loading XP on multiple pc's at same time?

[mikehende]

I bought a KVM switch so I can work on multiple pc's at the same time and I started loading XP on 2 pc's and after a short while I switched to pc 2, it was at the point where it was asking if you wish to format, I pressed the Enter button a few times but it was as if the system had frozen. I am guessing that you cannot an installing OS unattended and have to react to it's prompts within a certain time, is this correct?

[Paul Komski]

If the prompts are mandatory then the setup will wait indefinitely for a response from you. Sometimes with KVM swithches one of the outputs can be a bit loose so the switch over fails to work as intended.

[mikehende]

I seem to be having a problem with this switch as sometimes I can't get either keyboard or mouse to function so I am wondering if that might have been the cause for this incident? Thing is, I don't really move the pc's after conmnection so I don't see how the connectors can get "loose" to cause this problem?

[Whyzman]

It doesn't necessarily have to be the actual connectors/connection. There could be a bad solder contact involved that could possibly expand or contract as the temps in the room vary...causing sporadic good contact...Thus, the switch itself could be bad.

Sometimes the only thing to do is swap parts...sheesh, I sound like an automobile repair shop...:rolleyes:

[Erik]

I have found that sometimes KVMs don't work so well when installing Windows (the DOS mode part anyway). I think it has to do with the computer no longer communicating with the actual input devices 100% normally.

I would just install to each one seperately. Then once inside Windows test more and see if the problem still exists. Many KVMs now might not even really be DOS compliant anymore.

[mjc]

I second that...install the systems, then hook them to the KVM.