Run Win XP from Mac via USB

D

Durbrow

Registered
Before I get reprimanded I did search for the this query in the forums but I must have used the wrong search terms. So, with apologies, here is my frequently asked question:

Can I view Windows XP (running on a second computer) from my PowerBook G4 using a USB connection? Is there a very cheap utility that will do this?

Many thanks for any help.

Eric.
 
slightly longer answer - No. What you need is a network between the Windows machine and the Mac, either through Ethernet, or through a wi-fi (AirPort) connection. once you have them networked, you can view each computer's screen through the other using either VNC utilities (usually free) or Timbuktu (pricey, but with lots of features).
 
You can also use "Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection" on your Mac to remote control the PC. It is free, and gives you just about everything Timbuktu does, and it is slightly less insecure than VNC.

To find it, go to Mactopia (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/) and click on "Other Products". You'll find it as the fourth subhead on the page.

All you need is a straight ethernet cable, and set up both computers to use DHCP.

Your PB will auto-configure, sensing that you don't have a crossed cable and adjust accordingly.

Both computers will assign themselves IP-numbers. Check the IP-number on the PC by running "ipconfig" in the console.

Run "Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection" and enter the PC's IP-number, adjust the options to you liking and click "Connect". Now you see the PC login prompt on your Mac, while simultaneously logging out on the PC screen.

If you want to run several sessions simultaneously, you need 2003 server.
 
Hopefully you won't mind the slowness of doing this. I haven't use Timbuktu or Microsoft's Remote Desktop, but I do use VNC and it's painfully slow, not even close to good enough to do any work on the other machine. Ok to help someone out when a machine gets screwed up, but not for regular work.

adambyte - elander

Is Timbuktu or MS Remote Desktop any better as far as speed?
 
Thanks for the suggestions. Am I mistaken? Can't I establish a connection between my PC and Mac using USB? And will Timbuktu, VNC, and Microsoft Remote work over USB? Thanks for the clarification.
 
There are USB network cables. These are essentially a USB cable that plugs directly from the USB port on one machine to the USB port on another, the computer sees the cable as a network card. However, these are a pretty obscure gimick and may or may not work on Mac, not to mention that they are significantly more expensive than a plain-vanilla network connection.
USB is essentially designed for connecting devices to computers, not for connecting computers to each-other.
 
Yeah. Trust us, USB should not be part of this equation. Connect the computers directly via an "Ethernet Crossover" cable.

bobw- in my not-so-scientific tests (i.e. my experience), VNC and Timbuktu are pretty much the same speed, and redraw the screen the same way, square by square. However, Timbuktu gives you the option of using black and white mode to speed up things. And, though you won't want to get work done this way, or anything like that, it's good enough speed so that you can see what's going on, and do some certain tasks.

btw, a friend of mine and I both set up VNC on our computers, and it worked just jim dandy (quite usable). I had my PowerBook hooked through my school's T1 line here in California, and she had her WIndows PC hooked to her school's T3 line in Pennsylvania..... and it was pretty fast..... when I was using her machine, it was faster than emulation. heheh
 
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