Hi, hoping someone may be able to offer some advice.

I usually use a laptop, but I've just been given a fairly good desktop PC. Trouble is, I have no monitor. Does anyone know if its possible for me to link the new PC to the laptop and use the laptop's screen for a display. Or failing that, any other ways for me to use this new PC without a monitor?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to PCGuide!!

There is no way to use a PC without a monitor since you wouldn't be able to see what you are doing and most PCs won't even finish booting if they don't detect a monitor. I am not aware of any way to hook a laptop up to a PC to act as monitor. I do know that you can probably find a used monitor on eBay or elsewhere for pretty cheap.

Good luck,
Budfred

Oh well. Thanks for your help anyway. Looks like I'll be digging deep into my pockets for a monitor.

Cheers.

It occurred to me later today that you might be able to use the laptop as a monitor if you networked the two computers together, but I suspect that just buying a cheap monitor would be both easier and handier in the long run. Where do you live, I may be able to give you some ideas about where to look for a cheap monitor. If you have a MicroCenter nearby, they sell used monitors pretty cheap. Even a new 15in. can be found for less that $100 these days.

Is that Derby in England?

Budfred

Yep, thats Derby in England!

I could pick up a monitor quite cheap so I've discovered, but really it would be a bit of a squeeze to fit one on my desk, I'd really need to get a flatscreen monitor and from what I've seen I won't get much change out of £300 ($450). The idea of networking the laptop and desktop together definitely appeals, I guess I could just use one of those Ethernet crossover cables, but really I know precisely nothing about computers so I'm probably wrong!

Thanks again for the replies.

We have 15inch flat panels going for less than $300 here now and 14 inch for even less than that. I use a flat panel and it is nice. I am just getting started in trying to network my computers, so I can't give you much advice on how to do that. You might want to post a question in the Network forum to get ideas from some of the experts.

Good luck,
Budfred

ONe discrepancy with what Budfred said...

True, you need a monitor of some sort to use the computer, otherwise you can't see what you're doing. I don't think even networking the two would allow use of the laptop monitor.

However...a computer will boot without a monitor, all you have to do to prove it is to start your computer and turn the monitor off. Turn it back on a few minutes later and you should be looking at a desktop.

It's video card it can't boot without, the system will detect that the video card is missing or not functioning, and refuse to boot. It doesn't care if you have a monitor connected and can actually see it or not...for some strange reason...

Otherwise, Budfred is right on target...

Well, I was close.:o :(

Budfred