How can I use a computer with no video output?

[Nannooskeeska]

I bought a used desktop that does not have a working video output. It has Windows 7 Professional installed, but that's all I know about it.

Is it possible to use SSH or some other method to control the computer? I would like to use it as a personal network storage drive (like Dropbox or Google Drive) as a little experiment, but I don't know how to use it without more knowledge of what it's running and stuff.

 

[jsmithepa]

You can operate it wo a monitor but you need SOMETHING to install and configure it. Just buy a cheapo $10 VGA card. Done.

 

[Solandri]

If it has Win 7 Pro, then it has Remote Desktop Server. You'll need to temporarily install a video card (can borrow one from another computer) and hook it up to a monitor. Once you've booted up, go to:

Start -> right-click Computer -> Properties -> Remote Settings

In the bottom half of the dialog box, you'll see options for Remote Desktop. Enable it. If you're running Windows 7/8 on your main computer, pick the more secure option with Network level authentication. Now make sure to write down the computer name, it's IP address, the account's username, and give it a password if it doesn't have one already. Shut down the computer.

You can now put the video card back in your other computer. Start up both computers. Wait a minute or two for the monitor-less desktop to finish booting. Once it's ready, start up Remote Desktop Client on your main PC (all versions of Windows come with the client). If you can't find it, just searching for Remote Desktop will usually bring it up.

Run it. When it asks which computer to connect to, enter the monitor-less computer's name. You can change some of the other options too while you're at it. I like to run it in a window instead of full screen. When you connect, you should get a box asking for a username and password. If it doesn't connect, try using the computer's IP address instead of name. Enter the username and password. You will now see the monitor-less computer's desktop on your main computer.

You can proceed to use it just as if you were using it directly. The only real restriction is that you can't shutdown directly over remote desktop. But you can get by this by Start -> Run -> type 'shutdown -s'

 

[Nannooskeeska]

If it has Win 7 Pro, then it has Remote Desktop Server. You'll need to temporarily install a video card (can borrow one from another computer) and hook it up to a monitor. Once you've booted up, go to:

Start -> right-click Computer -> Properties -> Remote Settings

In the bottom half of the dialog box, you'll see options for Remote Desktop. Enable it. If you're running Windows 7/8 on your main computer, pick the more secure option with Network level authentication. Now make sure to write down the computer name, it's IP address, the account's username, and give it a password if it doesn't have one already. Shut down the computer.

You can now put the video card back in your other computer. Start up both computers. Wait a minute or two for the monitor-less desktop to finish booting. Once it's ready, start up Remote Desktop Client on your main PC (all versions of Windows come with the client). If you can't find it, just searching for Remote Desktop will usually bring it up.

Run it. When it asks which computer to connect to, enter the monitor-less computer's name. You can change some of the other options too while you're at it. I like to run it in a window instead of full screen. When you connect, you should get a box asking for a username and password. If it doesn't connect, try using the computer's IP address instead of name. Enter the username and password. You will now see the monitor-less computer's desktop on your main computer.

You can proceed to use it just as if you were using it directly. The only real restriction is that you can't shutdown directly over remote desktop. But you can get by this by Start -> Run -> type 'shutdown -s'

Would it be possible to instead find the computer's name by hooking it up to my network with a cable and looking for computer with my other desktop?

I'm not home from work yet but when I get there I'll try some stuff out.

 

[Solandri]

Would it be possible to instead find the computer's name by hooking it up to my network with a cable and looking for computer with my other desktop?

Yes you could do that. But until Remote Desktop Server is turned on, there is no way to connect to it with Remote Desktop Client. So you're going to have to temporarily pop in a graphics card and hook it up to a monitor anyway to turn RDS on. Might as well jot down the name while you're doing that.

 

[Nannooskeeska]

Would it be possible to instead find the computer's name by hooking it up to my network with a cable and looking for computer with my other desktop?

Yes you could do that. But until Remote Desktop Server is turned on, there is no way to connect to it with Remote Desktop Client. So you're going to have to temporarily pop in a graphics card and hook it up to a monitor anyway to turn RDS on. Might as well jot down the name while you're doing that.

Alright that's all I needed to know, thank you so much!