Two computers - one monitor

[Scott Douglas]

Can I safely hook up two computers (desktops) to one monitor if I use the VGA input on the monitor to one, and the DVI input to the other?

The problem is my wife needs to maintain her Win 7 box for use with her sewing programs which aren't Win 10 compatible. I bought her a new Win 10 machine and set it up stand alone to load her programs that are Win 10 compatible. She doesn't have room on her desk for two monitors though, so I was thinking of hooking both boxes up to the current monitor. One on DVI the other using the VGA.
Is this a safe way to do it, assuming that only one computer will be turned on at a time.

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

Thanks for any help here.

[Amail]

That won't be an issue. Your TV has several different inputs that can all be hooked up simultaneously, you just select which input you want displayed.
The bigger question to me is do you want to share the mouse and keyboard too? If so, you should look at KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches. This allows you to switch between two computers using the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

[rcecale]

You can pick up a KVM Switch fairly cheaply that will do the trick for you.

[Sooner or later]

Shouldn't be a problem. I have run 2 computers (work/personal) through my TV. I only have to choose the correct input. They can both be turned on at the same time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Amail

That won't be an issue. Your TV has several different inputs that can all be hooked up simultaneously, you just select which input you want displayed.
The bigger question to me is do you want to share the mouse and keyboard too? If so, you should look at KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches. This allows you to switch between two computers using the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

That^^

I used to use a KVM device when I had a laptop for work. I had a docking station for my laptop and kept the KVM connected to both the laptop and my personal desktop. That way I only had 1 keyboard, 1 mouse and one monitor, but used them with a 2 different PCs. And you can switch back and forth by hitting a particular keystroke on the keyboard.

I think what I used was something just like this. You just have to make sure that whatever you get has the correct cable connections for your gear.
https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-GCS632U-Port-Compact-Switch/dp/B0001BVXI6/
$32.77

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

The problem is my wife needs to maintain her Win 7 box for use with her sewing programs which aren't Win 10 compatible. .

Try loading them and running them on the win10 box in compatibility mode. If it works, then you can switch over completely.

[stomachmonkey]

Yes, newer displays even allow for PIP so you can run the less important PC in a window.

[id10t]

One more vote for a simple KVM splitter, or put both on the same network/subnet and use Remote Desktop to use the other computer.

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks you guys!
You're already two steps ahead of me on the mouse/keyboard question as that was the next problem.
Can't thank you guys enough.

I would try to run the programs in a virtual machine but they are very picky as to how many activation's you're allowed and some (most) are programs that have been upgraded via downloads to earlier versions. I'm not about to go there and have her new sewing machine end up being unusable.
I think a new monitor may be helpful. I think hers is pushing 10 yrs old.

Thanks again on the KVM switch.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Thanks you guys!
You're already two steps ahead of me on the mouse/keyboard question as that was the next problem.
Can't thank you guys enough.

I've mentioned these before. KVM switches are great, have used them in the past myself.

These days I use this mostly because all my boxes either have a dedicated monitor or I remote into them.

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/craft

Thy are a bit spendy but I love the feel of them and if you wanna go full geek mode you can roll your own customized behaviors for them.

Paired with a Flow enabled Logitech mouse they are awesome.

There is also a less expensive option that was released after the Craft, does not have the jog wheel which not everyone needs.

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/mx-keys-wireless-keyboard

[DonDavis]

Did somebody say KVM?

Here’s a hybrid Nuclear Medicine/CT scanner system I installed this month.
The kvm can be seen under the widescreen display.
During, and the finished product.

[Scott Douglas]

Got a quick pic of the back of her current computer.
I see an HDMI connector there. Her monitor is hooked up via an adapter DVI to VGA as I think we didn't have a DVI cable to use at the time I set it up.

The monitor has DVI and VGA connectors, no HDMI.
Does DVI win out over VGA?
The new computer has HDMI out only, but I have a cable to go directly to DVI for that.

Should I be setting it all up with DVI rather than VGA?



Yes, the computer needs a good vacuuming. It lives on the floor and the room is used for quilt construction on a daily basis.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Did somebody say KVM?

Here’s a hybrid Nuclear Medicine/CT scanner system I installed this month.
The kvm can be seen under the widescreen display.
During, and the finished product.

There was a time when a bundle of wires like that wouldn't bother me at all Don, but right now I'm just having a hard time hooking up two simple computers to one simple monitor. My son used to kid me that my late '70's stereo was so hard to hook up with all the in's/out's for tape decks/turn table/amp/tuner/speakers. To me it was second nature, now in old age it's almost daunting.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

There was a time when a bundle of wires like that wouldn't bother me at all Don, but right now I'm just having a hard time hooking up two simple computers to one simple monitor. My son used to kid me that my late '70's stereo was so hard to hook up with all the in's/out's for tape decks/turn table/amp/tuner/speakers. To me it was second nature, now in old age it's almost daunting.

Boy howdy, I agree with you 100%.

While I’m still decent at this stuff, my home electronics is nowhere near as tidy.
I use this iPad, and I have a 10 year old 24” iMac on my desk. I rarely do anything other than web browse and play music.
I put together a tower for my garage and it runs Ubuntu, but I haven’t used it in awhile.
There are some great products that will address your needs very easily. You’ll do just fine.

If you don’t, I’ll make you join me on the next system.

Get after it!

[Scott Douglas]

Do you know if there's an advantage DVI vs VGA?

[DonDavis]

VGA is analog only, dvi can carry both analog and digital. Only specific programs would benefit dvi. If it’s just home use as you describe, I wouldn’t go out of my way to make it work.

Gaming and/or video editing would be where you’d see a difference.

Just keep it simple.

While I use them at work, I’ve never bought any dvi stuff. Again, I leave those challenges at work.

[Neilk]

I use the Logitech MX850 bundle to connect my work PC and Mac Mini that share the same monitor. Works great 99% of the time.

I sometimes have pairing delays with the Mac, but a quick reboot solves the issue.

[Amail]

Monitor inputs: DVI & VGA
Computer 1 output: DVI & HDMI
Computer 2 output: HDMI

I think I'd go DVI. Get this switch, get a proper DVI cable for Computer 1 and use your existing HDMI to DVI cable for Computer 2.

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks all.
I just ordered the Iogear 2 port HDMI switch. I figured out that since both computers have HDMI outs I'll just fudge it on the monitor side to DVI.

Again, I appreciate all the help. My wife is chomping at the bit to use her new computer as her old one is running pretty slowly these days. I think it needs a good cleaning (figuratively and literally).

[Scott Douglas]

Just wanted to update this thread.
I received the KVM switch late yesterday from Amazon.
I installed it this morning after going over how I would do it in my head early this morning laying in bed.
Worked out very nicely. Only glitch I ran into was her mouse which is a tiny POS laptop one which she runs out of a remote USB hub. I didn't have the correct cable from the hub to the KVM plugged in at first. Once that was figured out it works fine.
I seem to have misunderstood her as to what she wanted as far as internet access old vs new computer. I thought she wanted to maintain INT access on the old for her programs to work. Turns out, that isn't necessary. The old computer was hard wired via an ethernet cable to our modem so I'll be switching it to the new computer once I transfer some data files for her. The new computer works off the wi-fi(?) just fine but I prefer it to be hard wired because she does all our banking on it, or will once the old computer is off-line permanently.
File transfer via USB stick is slow, but I don't know any other way to do it.
Suggestions?
Thanks again for the help on the KVM switch.