Can I run two PC's at the same time with one monitor


  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7
       #1

    Can I run two PC's at the same time with one monitor


    Hi,

    I have one generic monitor which has a DVI connection and a VGA connection. I would like to know if I can run two PC's at the same time ? Or would this blow the monitor ? My gut feeling is it would blow the monitor.


    Found this on back of monitor: P/N TW999
    Last edited by voacap; 24 Oct 2013 at 04:57. Reason: Added more information
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  2. Posts : 1,442
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
       #2

    You can only use one monitor input at a time.
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  3. Posts : 109
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit (Service Pack 1)
       #3

    Welcome to SF voacap.

    Some monitors can deal with multiple inputs, eg Dell 2007FP, but general monitors probably do not have that capability. A simple KVM switch would do the trick though. Can pick them up pretty cheap
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  4. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    Only 1 pc at a time.

    Why do you need to use 2 at a time ? Can`t you do everything you want with just one ?
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  5. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
       #5

    AddRAM said:
    Only 1 pc at a time.

    Why do you need to use 2 at a time ? Can`t you do everything you want with just one ?
    Hi there.

    Many reasons you might want to use multiple PC's : just a few here and I'm not including those who work on SERVERS either.

    1) running SECURE transactions on a PRODUCTION system that is on its OWN separate LAN and isolated from the Internet. At the same time you might be debugging the application on a test / QC system on a DIFFERENT LAN to verify the changes before it gets moved to PROD - you need to see the PROD screens too.

    2) You are working remotely at home - you have both a company laptop and your own PC / desktop -- you might want to run some processes on your own PC at the same time as working on the company PC.

    3) You might be trying to repair a computer and need to get something from the internet on another machine or check why two identical computers are behaving differently -- and so on.

    (I would tend to use multiple monitors -- however for some people this might not be convenient or possible - especially for example if one of your monitors no longer has a standard VGA (RGB) type of input and the company laptop for example doesn't have an HDMI output).

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  6. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #6

    To be clear:
    You can connect 2 PCs to one monitor and switch from PC to PC using the input button on the monitor, but you can only look at one PC at a time.
    I do not know of a way to split the screen and see both at the same time, if that is what you are asking.
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  7. Posts : 5,915
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #7

    As stated above, a kvm can help. here is a link describing a software way to do it also. I have never tried it, just found it browsing.

    How to Operate Multiple Computers With One Keyboard and Monitor
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  8. Posts : 9,537
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #8

    jimbo45 said:
    AddRAM said:
    Only 1 pc at a time.

    Why do you need to use 2 at a time ? Can`t you do everything you want with just one ?
    Hi there.

    Many reasons you might want to use multiple PC's : just a few here and I'm not including those who work on SERVERS either.

    1) running SECURE transactions on a PRODUCTION system that is on its OWN separate LAN and isolated from the Internet. At the same time you might be debugging the application on a test / QC system on a DIFFERENT LAN to verify the changes before it gets moved to PROD - you need to see the PROD screens too.

    2) You are working remotely at home - you have both a company laptop and your own PC / desktop -- you might want to run some processes on your own PC at the same time as working on the company PC.

    3) You might be trying to repair a computer and need to get something from the internet on another machine or check why two identical computers are behaving differently -- and so on.

    (I would tend to use multiple monitors -- however for some people this might not be convenient or possible - especially for example if one of your monitors no longer has a standard VGA (RGB) type of input and the company laptop for example doesn't have an HDMI output).

    Cheers
    jimbo
    Jimbo,
    I used option 2 where I worked from home.
    Used a switch to go from one desktop to a laptop with just one monitor.
    So it is possible if monitor has two inputs.
    THW
      My Computer


 

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