Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
User Journal

Journal the_mad_poster's Journal: Stupid Technology (Need Help/Recommendation) 11

Journal by the_mad_poster

I have 2 major boxes at home: a Linux box for 'net access and development, and a Windows box primarily for mp3/DVDs/games. Basically, it's a standalone entertainment box hiding behind the Linux box.

It's easiest for me to just use a KVM switch for these two boxes, and just set up SSH access to any other box on the network I want to work on. That way, I only have to have 1 monitor for the whole network.

Problem: I have a D-Link DKVM-2 switch with 2 ports. It works... OK. That is, I can switch back and forth, but 90% of the time, I lose the mouse on the switch. This is, obviously, a major problem with the Winbox being that it's for gaming (plus MusicMatch's keyboard support is a serious pain in the ass). It's not such a big deal on the linbox since I can just CTRL-ALT-F* out to a text console then back into the GUI I was on and the mouse comes back.

So, the question: Can sombody either

a) Provide me with a way to get the mouse back to life on Windows (I assume it has to do with a polling problem?) or

b) Suggest a decent KVM?

I would be much obliged.

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Stupid Technology (Need Help/Recommendation) More

Stupid Technology (Need Help/Recommendation)

Comments Filter:
  • I assume "reboot" is NOT the answer you are looking for... :-)

    Everything I read on the net said unplug it and plug back in. That seems stupid. Should be a software way to do it. Try going to device manager and clicking Scan for New Hardware.

  • Have you tried switching the KVM to the other box, then back again when the mouse doesn't work? Also, is it a USB/PS2/(gasp)Serial mouse?

    • Question 1: yes. I just wind up with no mouse on both :p

      Question 2: PS/2. It just acts as if you unplugged it from the back of the computer (except, I've seen people do that with PS/2 mice on WinXP and it worked ok). I was going to actually try unplugging the KVM cable and plugging it back in, but it's not giving me crap at the moment. The only other thing I can figure is that maybe it's touchy about how the system gets booted.

      • I have the 4-port model of your KVM, but I only run it on text-only servers... actually, I don't think I even bothered hooking up the mouse... so can't be of much more help than this...

        This is from Belkin, but give it a try anyway:
        "Avoid moving the mouse or pressing the mouse button when switching ports on the E-Series KVM switch."

        Also "You can rest the mouse and resume proper mouse movement simply by unplugging the mouse from the front of the [KVM switch] for about 2-3 seconds, and Plugging it back in ag

        • I have the 4-port model of your KVM, but I only run it on text-only servers...

          I also have the 4-port model, and I have used it to switch between Windows, Linux, and Mac OS boxen. The only trouble I've ever run into was when switching to the Mac sometimes, and I suspect that might be some weird interaction between the switch and the PS/2-to-USB adapter (probably should use a PS/2-to-ADB adapter, but those are more expensive and hard to find). When switching between Windows and Linux (either text consol


  • I've mentioned it before, and if you have an extra monitor, it rocks... synergy.

    synergy2.sourceforge.net

    One K, one M, 2 V's. Clipboard across, ssh-tunnelable, etc. Roxors my soxors. :)
  • USB is much more robust about hot-swapping, and at least in some cases can parse PS/2. You can get little USB to PS/2 adapters. No guts, just a physical adapter. Kensington throws one in the box with every trackball, just in case. I assume other manufacturers do as well. Ask around, somebody's gotta have a few laying around. Try plugging your KVM's mouse cable into your USB port. I'd swear I was able to do that in Win98 a while back, so who knows?

  • you didn't specify win version, but there is a reg entry (ummmm...something.somthing.....sermouse) that can be turned on to help prevent this.
    and not moving the mouse when switching ports is rights too.

Slashdot Top Deals

"The hands that help are better far than the lips that pray." -- Robert G. Ingersoll

Close