How to Use Another Computer as a Second Monitor

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By Alexia Petrakos
eHow Contributing Writer

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Use Another Computer as a Second Monitor

Many of us have heard about or seen people using dual monitors with a single PC. When using a dual monitor setup the desktop is extended onto the other monitor giving you double the desktop space. Normally this would require adding an additional video card to the PC for the extra monitor. But what if you wanted to extend the desktop of a laptop PC or didn't have the empty slot for the extra card? Well, now you can extend the desktop of these devices too by using a monitor attached to a second PC. Follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Two Computers and monitors running Windows XP or higher
MaxiVista

Step 1

Confirm that both PCs are on the same local area network and that they can "see" each other.
Step 2

Download MaxiVista software (see Resources below) to both PCs. Unzip the MaxVista software.
Step 3

Run "Maxivista_Setup_PrimaryPC.exe" on the computer that is going to have its desktop shared
Step 4

Hit "Next" through all of the steps and accept all of the default settings. Be sure to leave the checkbox checked to "Launch Maxvista Now." A MaxiVista icon should now appear in the lower right corner of the task bar.

* Note: If prompted by Windows Firewall, be sure to unblock the MaxiVista program.
Step 5

Run "Maxivista_Setup_SecondaryPC.exe" on the PC that is going to act as the second monitor.

Once the programs are installed on both PCs, assuming that they can see each other on the network, they will automatically pick up each other's presence and the Optimizer will appear.
Step 6

Click "Optimize Now." The Optimizer will automatically configure the MaxiVista so that the speed of transitioning from one monitor to the other is as smooth and fast as possible.
Step 7

Right-click on your dektop and choose "Properties" > "Settings" for further configuration options.

Here you set which monitor is the primary, which one is to the left and which to the right and the screen resolution. You can also configure more settings by right-clicking the MaxiVista icon in the task bar.

That's it! Now you should be able to move your mouse through the side of one monitor to the other monitor. You have extended your desktop to the monitor of another PC using MaxiVista!

Comments

onceguitarist said

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on 12/8/2008 can you play games using the added laptop?. Right now I have two screen already, and I want to use my laptop as a third screen so in games I have crazy peripheral vision... is this possible with MaxVista?