crossover cable & KVM issues!

[rmiller]

After following advice given me in this forum, I purchased a crossover cable (to network my 2 computers) and a KVM switch (to be able to use 1 monitor, 1 mouse & 1 keyboard on both computers). Here's the problems I encountered: My old computer does not have a network card, so I can't use the crossover cable. I thought it did, but I was wrong. When I connected all the stuff on the KVM, I got a window that said the mouse was not detected on the old computer. I think it's because the old computer uses a PS/2 mouse & PS/2 keyboard, not USB, like the new one does. I have Win XP on the new computer & Win 98SE on the old. Now I'm not even sure the KVM will work, because in the fine print it states the operating systems it will work on, and 98SE is not included. Obviously I don't know what the heck I'm doing - can somebody please advise me what is the best thing to do at this point? The only reason I am trying to do this is to be able to use my scanner, which is not USB. My printer connects to my scanner, which connects to the old computer via parallel, and the new computer did not come with parallel and I can't add a parallel. I just want to be able to scan something without having to crawl on the floor and unplug and plug stuff up. I don't even mind if I had to burn my scans to a CD - I don't have to have them networked. PLEASE HELP!!!

[juniper]

If both computers have serial ports you could use a "null modem cable" to network the two computers together (this way you dont need a NIC in the old PC) and just network share the scanner/printer. as for the KVM which one did you get?

[rmiller]

I don't know if the new computer has serial - it's one of those new Dell E510's that has 7 USB's and no parallel, so just my luck I'd say it doesn't have a serial either! The KVM is a Belkin, I think, that I got from TigerDirect.com made for USB mouse & USB keyboard. I sure wish I could get it to work right! It would be so easy to do what I want to do.

[classicsoftware]

You cannot share the scanner.

the best thing to do is get a NIC for the old PC. Less than $10.00

or

Get a parallel card for the new PC. Less than $30.00

[rmiller]

Yeah, that's kind of what I thought, too. And that's prob. what I will do. By the time I get it all done, I'd have spent way more than the 50 bucks it would have cost me to buy a new USB scanner, but I have this thing about replacing old stuff with new, when the old still works! :) Thanks!

[classicsoftware]

It's till nice to have a network. Even if you just use the old PC to backup your files to.....

[rmiller]

Actually I never thought of doing that, but that is a good idea. It will keep my new computer freed up. I am still kind of fuzzy on all this network stuff - never thought I'd need it, guess that's why I didn't have a network card installed in my old computer - but I guess first things first, I need to get a card for my old computer and go from there.

[technossomy]

NICs really aren't that expensive. There are second hand repair shops that charge less than 5 ($,€,£) per card, 2 would in fact be the average. Negotiate to have one for free if you buy some cable or the like.

Hope this helps


Tech

[deddard]

with regard to the KVM - does your new PC have a PS2 port at all? If so, you can usually get a USB - PS2 adaptor (which are pretty cheap) and use everything on PS2 ports then. (This is assuming of course that your KVM will work with PS2!) I have a USB keyboard connecting to my KVM via an adaptor and it works fine.
It is also possible to go the other way - PS2 to USB.
here's a link for a PS2-USB
http://www.directusbstore.co.uk/cnb/shop/directusbstore?listPos=&productID=63&search=&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=24
The OS shouldn't really make much difference - All that happens with a KVM switch is that the switch sends a false 'connected' signal to the PS2 port of the machine you are not currently working on. This is at a much lower level than the Operating system, (it works from boot-up, so no OS needs to be present) so the only reason for putting compatibility ratings on there is for the USB connections.

[rmiller]

Okay, here's the new developments in my problem! I took both computers and my USB mouse & keyboard to the person who built my old computer, for him to put a NIC in the old one. The network didn't work, not all the time. Sometimes one would see the other, sometimes not, and since I don't want something that's not reliable, I told him to un-network them. Back to square one. Now I want to get the KVM to work - here's my question: will it work if I plug my PS2 mouse & keyboard up to my old computer? I don't want to use them, I just want to use my USB, but I can plug them up to get the KVM to recognize there is a connection. And my new computer has no PS2 ports. Weird, huh? Dell is going with USB, apparently, all the way. I love the computer, it's just a pain to get all the components working!

[classicsoftware]

You need to make the network work........

You need to explain which OS could not see the other......


Solve the problem....

[rmiller]

He said the old Win 98SE was working fine, it was the new Dell with XP he was having trouble with.

[classicsoftware]

What do you mean by having trouble??????

[rmiller]

I have no idea - he said the Dell was acting screwy, like sometimes you could see the other computer and sometimes you couldn't. That, in itself, is WAY over my head. Actually, he has never been a fan of Dell, so maybe he just doesn't know what he's doing. Neither do I! My niece's husband knows a good bit about computers, and he might be able to help me. He was the one who told me about hooking up the ps2 mouse & keyboard, etc. for the KVM to work, but I haven't tried it yet, so I don't know.