieces to make it work. My mouse, for example, is both USB and PS/2 type, as it has a green coloured passive adapter to change what connector the mouse plugs into. Not all mice support that.

Some mice are wireless, and that's going to be a challenge to solve, without a spare PS/2 or USB mouse to use.

Modern computers don't have VGA for video. On mine, the card has DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort. I use an HDMI to VGA adapter to reach the VGA LCD monitor. I could similarly pass the signal to the KVM setup, like this:

AMD PC DVI-D HDMI ---------- HDMI-VGA adapter ------- VGA KVM ----- VGA LCD Display DisplayPort X---

The Intel PC would be like this. The more expensive a video card gets, the more DisplayPort they put on it. Max connectors (most expensive) is six ports total for video. If I had bought an even more expensive piece of junk, it would have four DisplayPort on it. I also have DisplayPort-VGA adapters here. And a DisplayPort-HDMI active adapter (for non-DP++ conversion cases), which was bought to work with my non DP++ Optiplex 780.

Intel PC DVI-D X--- HDMI ---------- HDMI-VGA adapter ------- VGA KVM ----- VGA LCD Display DisplayPort DisplayPort DisplayPort

So I can use a VGA KVM, just because I already have a bunch of adapters I paid 20 each for. And if the VGA output was wrong for the job, there might be yet-more adapters, but they might be more expensive. For special cases, an adapter can cost 100 (costs more than the KVM). But usually these days, they're pretty cheap. The store is usually a bit short on the HDMI-VGA ones (on purpose, to make you buy their more expensive models, ones with a sound output).

The KVM should come with a VGA cable. Check the listed length of the cable. There are two kinds of VGA cables (noteworthy for cases where the KVM has no cables because it's Ebay and they lost the cables).

Male ------- Female Only an extender, to be used with the next one, not by itself. Male ------- Male Output is Female. Input is Female. Male--Male VGA cable for interconnect.

If you tie the top and bottom cable together, you get a twice-as-long male-male.

I made that mistake one day, buying what I thought was a "monitor cable" (thought I was getting the bottom one), and got home holding Extenders I could not use. Turned out, I still got some usage, when running a VGA all the way from one side of the room to the other, so it wasn't a dead loss. That day, I needed the Extender type. That's why I pass that along, already made that mistake.

Paul

OK this should help:

or VNC or remote desktop (with some possible added complexity if you have a win home machine)

If both machines have VGA outputs, then that will work.

Although if they are already connected on the same network, you might find using the new machine to access the old one is quite satisfactory without extra hardware.

Migrating a physical machine to a VM can be done, but is probably more complex than you might want. However, setting up a new VM with a clean install of windows and installing turnpike, and then moving the data might be a bit simpler.

IIRC turnpike will run on Win 10 32 bit - so you don't actually need to stay with 7.

That might be a highly useful piece of info for Tim.

What do you want to continue to use Turnpike for? Is it just old emails? If so, you can transfer your emails across to Thunderbird - see:

Just an aside, but some video cards are DVI-I, which have both digital and analogue outputs in the same connector and only need the correct DVI-I or DVI-A (analogue only) to VGA cable or physical adaptor.

DVI-D or DVI-I is compatible with HDMI and just needs a physical adaptor or cable.

HDMI is effectively just DVI-D with sound, ethernet and CEC (device control) added and can drive monitors with DVI-D inputs.

Many modern monitors come with multiple inputs and you can get by with just a USB switch for mouse and keyboard and select the monitor input for the required machine - you may still need adaptors/converters for one of the machines if the monitor does not have the right input.

Pictures I understand:-) The W7 box has a VGA socket and the W11 box has a Display Port male outlet. For the initial testing I acquired a display port female to VGA adapter.

I will not need sound for any non W11 use.

Umm. As suggested by TNP et al. They are both connected to my local network but I haven't enabled remote access. Paul ran through the procedure back in August.

I have a knowledgeable neighbour who might be badgered into holding my hand next weekend. I'll report progress in due course:-)

There has been mention of keyboard and mouse compatibility although I've not noticed anything strange. My mice are wired.

The plan is to attempt Paul's original suggestion of RDP which Google tells me stands for Remote Desktop Protocol.

Perhaps I can get someone to hold my hand next weekend.

Hah! I stopped using TP for mail with the Demon demise. It is mainly

Transferring Thunderbird mail is another obstacle to come...

I use it all the time and should be around.

All versions of Windows have the client version but only Pro versions have the server. You use the client version to call the server version.

There is an excellent alternative if you don't have Windows Pro.

Is VGA the only input that the screen has (many have more than one type)?

It is a tick box exercise on the machine that will be remote controlled, and there is no setup required on the controlling end. Happy to assist if you want.

In fact I think it is pretty much the same dialog that is still in Win

1. You get to it from Control Panel->System:

The default setting is with the "Don't allow..." radio button clicked. Selecting the second one does it.

Alternatively, if you prefer a "non interactive" way to change the setting, open a command prompt with admin rights, and do:

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

That turns on the ability to be controlled.

Then:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes

To allow incoming RDP connections through the firewall.

For running RDP, you only need one mouse and keyboard - the Win 7 box could be "headless" (i.e. no mouse, screen or keyboard[1]). The Win 11 box would provide both its input and output.