How Do I Connect My Laptop to My Desktop Computer?

yes it is very much possiable all you need is to plug in your monitors cable into your laptop and it will detect it automatically, pretty easy

Thank You guest for the suggestion. I will try this. I was hoping for a solution that might use USB or a cable that is easily accessible on the front of the desktop unit. Reaching the back of the computer is somewhat difficult.

You might look for a KVM switch which would allow you to use your desktop's Keyboard, Monitor and Mouse with your laptop and switch back and forth easily. For your files, you could consider sharing them via network.

Lova Andriamanjay

I gave you a Good Answer because you answered the question. The requirement is to display the laptop's files on a large screen (which is connected to the desktop) not necessarily transfer files from the laptop to the desktop or vice-versa.

I've used KVM switches and they're good if you have two PCs and don't want to keep physically moving from one to the other as you work.

regards,

Vulcan

Thank You everyone for you quick response. Vulcan, you seem to completely understand what I am attempting. I realize from other answers that I should set up a home network. I am in the process of studying this and what components I will need. In the mean time would you give a little more detail about the KVM switch. Is this a hardware item that I can purchase or a software switch located somewhere in Windows XP. How are the computers physically linked together?

I have a Windows for Dummies book but I am having difficulty finding this process in the book probably because I am not asking the question properly.

Sincerely,

Ckartson

A KVM switch is a hardware device. Here is an example of KVM switch. In my opinion, a KVM is super convenient because as far as I know a port replicator or a docking station would need a direct cable to the monitor which imply that you would have to undo the VGA cable at the back of your monitor, your keyboard and your mouse each time you want to change the computer you are using. On the other hand, with a KVM, when you bring your laptop to your desk you have your 1/2/3 wires (depending of what feature you want to use) right on the top of your desk, you plug them in and you press a switch and voilà! You now have access to your laptop with your desktop mouse/keyboard/monitor. Much better than having to unscrew connectors on the back of your desktop computer, screwing them on your laptop, etc. From experience, I strongly advise you against using your laptop keyboard with an external monitor. It is really bad for ergonomics.

Good luck,

Lova Andriamanjay

Thanks for the clarification. This looks like it's exactly what I need. I'm on it

Good morning, landriamanjay. I was wondering if the KVM switch or some similar device would switch between my two printers. I have an HP600 printer and a HP1120c printer between which I have to print drawings. Currently, I have to reach behind the CPU to disconnect one 25-pin connector and plug in the other 25-pin connector, then repeat to put it back to the original printer. Thx.

I am not an expert on this topic but a quick search for a parallel port switch got me this which is much cheaper or you could even add a USB to parallel cable that would allow you to keep both printer plugged at the same time: one via the regular parallel port and the other with the USB-Parallel cable.

Lova Andriamanjay

Good morning again landria manjay. Thx for the reference. I ordered the USB-to-|| port cable.

At my place of work, I have two desktops. One is connected to the factory office LAN and the other is connected to the process LAN. Before I got the KVM switch, I had to move over from one keyboard/mouse to the other. My desk was covered with two keyboards, two mouses, two 19" monitors and two desktops. I had to have an extra desk for my phone and just to have space to write on!

When I got my KVM switch, I put the process PC underneath the desk where I didn't have to bother with it. The office PC was off to the side, and I had only one keyboard, one mouse and one monitor. Now I had my desk space back!

In order to switch from one PC to the other, I just had to press a key combination. It was convenient and simple to operate.

For printing, I had a separate printer switch. This one had three 25-pin connectors. One for PC#1, another one for PC#2 and the last for the printer. It automatically sensed when you wanted to print something from either computer. It's totally plug-and-forget. No need to switch between PCs.

If you really want to go big, you can have an Ethernet KVM switch. With this baby, you can have one keyboard, one mouse, and one monitor for several PCs! Talk about multi-tasking! I liked the concept so much that I asked for a budget next year to install these in our control rooms so that instead of one operator using two to three sets of keyboard/mouse/monitor, he needs only one set. One of the other nice things about this is, in case one of your switches go bad, you can still operate the PCs from the other KVM switches.

Finally, for the printer, there are printers with direct-to-Ethernet ports or adapters that allow you to connect the printer to the LAN network.

regards,

Vulcan

Had you been a member, I would have given you a Good Answer or at least a half-way good answer.

Your method is fine if you intend to use only one PC at a time. If you need to work with two PCs, a KVM switch would be better.

regards,

Vulcan

REgards

Some laptops only accept non-digital monitors.

I think that consulting guide-book may help to choose the monitor.

Most PC and laptops has network connectors these days.

you can connect them via a router. or by switching the cables you can couple directly.

second option is via a USB cable and a hub.

It is also possible to connect via the com (RS232), Printer port, modem plug, bluetooth dongles or wireless.

Your local PC shop should have everything you need in stock.

Happy networking.

An ethernet hub can run as little as $10 in discount stores, but really this solution allows you to MOVE files.

Based on what your stated desires are, the best solution is indeed to plug the monitor into the laptop.

If you are going to want to do this regularly, your monitor cable can be run to a switchbox to allow wiring once and then switching back and forth between the laptop and the desktop machine with a switch.

Try Blackbox.com

What you want to accomplish, which is unfettered access to a large screen, There are no available connectors that I am aware of. Short of making up your own connection medium you are stuck with using the plug which is hooked into the desk top unit.

There are docking stations that will allow this but are kind of pricey. If you were going to go that route it would probably be just as cheap to buy an additional monitor.

If all you want to do is manipulate files, wireless is the answer.

Its a quite easy thing for you to connect them together, as said from Hendrik and edignan you can use either printer port(parallel port) or usb. just see your os instruction, how to solve these questions. you can exchange your files between(among) your computers. The best bet is use a hub or a switcher to link them, you can link them up to 10 or more as a local net. these set is very cheap now, a good switcher ( the third layer switching protocol) for 8 ports only less than 10usd. that means you can likn 8 comps.

Contact Dell and get a port replicator for your laptop. Use your laptop like a desktop system. Think of it as a docking station.

To connect for data and file transfer, I use a "Tornado". It is a self contained device that has a body containing a ROM chip that has the soft ware and two USB connector cords for your computers. I am delighted in it's simplicity and performance. Check 3w.thetornado.com

You might consider MaxiVista. It lets you use any PC as an extended display of your primary PC. Sort of a virtual KVM. You can use it to remote control a PC, such as your laptop. You can also cut and paste between PCs using the Windows clipboards.

A good companion app is UltraMon, it's handy when using multiple monitors.

- AFTO

If you wanted to go the software route, you could buy PC Anywhere (for both machines) and dial into your laptop computer from the desktop and remotely work on the laptop, transfer files, etc. There are some security concerns that you need to deal with. Another option would be to use Remote Desktop which is a Windows accessory that we have used in the past to view remote compressor station historians.

Ordinarily, to network two XP machines, you need only an Ethernet cable, because most XP machines already have Ethernet cards built in. XP has the software built into the operating system for doing the networking itself. The cable required is slightly different than the cable for going from a computer to a hub -- any computer store can aim you in the right direction.

Only slightly more sophisticated would be a wireless network. This would enable any computer in the house to (for instance) share an internet connection and use the printer connected to the "main" computer. You'd need a wireless router, some of which are pretty inexpensive. Depending upon the age of your laptop, it may have wireless capability already built in. If not. wireless pc cards are available.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Windows "Remote Desktop" capability. I use it to log onto numerous pc's I have from my primary toy. None of the remotes have keyboards, monitors, etc, attached.

Of course this does require the pc's to be networked, but switches, routers and cables are cheap.

Another option to connect just 2 computers is to use a "crossover" ethernet or usb cable. This eliminates the need for a router or a switch. But if you're like me and computers magically appear on a regular basis, switches and routers are an absolute necessity to keep them all connected.

Hooker

Agreed on Remote Desktop, see response #15

Ooops, missed the last part of #15. I saw PC Anywhere and guess I stopped reading. Sorry about that.

In any case, most everything can be done with Remote Desktop, including accessing task manager, restarting, shutdowns, etc. No extra cost (except aforementioned hardware).

Hooker

Hello,

do your laptop and monitor have a 15 pin (3 rows) connention? you can buy a cable to connect them. In your display settings you can then switch to your large monitor.

let me know if it works,

thanks!

After a long wait and shrewd patience we should be rewarded with something like this. I saw this video on Youtube. I think it will help you with your needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6orwuxgK5k