Question: still having problems connecting a laptop as a second monitor to a desktop!

[colinseven8]

hey guys!

i got a few responses back on my previous question "how do i use a laptop as a second monitor to a desktop computer", but i still can't get anywhere with it!

i'm not trying to use a flatscreen monitor as a second monitor to a laptop, i'm trying to use my laptop as a second monitor for the desktop...i'm plugging a second DVI-to-VGA from the 8800GT in my desktop into the laptop VGA connection. it did detect on my laptop that another screen had been plugged in, but it didn't say anything on my desktop. i've fiddled with the display settings (screens 1 & 2), but because my laptop and desktop are running, i think they're both confused!!!

any advice? i'm stumped!!!

 

[The_Other_One]

You can't do it. The video connector on your laptop is output, not input. I suspect what you're seeing when you plug the laptop to the desktop is simply the machine thinking a monitor's plugged in (more/less a switch saying something's plugged into the socket)

I know there's software available that basically works over the network, but I don't know the name right off.

 

[stretch37]

It is possible to use your laptop LCD screen as a second monitor for your desktop. Google "laptop as monitor" keeping the quotes and you can find several reletively inexpensive programs that can accomplish this task. These programs rely on a local area network connection between the laptop and the desktop.