Connect 2 PCs to 1 monitor?

[newnerd]

Hello:
My main 22" monitor failed today and I am left without a display for one of my seldom used PCs. I have a working ViewSonic VA1912wb LCD monitor hooked via DVI-D cable to an XP Media Center PC used mostly for a server to my living room tv. It also has an unused d-sub analog connection on the back. Is it ok or possible to hook my other computer (Vista Ultimate 64-bit) to this remaining connection? In the menu on the Viewsonic monitor there is an option to select input for either Digital or Analog. I am not sure if that means I can use both inputs and switch back and forth without harming the monitor. I am afraid that might have caused my other monitor to fail.....I had an HD cable box, a DVI-D PC and an Analog PC all hooked to that monitor and switched back and forth from one to the other and also sometimes watched HD cable tv in a picture-in-picture without problems.......until the LCD input quit working and all I get is "no signal" on DVI-D input. The other two inputs still work ok but now I have to either buy another monitor or switch to two PCs on the ViewSonic. Anyone know if it's always ok to connect two PCs to the same monitor if it has two inputs? I sure don't want to ruin another monitor! Sorry to ask such a dumb question!!

 

[Shadow703793]

Use a KVM switch.
See:
http://www.newegg.com/store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=143&Tpk=kVM+switch

 

[newnerd]

Hello Shadow703793:
Thanks for the suggestion! I had hoped to avoid going that route. I only use the pc to download Windows updates and the Media Center Guide to enable recording/watching tv thru an Xbox to my LR tv. I guess you're thinking I shouldn't just connect this to the second connection on the ViewSonic?

 

[CNeufeld]

I use a second computer with my ViewSonic 20" LCD, and use the switch on the front of it to switch the input from one to the other. Kind of a "cheap man's" KVM. Works fine, although the switch seems a little flimsy for extended use.

The other thing you can do is get it set up and running, and then use Remote Desktop to control/view the other computer. I do that with a "headless" server. This works great.

Clint

 

[newnerd]

Hello Clint:
Thanks for your input. I guess I'll go ahead and hook up both PCs to the ViewSonic. I did some googling on the DVI-D input failure on my broken monitor and discovered that I didn't break it. There are thousands of posts about the Gateway FPD2185W DVI-D input failing due to some sort of manufacturing defect. Wish I'd known that before buying it. Other than the fact that it's prone to that failure it's really a great monitor LOL!