Viewing old computer from the new computer screen.

[Peter Jason]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

Peter

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

Peter

What do you mean by "computer contents"?

 

[Seth]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

One way is to install VNC on the XP machine and take remote control. Or
configure the built in remote desktop.

Or trash the old machine and suck it's hard drive into the Windows 7 machine
as a VM.

 

[Nil]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

Yes. Share the disk on the old computer and connect to it with the new
one. That's the whole reason for networks.

You need to give us more details if you want more explicit suggestions.

 

[Peter Jason]

Yes. Share the disk on the old computer and connect to it with the new
one. That's the whole reason for networks.

You need to give us more details if you want more explicit suggestions.

I have had it on a network for a while, but now the old XP machine's
monitor has broken down and the Windows 7 monitor does not work on it
(XP video card outdated). So how do I enter the XP machine's password
and change its folder permissions where necessary?

 

[Paul]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

Peter

"screen to the old computer does not work anymore" = old computer is hard to steer.

"I want to view the old computer contents from the new computer"

Normally, if the old computer was still working, you could
use File Sharing.

If you can't practically drive the old computer,
you can unplug the hard drive from inside the old computer,
then install and cable it up to the new computer. Alternately,
the old hard drive, can be put in an external USB enclosure,
so it can be unplugged easily when you're done. Using an
enclosure, means not having to open the new computer.

Enclosures come in "USB to IDE" and "USB to SATA". Check the
disk type, before you buy an enclosure.

It's possible to run a computer "headless". Connect the new monitor
to the old computer. Boot into Windows. Set up file sharing. Finally,
switch off the power on the monitor (front button, not the power
adapter), then unplug the monitor from the back of the (now working)
computer. Move the monitor over to the other computer (unplug the
adapter or cord and move it over). Start the new computer, then see
if you can view the shared files or not. I did monitor sharing for
years, before I got a second monitor, so I've "moved that cable around",
a lot.

When it's time to interact with the old computer, you'd then need to
plug in the monitor again.

You can get a monitor from Staples, for around $90. I got some
piece of crap like that (different model number) a couple years
ago from them, it has one bad pixel, but when you need a
spare monitor to run a computer with, it's perfect. No complaints
so far, and it's running right now as a matter of fact. I fully
expected it to blow out after a short time, but it surprised me
by still being in a perfect running state (minus one green pixel).

Acer G205HL 20" LED Monitor
Offer Valid November 9 - 22, 2011!
Available Online and In-Stores. While Quantities Last. Price After Savings: $89.52

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=909370&affixedcode=WW

You also have the option, as Seth says, of using VNC. That would transfer
a picture of the desktop to your new computer, and the pixels making
up the image, are updated when they change. It's like "remote viewing".
But you'd still need to potentially play "swap the monitor", until
VNC is running and so on.

(This picture, shows a VNC session in the center of the screen, which is
copying the screen from a remote computer. The user can "steer" the remote
computer via interacting with the VNC window. You use the local mouse
to move the cursor of the remote computer, and the effect updates on
your local screen after a second or two.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/VNC_in_KDE.png/800px-VNC_in_KDE.png

The cheapest solution is just to move the hard drive, right into the
computer case of the new computer, as that requires no expenditure.
And then, you don't even need to turn on the old computer or think
about it. Buying the spare monitor, on the other hand, will give you
two computers to work with (even if you keep the old one turned off
most of the time). In an emergency, the second, old computer, will
come in handy for making repairs or calling for help via USENET.

Plenty of options, for anywhere from $0 to $90 cost.

Paul

 

[Jan Alter]

I have had it on a network for a while, but now the old XP machine's
monitor has broken down and the Windows 7 monitor does not work on it
(XP video card outdated). So how do I enter the XP machine's password
and change its folder permissions where necessary?

Two quick things that I can think of are these for getting old hard drive
access:

I'm assuming these computers are both desktops and each has their own
monitor. Hook up the new monitor to your old desktop.
Boot up the old computer and go to the C drive then right click on the
drive letter to show properties and with sharing tick the boxes to share the
entire contents of it with everyone on the network. Before shutting down go
into the Control Panel and to the Users folder to change the password to the
computer to no password. That way the computer will simply boot up into
Windows. Shut down the computer and rehook the new monitor to the new
computer.Reconnect the non-viewing monitor to your old machine and boot it
up. Boot up the new computer as well. You should now be able to view your
old computer's contents of C drive.
I'm telling you that in the first option you should reattach the old
monitor to the computer before booting after you've gone in there to change
sharing properties and the password to nothing, but it may not be necessary
for the old computer to start. In any event attaching it will insure that it
does boot without any hiccups.

The second thing you could do is to extricate the hard drive out of the
old computer and cable it to the new computer's motherboard. That would also
give access to the contents.

 

[Seth]

I have had it on a network for a while, but now the old XP machine's
monitor has broken down and the Windows 7 monitor does not work on it
(XP video card outdated). So how do I enter the XP machine's password
and change its folder permissions where necessary?

Laptop? Desktop? I'll assume desktop from the wording but can't be too sure.

Temporarily hook up a working monitor to make the changes\get what you need.

 

[Peter Jason]

"screen to the old computer does not work anymore" = old computer is hard to steer.

"I want to view the old computer contents from the new computer"

Normally, if the old computer was still working, you could
use File Sharing.

If you can't practically drive the old computer,
you can unplug the hard drive from inside the old computer,
then install and cable it up to the new computer. Alternately,
the old hard drive, can be put in an external USB enclosure,
so it can be unplugged easily when you're done. Using an
enclosure, means not having to open the new computer.

Enclosures come in "USB to IDE" and "USB to SATA". Check the
disk type, before you buy an enclosure.

It's possible to run a computer "headless". Connect the new monitor
to the old computer. Boot into Windows. Set up file sharing. Finally,
switch off the power on the monitor (front button, not the power
adapter), then unplug the monitor from the back of the (now working)
computer. Move the monitor over to the other computer (unplug the
adapter or cord and move it over). Start the new computer, then see
if you can view the shared files or not. I did monitor sharing for
years, before I got a second monitor, so I've "moved that cable around",
a lot.

When it's time to interact with the old computer, you'd then need to
plug in the monitor again.

You can get a monitor from Staples, for around $90. I got some
piece of crap like that (different model number) a couple years
ago from them, it has one bad pixel, but when you need a
spare monitor to run a computer with, it's perfect. No complaints
so far, and it's running right now as a matter of fact. I fully
expected it to blow out after a short time, but it surprised me
by still being in a perfect running state (minus one green pixel).

Acer G205HL 20" LED Monitor
Offer Valid November 9 - 22, 2011!
Available Online and In-Stores. While Quantities Last. Price After Savings: $89.52

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=909370&affixedcode=WW

You also have the option, as Seth says, of using VNC. That would transfer
a picture of the desktop to your new computer, and the pixels making
up the image, are updated when they change. It's like "remote viewing".
But you'd still need to potentially play "swap the monitor", until
VNC is running and so on.

(This picture, shows a VNC session in the center of the screen, which is
copying the screen from a remote computer. The user can "steer" the remote
computer via interacting with the VNC window. You use the local mouse
to move the cursor of the remote computer, and the effect updates on
your local screen after a second or two.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/VNC_in_KDE.png/800px-VNC_in_KDE.png

The cheapest solution is just to move the hard drive, right into the
computer case of the new computer, as that requires no expenditure.
And then, you don't even need to turn on the old computer or think
about it. Buying the spare monitor, on the other hand, will give you
two computers to work with (even if you keep the old one turned off
most of the time). In an emergency, the second, old computer, will
come in handy for making repairs or calling for help via USENET.

Plenty of options, for anywhere from $0 to $90 cost.

Paul

Thanks, I'll try transferring the drive & report back.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

the Windows 7 monitor does not work on it
(XP video card outdated).

All video cards and all monitors support the old modes (resolutions).
The only ways this can't be done is if the new monitor doesn't have the
D-SUB (aka VGA) port or if the old video card is dead and you haven't
yet realized it.

Since you've given *no* details we have no clear way of helping you.

 

[Peter Jason]

All video cards and all monitors support the old modes (resolutions).
The only ways this can't be done is if the new monitor doesn't have the
D-SUB (aka VGA) port or if the old video card is dead and you haven't
yet realized it.

Since you've given *no* details we have no clear way of helping you.

I don't know any more details.

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

My new computer is Windows 7 ultimate, and the old one is Windows XP.

The screen to the old computer does not work anymore but I want to
view the old computer contents from the new computer. The two
computers are on a network.

Is there any way to do this?

Peter

KVM switch.

 

[Peter Jason]

"screen to the old computer does not work anymore" = old computer is hard to steer.

"I want to view the old computer contents from the new computer"

Normally, if the old computer was still working, you could
use File Sharing.

If you can't practically drive the old computer,
you can unplug the hard drive from inside the old computer,
then install and cable it up to the new computer. Alternately,
the old hard drive, can be put in an external USB enclosure,
so it can be unplugged easily when you're done. Using an
enclosure, means not having to open the new computer.

Enclosures come in "USB to IDE" and "USB to SATA". Check the
disk type, before you buy an enclosure.

It's possible to run a computer "headless". Connect the new monitor
to the old computer. Boot into Windows. Set up file sharing. Finally,
switch off the power on the monitor (front button, not the power
adapter), then unplug the monitor from the back of the (now working)
computer. Move the monitor over to the other computer (unplug the
adapter or cord and move it over). Start the new computer, then see
if you can view the shared files or not. I did monitor sharing for
years, before I got a second monitor, so I've "moved that cable around",
a lot.

When it's time to interact with the old computer, you'd then need to
plug in the monitor again.

You can get a monitor from Staples, for around $90. I got some
piece of crap like that (different model number) a couple years
ago from them, it has one bad pixel, but when you need a
spare monitor to run a computer with, it's perfect. No complaints
so far, and it's running right now as a matter of fact. I fully
expected it to blow out after a short time, but it surprised me
by still being in a perfect running state (minus one green pixel).

Acer G205HL 20" LED Monitor
Offer Valid November 9 - 22, 2011!
Available Online and In-Stores. While Quantities Last. Price After Savings: $89.52

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=909370&affixedcode=WW

You also have the option, as Seth says, of using VNC. That would transfer
a picture of the desktop to your new computer, and the pixels making
up the image, are updated when they change. It's like "remote viewing".
But you'd still need to potentially play "swap the monitor", until
VNC is running and so on.

(This picture, shows a VNC session in the center of the screen, which is
copying the screen from a remote computer. The user can "steer" the remote
computer via interacting with the VNC window. You use the local mouse
to move the cursor of the remote computer, and the effect updates on
your local screen after a second or two.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/VNC_in_KDE.png/800px-VNC_in_KDE.png

The cheapest solution is just to move the hard drive, right into the
computer case of the new computer, as that requires no expenditure.
And then, you don't even need to turn on the old computer or think
about it. Buying the spare monitor, on the other hand, will give you
two computers to work with (even if you keep the old one turned off
most of the time). In an emergency, the second, old computer, will
come in handy for making repairs or calling for help via USENET.

Plenty of options, for anywhere from $0 to $90 cost.

Paul

I succeeded with the $0 option. The old HDD was a sata type and it
plugged into the new machine's external USB2/e-SATA socket. I had to
reboot the machine and it did an automatic CHKDSK during which it
found some errors. It started OK.

Many thanks.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I don't know any more details.

You're saying you don't know the names and models of your computers and
monitors? You can't figure out the names and models of the video cards?

You can't see what kind of plugs there are on the video cards and on the
monitors? What kind of cables connect them now?

I can't retain any patience in the face of that...

 

[bj]

. ..Buying the spare monitor, on the other hand, will give you
two computers to work with (even if you keep the old one turned off
most of the time). In an emergency, the second, old computer, will
come in handy for making repairs or calling for help via USENET.

Or getting a deadline job done while the newer computer is itself sick &
getting fixed.
BTDT.
bj