Hi All
I have a Belkin 2 port KVM switch and I have 2 machines each running XP that I switch between.
I would like to be able to run vista on the 2nd machine, but keep the 1st machine running XP and be able to change between the 2 of them.
Is this possible?
Bob

"bobdydd"

Yes , it is just the same as what you do now,but one of the machines being Vista. I have a pair of Belkin OmniView 4 Port KVMs chained together with a mixture of operating systems running on the 8 machines all without issue.
Mike Brannigan

"bobdydd"

Yep. :)
-Frank

"bobdydd"

Absolutely! I use a Belkin 4-way switch with USB and sound support which is currently driving:
1) main development machine set to triple-boot between WinXPPro 32-bit, WinXPPro 64-bit and Vista Business 64-bit
2) home recording studio machine set to dual-boot between WinXPPro 32-bit and Vista Ultimate 32-bit
3) scratch PC for trashing and rebuilding as requirements dicate
4) Mac Mini set dual-boot between MacOSX and Ubuntu 6.10
None of the OS has the slightest problem with the Belkin switch - it really is a superb piece of kit... All of the machines (including the Mac Mini running either OS) participate fully in my home workgroup...
The main development machine will be trashed and rebuilt just with Vista Business 64-bit just as soon as Microsoft release the final version of this: microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=fb6bb56a-10b7-4c05-b81c-5863284503cf&displaylang=en. At that point, any further requirements for WinXPPro (e.g. for support of legacy development projects) will be relegated to Virtual PC...

Brilliant! Thank Frankster and evryone else who replied so promptly
Bob

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:14:47 -0800, bobdydd wrote:

Sure. Why not? A KVM switch is not dependent on the OSs involved. I use one Linux to Linux; Linux to MS; etc.

Yes, there are no problems at all with that setup. I have a KVM with one machine my Vista and the other a Windows Server 2003.
Dustin Harper dharper vistarip.com vistarip.com
"bobdydd"

bobdydd wrote:

I would check the licensing agreements, first... (sarcasm)
I'm Anna Nicole Smith's daughter's UNCLE...UNCLE!

It'd prolly be within the EULA if you were blind in one eye! </sarcasm>
-Frank

Shouldn't be a problem, I use different KVM's and haven't had problems switching between Vista and other OS. Heck, in my server room, I've an 8-port with Vista Ultimate RC1 64 bit, Vista Business 32 bit, Windows XP, Windows 2K, NetWare 4.2 and NetWare 6.5 no problems switching.
Barry Schnur Novell Support Connection Volunteer Sysop

The only problem that might arise is that both machines must use the same hardware standard (both digital video signals or both analog). But if you just upgrade the OS, then you don't change the hardware and it works for sure. Eric

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:44:12 -0700, BSchnur wrote:

switching off the Monitor (Vista on alternate KVM port), That was fixed (was new Device discovery every time monitor powered back on) in later releases. Steve U

OK that makes sense I've seen similar problems on some Novell servers at least with some KVM's. I picked up a sweet 8 port MasterView with all the cables for under $80 (thanks eBAY) and it works just fine (makes that work area a LOT neater too).
Barry Schnur

I can't get a KVM Switch to work with Vista at all.
Any time I switch away from the Vista machine to the XP machine, and try to switch back, the display is dead. There is no display at all. Even if I unplug the monitor from the KVM switch and directly into the Vista machine... nothing. Dead dead dead. At this point, the only thing I've been able to do is hit the power button to shut down the Vista machine, and then hit it again to restart it. The display comes back, but obviously that isn't acceptable.
Does anyone have any ideas for what the problem is here, and what the solution might be? This is pretty serious. The moment the KVM switches the display over, Vista seems to think the display is gone, and nothing will bring it back. I've even turned off all the sleep and power-management functions for turning off the display, but none of that has helped.
Help?
pbradshaw

"pbradshaw"

I'm using a KVM switch between Windows 98, XP and Vista.
The Vista computer has no PS2 connections for a mouse or keyboard, only USB. The KVM cables are PS2. I bought a USB to PS2 cable splitter and that is how I connect. No problems switching between computers.
There is one problem. I cannot use the KVM switch to go to safe mode or BIOS setup on the Vista system. I must attach a USB keyboard and mouse for these function. Using KVM USB cables may correct this situation but since those functions are rarely used I haven't and probably will not purchase new cables.
Lou

Is your KVM's mouse & keyboard, PS2 or USB?
When you switch and the display is dead, can you tell from keyboard lights or responsiveness to key combinations, whether the keyboard and mouse are active?
Is there a physical switch on the KVM device, itself, or do you just use some keyboard combination, like a fast double-press of the scroll key, or the like?
If, with the display dead, you use Windows to restart the computer, is the display functional when the PC reboots?

"pbradshaw"