Using a desktop as a second monitor for a laptop
April 20, 2020 12:40 PM   Subscribe

I have a Windows laptop that I use as my primary computer. I'm used to working with double monitors in the office, but working from home with just one screen has been very difficult. I found an all-in-one Windows desktop computer that I would like to use as a second monitor with the laptop as primary, but I cannot figure out how to do it. Is this even possible?

I have an HDMI cable hooked up to the laptop and desktop, but neither computer seems to recognize the connection. When I try to connect from the laptop to the desktop through the display settings, it tells me it doesn't detect another device. The desktop is not online at the moment (I need an ethernet cable as it's not equipped with wireless) but I would think that the HDMI hookup would allow it to be detected.

This is about as much facility as I have with computers, so I am hoping there is something more advanced that can be done to set up double monitors. (I'm not sure how I ever worked with one screen before!) Any advice is most welcome - thanks!
posted by Neely O'Hara to Computers & Internet (12 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
What computer (brand/model etc) is the all-in-one Windows desktop?
posted by brainmouse at 12:51 PM on April 20, 2020


I do not believe you can use the All-In-One as a monitor. The HDMI ports on each machine active as HDMI output ports.
posted by tman99 at 1:08 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]


Unfortunately, the HDMI won't do it, those are one-directional ports. I think your best hope is to get the All-in-One wired up to the internet and use your network to share the screen.

If both are running Windows 10 you can use the Project to this PC option to set it up natively.

There is also software like spacedesk that claims to be able to do this. (that link has a number of alternatives listed at the bottom if spacedesk won't work on your setup)

Another almost-as-good option might be using software to share a keyboard and mouse (but not the screen) between the computers. Mouse Without Borders can do this, so can Synergy.
posted by Wulfhere at 1:29 PM on April 20, 2020 [3 favorites]


It'll take some fiddling, but I believe this might do the trick via software over the network. You'll have some lag though. Ultimately it might be better to get a second monitor - if the all in one is something you don't even use at this point, you might be able to barter it for a monitor if your cash is tight.

Most all in ones don't have HDMI in, though if you post the specific model, we can help figure out if there's any easy way to do it.
posted by Candleman at 1:29 PM on April 20, 2020


HDMI ports are usually one way only. There might be a cable inside you could re-wire to get at the screen, but it would be difficult to say.
posted by nickggully at 1:43 PM on April 20, 2020


Yeah .. The all in one part is definitely what makes this tricky. If you had two computers and one monitor you could use a kvm switch to easily switch between the two machines. I have one that works with my wireless mouse and keyboard, so all I do is press a button to switch between macbook + monitor , and, thinkpad + (the same) monitor, all the while using the same keyboard /mouse for either.

I know this doesn't solve the exact problem you're describing, but I'm guessing you could get a used monitor for cheap and use it as a second monitor for both the all-in-one desktop machine AND your laptop. This way, for either machine, you'd have all that nice 2 screen real estate .. I know with social distancing buying a used monitor for cheap isn't as easy as usual, but if you can finagle it.. Well, it's what I'd try. I can't really hunt for the exact kvm switch that I purchased right now, but I am very pleased w it and could memail it to you if this idea is useful to you at all.

All together, for kvm plus dell monitor I bought at a thrift store (maybe ebay instead ?), I would guess I spent 60 bucks.

Also.. more to your question which I know was more about working-with-what you already have, if you have a flat screen tv, it might not be great resolution but.. it might be possible to use that in a pinch.

Agree with previous poster that if you tell us the model of your all-in-one we could tell you more definitively.. or you can just google that model with the phrase "use as stand alone monitor" or "use as second monitor" -- if there is a way to do it w/ your all in one machine, that would be the way to find it.
posted by elgee at 2:21 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]


There are a few All-in-one PCs that have HDMI in to allow them to be used as monitors with your video game console (PS4, etc) but definitely not all of them. If the HDMI port isn't labelled it's likely HDMI out only. If you have one of these rare beasts there will be multiple HDMI ports labelled in and out.
posted by GuyZero at 3:12 PM on April 20, 2020


Amazon sells HDMI/USB 3 adapters for $50. I also use an Asus AIO that has an HDMI in that I use as a monitor for my XP system.
posted by Raybun at 5:07 PM on April 20, 2020


Amazon sells HDMI/USB 3 adapters for $50.

That does not help in this case. Those add a video output to computers via USB 3.
posted by Candleman at 6:12 PM on April 20, 2020


What version of Windows are the machines running? If both machines are running Windows 10, wifi adapters are pretty straightforward and then it is really simple to put them on the same network and project one machine to the other.

Also, if you have a TV with HDMI input, you could hook it up to your laptop as a second screen (or one really big screen) as well. The size/viewing distance/resolution usually makes it less than ideal for working, but it's an option .
posted by yeahlikethat at 6:23 PM on April 20, 2020


2nding Synergy.
posted by at at 8:18 PM on April 20, 2020


3rding Synergy.

To explain: HDMI on pretty much any consumer available computer is going to be an Output Only connector. Plugging two outputs into each other won’t do it.

What Synergy will do is run on two separate computers, each operating independently. What it will allow you to do is move your mouse over from one computer to the other; like you used to move between monitors on the same computer. So you’d be running program 1 on PC 1, program 2 on PC 2, moving between the by moving your mouse all the way over to the left (or right).

So unless you’re running something where you can’t be logged in to a resource from two computer sessions at once, Synergy is going to be as close to one PC w/two monitors as you can get. Even when there are limitations like that, it’s often possible (and advisable in any case) to dedicate one PC to production, and the other for communications; or one for research and one for composition, etc.
posted by bartleby at 4:20 AM on April 21, 2020


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