How to Use a KVM Switch With a Computer and a Laptop

You can work on your laptop and PC simultaneously by sharing a single keyboard, mouse and monitor. This is possible when you use a KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) switch. The KVM switch allows an individual to control 2 or more computers at a time. Here is how to use a KVM switch with a computer and laptop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Sets of cables including audio
• KVM switch
• Video device
• Video and USB

1. Switch off the laptop and the computer and unplug them.
2. Check if the laptop supports the Digital Video Interface (DVI) output. If it has this facility, you can attach the KVM switch.
3. Ensure that you have all the equipment required for connecting the KVM switch to the computers. This would typically include the KVM power cable (if required) and all cables required to interface with the computers and devices to be shared. For instance, USB cables, VGA cables and adapters, and PS/2 cables.
4. Plug in the keyboard and mouse cable into the correct port of the KVM switch. You will find 2 similar cables in the KVM switch for the computer and the laptop. Insert the KVM switch cables into the computer and the laptop. Make sure that you insert the right cable into the right port. The keyboard cable should be attached to the keyboard input port and the mouse cable into the mouse input port. Similarly attach a monitor, if required, to the KVM switch and the laptop and computer.
5. Keep the cable set separated by tying them in order to avoid confusion.
6. Start the booting process by plugging in the computer and the laptop. There are chances that one of the machines may not identify the KVM switch. Restarting the computer can solve the problem.
7. Share the hard drives, printers and other peripherals between the laptop and the computer by connecting the KVM switch with a network card.
8. Use the keyboard, video and the mouse of the computer and access the content of the laptop. Some KVM switches allow shifting between the computer and the laptop by pressing the "Ctrl" key twice.

Tips & Warnings

• Label the ports of the computer and the laptop in order to avoid confusion.
• You can also create backup from the computer to the laptop or vice versa using a KVM switch.
• Do not keep the cable connection crossed. This will result in sending the keyboard command to one computer and the mouse command to the other.

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