Video from 2nd computer

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ADKM

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#138515 7-Jan-2014 17:32

Hi,

Have a second computer which I'd like to run dedicated tasks on 24/7. It's connected to main comp LAN but has no screen.

Is there any way to output its video to see on the main comp, possible via USB ? Or some other method?

Thanks for any suggestions. Yes, I could get a cheap monitor but no room for one and only need to see it occasionally and not in hi res.

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#962592 7-Jan-2014 17:34

What operating system?

richms

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#962597 7-Jan-2014 17:51

Any reason that remote desktop or vnc are not suitable?

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jonb

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#962607 7-Jan-2014 18:03

What kind of video -a video file or just the contents of the desktop? Map a network drive from the main computer to view a video file, or connect via remote desktop to do work on it.

ADKM

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#962619 7-Jan-2014 18:23

Thanks Guys - it's WinXP and a desktop machine (or most of one!). I didn't think of remote desktop... (never used it before). Will have a go....

nathan

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#962632 7-Jan-2014 18:46

you'll need XP Pro on the machine you want to connect to. Otherwise use VNC or TeamViewer etc

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#962957 8-Jan-2014 08:18

Teamviewer would be my pick as the easiest option that pretty much always "just works"

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ADKM

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#963208 8-Jan-2014 12:57

Thanks.. it's XP Pro on both. Just about to give it a try. Wouldn't have a clue hope/what to do but will Google around ! If no luck with remote desktop will try the others.

raytaylor

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#963856 9-Jan-2014 13:32

Use teamviewer.
One note about using it as a file server: if it has windows xp home on it, you are limited to 10 client connections so it will only share files with up to 10 other devices using windows file sharing.

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ADKM

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#963901 9-Jan-2014 14:39

OK. will try teamviewer first. I haven't managed to get anything working yet. Do you know if it can be configured to boot into a state where the 'other' computer can see it ? Using XP pro..

gehenna

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#963912 9-Jan-2014 14:59

Why use Teamviewer over RDP? I'd go for RDP first. Does the PC need to be connected to the internet or just the internal LAN?

For RDP just right-click on My Computer > Properties then go to the Remote tab and enable remote connections. If you have set up a unique user on the PC you might need to go into the Users option and allow that user by entering it's name. Otherwise the default administrator account will have access by default.

Then just go to the other PC, open Remote Desktop Connection, enter the IP address or hostname of the other PC and it should connect just fine.

ADKM

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#963953 9-Jan-2014 15:56

Thanks gehenna, very nearly there but it's asking for a paswsword and there is none (nor do I want one) but System Properties
says there MUST be one. Any way to get around that?

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#963968 9-Jan-2014 16:14

ADKM: Thanks gehenna, very nearly there but it's asking for a password and there is none (nor do I want one) but System Properties
says there MUST be one. Any way to get around that?

You have to give the username on the 2nd computer a password for remote desktop. Use the XP User accounts settings, in control panel on the 2nd computer, to add a password to the user.

You can save the username and password in the Remote desktop application on the main computer so you don't have to enter it each time.

ADKM

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#963969 9-Jan-2014 16:16

We're there! I gave in and applied a password. Works brilliantly :)

From Googling it looks like you can have no password, but not recommended (and I couldn't figure out how to do it!_

Yes, it does use the net + LAN and I can access both RDT and file sharing which is what I wanted... and connect without needing to see
the other machine to do anything first. A rare win-win.

Thanks to all for the help.

jonb

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#963976 9-Jan-2014 16:32

Good job. An additional way is to just be able to file share from the 2nd computer without opening a remote desktop session (are you doing this already?)

First share the folder on the 2nd computer, e.g. 'My Documents'. The easiest way is using the Windows Explorer method by right clicking on the folder:

https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_share_your_folders.mspx

And then create a network drive of the shared folder on the main computer:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308582

ADKM

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#964136 9-Jan-2014 21:02

Jon, Can you explain how to save p/w and user for remote desktop (in Win XP). I've been trying various Google answers for several hours but can't sort it out!!!

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