Boot with no KVM

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Guest

I have two Windows XP systems. right now I have two keyboards, two monitors,
and two pointing devices. I don't want to buy a KVM switch. Rather, I want to
set up one of these systems so it boots with not keyboard, video, or mouse. I
just want to use Remote Desktop to access this computer. Is this possible?
 
You have to ask yourself these questions..

1. How will I know if it has booted correctly?
2. How will I see what error messages are displaying if it doesn't?
 
True, I won't see any error messages. However, I've been using these two
systems for a month now and I never even turn on the 2nd monitor. It's just
there so the system will boot. So I don't anticipate this normally being a
problem. If for some reason I'm no longer able to get to the system with
Remote Desktop I can always attach the monitor to see what the problem is.
Also, I will be able to hear the POST beeps through the system's speaker.

Kevin
 
Kevin

Post beeps only cover the machine as it starts.. they give no indication of
what Windows is doing or not doing.. your best option is a KVM switch, even
though you appear to be reticent about acquiring one..
 
Mike,

Clearly you are correct. The best solution is a KVM switch. However, I'm on
a tight budget. You might even say I'm cheap. In any case, my question is
"how do I do this without a KVM swith". An answer of "use a KVM switch" is
not a very satisfying answer. Do you know of a way of starting the 2nd system
without the peripherals?

Kevin
 
You might be able to set your bios 'Halt On' setting for 'no errors.. try it
and see if it works.. if it doesn't, you will have to reboot with keyboard
screen and mouse, correct any errors, none of which you will recognise
because you are restarting with the peripherals connected that may or may
not have been responsible for the failures..

You could try starting with all attached and removing them after the machine
has booted, but if you have to make permissions changes, or any system
changes that affect the way that one computer sees or talks to the other,
you may find it anywhere between frustrating, difficult and impossible to
overcome them without seeing what both computers are doing at the same
time..

In this case, i will end with 'Good Luck' because, although I have no belief
in luck per se, you may need it..
 
Kevin,

1) You will need to persuade the remote system to not stop on
errors - e.g. the classic "No keyboard detected, press any key to
continue" :-). If it is possible, it will be in a BIOS setting.

2) The remote PC must run XP Professional - Remote Desktop won't
work with XP Home.

3) Remote Desktop works fine where the remote system is stable and
predictable. I use it regularly and for extended periods over the
LAN in order to access my office system, hence business software,
email, newsgroups etc, from the workshop system.

4) If anything goes wrong with the remote system that prevents it
from boot-up into Windows XP, you'll usually need to connect
peripherals directly to it to diagnose and correct it.
 
kmlillis said:
I have two Windows XP systems. right now I have two keyboards, two
monitors,
and two pointing devices. I don't want to buy a KVM switch. Rather, I want
to
set up one of these systems so it boots with not keyboard, video, or
mouse. I
just want to use Remote Desktop to access this computer. Is this possible?
Click to expand...


The system will not boot without a video *card*. Whether or not you have a
monitor will not stop the system from booting. In fact, you could turn off
your monitor and the system will still POST and load Windows.

It is the lack of a keyboard that may prevent completing the POST. So go
into BIOS and see if there is a setting regarding errors and disable the
keyboard from generating a stop error.
 
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