Using 1 keyboard & mouse for 2 PCs

[InterMedDude15]

Hi Forum:

I'd like to use one keyboard and one mouse for two computers.

It seems that there are two possibilities to accomplish this:
a) devices like UGREEN USB Switch Selector or IOGEAR 2 Computer 4-Port USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing Switch or...
b) a USB hub, a bunch of USB cables and software like Synergy.

If it's a), which device would you recommend I get? Also, is there anything else I need to keep in mind?

Many thanks.

InterMedDude15

 

[file3456]

Synergy shouldn't require a bunch of USB cables like you mention. You would install the program on both machines and use one keyboard and mouse.

The KVM route WOULD use a bunch of cables.

If you only need to access the other PC a few times, then try Team Viewer.

 

[townsbg]

Keep in mind that those would only allow you to share devices among 2 computers. If you want to go from one computer to the other you would still need to change sources on your monitor. A KVM switch would include that.

 

[file3456]

You would see the second screen in Synergy.

 

[InterMedDude15]

Hi F22 Simpilot and Townsbg:

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Actually, right now I need to reinstall Win7 pretty bad (and also install the latest Linux distro). So, I need to be able to go online with my 2nd PC to look for software or google for solutions to a problem that might come up - and using 1 mouse and 1 keyboard sounds like a nifty idea. Right now at least I'd need to access the other PC a few times only (although that might change).

What I'm a bit confused about right now is whether using a KVM makes more sense (If you want to go from one computer to the other you would still need to change sources on your monitor. A KVM switch would include that.) or rather Synergy or Team Viewer. BTW, what do you mean, Townsbg, by saying I need to change sources on my monitor? And how?

Anyway, if I use software wouldn't that require at least 1 USB cable between the 2 machines to be able to access either one or the other PC?

Thanks again.

InterMedDude15

 

[dg1261]

I don't think the devices listed in post #1 are for quite the purpose you need. A KVM switch would be better, such as this one. (I'm not sure why the IOGear device in post #1 is as expensive as it is, given the IOGear KVM is much more functional for about the same price.)

I have a CPA friend who uses the IOGear KVM to use one mouse, keyboard and monitor between four computers. A tiny button sits next to his keyboard, and pressing the button cycles sequentially through the four computers, all humming along on the floor behind his desk.

As a CPA, he depreciates and buys a new computer every few years, and every time he does he uses the new computer for new clients, keeping old clients on the old computers. Don't ask; I've told him he can put everything on the new computer, but he doesn't like to work that way. I guess there's something psychological about clicking over to an old computer for old clients.

 

[townsbg]

Yes the devices you posted will only do mouse and keyboard as well as 2 other devices such as a printer or a usb drive. It will not control your monitor. Your second computer will need to have it's own connection to your monitor and you will need to switch inputs on the monitor to go from one computer to the other. A KVM switch will also include your monitor so when you change which computer you are using it will also change your monitor. I used to use a KVM switch and all i had to do was hit num lock key twice and it would switch from one computer to another for the monitor and keyboard. My mouse was separate. It doesn't say it directly but Synergy looks like it is remote control software. It will launch a separate window on one computer and connect to another. The downside is that you need both computers functional to use it. It sounds like for the kind of work you are doing a kvm will be best so that you can switch back and forth between computers while installing an OS and then updating it. Once you get it up and running then you can use something like synergy for a remote connection.

 

[InterMedDude15]

Using 1 keyboard, mouse & monitor for 2 PCs

Hi 'dg1261' and 'townsbg':

Thanks a lot for your latest feedback and my apologies for not replying sooner.

I was able to get a used but fully functional IO Gear GCS24U for a pretty good price, which came a few days ago. Setting it up was really easy. However, only one of my 2 computers, a Lenovo 'Slimcase', is available when I press the remote switch button. The other PC, a HP 'refurbished' (used) machine, of course boots but the monitor stays dark no matter which of the remaining 3 LEDs I turn on.

While the Lenovo has a Siemens VGA monitor the HP has a HDMI-capable LG monitor, which additionally has a D-SUB port. I tried both the Siemens and the LG monitor, the latter with the D-SUB port, with always the same result .

Also, the HP boot sequence is set to I think USB (?!). I tried to change it to HDD several times and save it by pressing F10 (Save and Exit). But each time I checked the boot sequence had gone back to USB. The HP does boot, but maybe this is one of the reasons it cannot be accessed by the IO Gear like the Lenovo?!

Btw, how can I save the boot sequence in the HP BIOS, if F10 (as indicated by the onscreen notes) doesn't work? Are some BIOSes perhaps manufacturer-specific? Actually, in the HP BIOS there are two places where the boot sequence can be changed and saved (sorry, I should've noted the names when I accessed it), one by pressing F9 right after booting, the other by pressing F10.

Sorry also this is a somewhat longer post. And my apologies for probably not using the right tech terms (I'm not a computer whiz ). I hope, though, that my explanations make sense.

Many thanks again.

John aka IntermedDude

 

[townsbg]

If you can't get video I would either call their tech support to see if there is something that you are missing or exchange it. Something might be wrong with it.

 

[InterMedDude15]

Hi 'townsbg':

I'm definitely going to do that. I'll also contact LG (re. HT remove the monitor HDMI driver if that's necessary) and HP (re. HT save the changed boot sequence).

Once I know more and have hopefully fixed the problem I'll get back to you guys and mark the post as solved.

Thanks.

John aka IntermedDude

 

[InterMedDude15]

Using 1 keyboard, mouse & monitor for 2 PCs

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Hi 'townsbg' and 'dg1261':[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Still no luck with getting my IOGear to work .[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Swapping the IOGear cables between the two computers didn't help. The problem still persisted, although swapping cables obviously meant that the Lenovo PC, which always gets video, came on with a different LED.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]So, I'm starting to think it may be my 10-year old HP Compact 8000 Elite that's causing the problems. T[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]he boot order issue of the HP machine (which tried to use USB as first boot device instead of the hard drive), though, has been solved. Still, only the Lenovo PC gets video.
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]As for the LG 24EN33 monitor, it has both an D-Sub (VGA) port and an HDMI port. Of course, before trying to use IOGear I always set the monitor to D-Sub.
[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Anyway, if I can't get the IOGear to work I guess the only option left is to switch mouse and keyboard between the two computers, that is when I reinstall Win 7 on the HP and use the Lenovo to go online to look for info or download software. Connecting the Lenovo with the D-Sub port of my LG 24EN33 monitor and the HP with the HDMI port (and switching ports with the input switch of the monitor depending on which PC I'm going to use) shouldn't be a problem.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]However, can I unplug mouse and keyboard while I install Win7 or Linux 19 on the HP machine and connect them with the Lenovo to be able to google or download something, without interrupting the install process?![/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Thanks so much . [/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]John aka IntermedDude[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

 

[InterMedDude15]

Using 1 keyboard, monitor & mouse for 2 PCs

Hi 'townsbg', 'dg1261' and 'F22 Simpilot':

Thanks so much again for your help. And my apologies for not getting back to you sooner .

I ended up not getting the IOGear to work and so did the next best thing.

Without fiddling with the recalcitrant KVM (or maybe my equally uncooperative HP computer ) I probably wouldn't have found out that my LG monitor has 2 ports: an HDMI and an D-Sub/VGA.

So I hooked my Lenovo PC to the D-Sub port of the monitor and the HP to the HDMI. And I keep an extra set of mouse and keyboard ready. So, switching between computers this way is almost as convenient as it would've been with the KVM.

Not sure, if this qualifies as 'Solved'. If you guys think yes, I'll mark my post accordingly.

Many thanks again .

John aka InterMedDude

 

[file3456]

Did you not try Synergy? It's my understanding that both computers just need a local network connection.

Another methoud, though this is just off the top of my head, is to make or buy a crossover cable and connect both computers and use RDP to remote into the other machine. Or, may not even need a crossover cable, just ethernet between the two Comps and your router.

Note: I've never used RDP, though, I have used a crossover cable to share Internet with a laptop with WIFI to a desktop.

This site usually just has the basics, but gives you a pretty good idea on things. The article mentions an external IP address. You'd be more concerned with an internal IP address like 192.168.1.2, etc.

How to Use Remote Desktop in Windows 7 (with Pictures) - wikiHow

 

[townsbg]

At the time the OP created his post he needed to reinstall Windows and needed to be able to access the net from the other computer during the install. Can't exactly use RDP until after the reinstall.

 

[InterMedDude15]

Using 1 keyboard, monitor & mouse for 2 PCs

Hi 'F22 Simpilot' and 'townsbg':

Many thanks for your latest feedback.

'townsbg' is right in that I didn't use Synergy because it probably wouldn't work while one of the machines has its OS installed (and no Internet during that time).

But since that's been accomplished I think I'll give Synergy a try. So, thanks 'F22 Simpilot' for that reminder.

John aka InterMedDude

 

[pbcopter]

If all your trying to do is use one keyboard and mouse with two PCs, then you might try Mouse Without Boarders. It is software from Microsoft and works well. IMO.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35460

 

[InterMedDude15]

Hi Pbcopter:

Thanks a lot for the tip and please excuse my late reply .

Right now I'm using mostly Linux Mint 19 because Windoze 10 I recently switched to has a serious problem playing the sound of mkv movies plus quite a few web pages won't load :shock:, although they do just fine under Linux.

But I did download the install msi and am going to try it once I've (hopefully) been able to fix the Windoze gremlins).

Many thanks again and have a great weekend,

John aka InterMedDude