PC WITHOUT A MONITOR!

[kelleyi]

I need help trying to figure out how to get a PC with NO MONITOR connected to it to be seen on, and accessed by other computers on my home network. I want to use the PC with NO MONITOR for "Storage" and access it on the network ONLY. Note: All Persmiisons are set for Sharing on ALL PC's. I have 4 PC's on my XP Home network. All have XP Home with SP2 installed and all are on the same Home Network and are connected to a Belkin Wireless Router. The problem I'm having is driving me nuts! When a MONITOR IS CONNECTED to this PC (the one I want to use for Storage) everything works great...ALL 4 PC's on the network can see and access each other. However, when I disconnect the MONITOR from the PC in question (the one I want to use for Storage) IT CAN BE SEE BUT NOT ACCESSED BY THE OTHER PC's ON THE NETWORK! Only when a MONITOR IS CONNECTED to this PC can the other PC's on the network access it. Anyone have any ideas on what the probem might be? I couldn't find a bios setting that I thought had an impact...but maybe I missed it....any thoughts on bios settings? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ALL!

Ian R. Kelley
US Forces Korea
2ID "Second to None"

 

[mkaibear]

Use TweakUI to log in automatically, then it should work properly.

 

[13thmonkey]

Is there a bios setting to stop complaining about monitors like there is with keyboards, I imagine that the bios is supressed by time you are in windows, but it could be flagging warnings about monitors whilst you are in windows, only you can't see them?

Interesting problem..

 

[prox2far]

Are you sure the computer boots all the way into Windows, without the monitor??

Some BIOS types are capable of detecting if a screen is connected and consider the lack of screen af an error, resulting in the computer not booting.

 

[nukemaster]

some old pci cards will not boot without a screen.....

but lucky for me an old geforce2mx does the trick...no screen and no mouse/kb(set halt on errors to off in bios).....just made everything i want to run a service(with srvany).....

Also do consider that network storage is kind of slow....compaired to local....

as for seen but not accessed....did you enable advanced file sharing?(just making sure)

 

[valis]

Use RealVNC www.realvnc.com or remote desktop. the computer doesn't need a monitor attached at all, you'll see a desktop just like a monitor was there. i have 4 computers setup this way that are used for storage and remote access and running specific programs

Valis
http://www.valissoft.com

 

[13thmonkey]

Are you sure the computer boots all the way into Windows, without the monitor??

Some BIOS types are capable of detecting if a screen is connected and consider the lack of screen af an error, resulting in the computer not booting.

the OP said that it would stop being accesible if the monitor was removed whilst in windows...

 

[kelleyi]

Thanks guys for the response! I really appreciated it! Guess what...ya gotta be smarter than the hardware"! I fooled the MB and Video Card into thinking there was a Monitor connected! So how did I do it? After studying the video card PIN Assignments/Functions, I inserted a jumper wire into Holes 4 (Monitor ID) and 5 (Ground) and....IT WORKED! Now the MB/Video Card thinks there's Monitor Connected! I can now see and access all 4 PC on the network! Again, thanks for the rapid response.

Ian R. Kelley
US Forces Korea
2ID "Second to None"


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[prox2far]

Are you sure the computer boots all the way into Windows, without the monitor??

Some BIOS types are capable of detecting if a screen is connected and consider the lack of screen af an error, resulting in the computer not booting.

the OP said that it would stop being accesible if the monitor was removed whilst in windows...

Hmm sems like I should read a post thoroughly before answering.