Accessing old desktops through newer laptops.

[KukriKhan]

Out of curiosity, which pin is broken on the VGA connector (count 1 thru 15, right-to-left, from the top (wide) end)?

If I understand correctly, the '98 machine you booted up does respond to keyboard commands (maybe; can you reboot using Ctrl+Alt+Del?), but characters are not displayed. Interesting.

[Ramses II CP]

Oh, and I just got it about where the pin is, inside the 'female' end on your PC. It's probably not in there too tight, try to grab it with some tweezers. Also if the monitor port is ruined anyway I'd start to get creative; try silly putty or squirt some WD40 in there and shake it around (If you can get the card out).

You can sometimes find old video cards just from people you know. Heck, I've got an old Voodoo2 card laying around somewhere that would probably work for you, but no way to get it to you.

[CrossLOPER]

Out of curiosity, which pin is broken on the VGA connector (count 1 thru 15, right-to-left, from the top (wide) end)?

If I understand correctly, the '98 machine you booted up does respond to keyboard commands (maybe; can you reboot using Ctrl+Alt+Del?), but characters are not displayed. Interesting.

Pin #9, Center row, 2nd from right if top is wide. This is on both machines.

Oh, and I just got it about where the pin is, inside the 'female' end on your PC. It's probably not in there too tight, try to grab it with some tweezers. Also if the monitor port is ruined anyway I'd start to get creative; try silly putty or squirt some WD40 in there and shake it around (If you can get the card out).

You can sometimes find old video cards just from people you know. Heck, I've got an old Voodoo2 card laying around somewhere that would probably work for you, but no way to get it to you.

I can't even see it in one of the computers and the other one that I do see can only be removed it I cut away at the plastic around it. That plastic was not affected at all the last time I tried to chisel away at it with a small steel razor.

[Ramses II CP]

Any further info on the keyboard problem? Your '98 machine probably has USB ports if you have a USB keyboard; that could bypass the problem if it's not a BIOS setting. Using VNC you can use your laptop keyboard to manage the '98 box, but that won't help you get to the BIOS as the machine has to be booted before VNC will run.

[CrossLOPER]

Any further info on the keyboard problem? Your '98 machine probably has USB ports if you have a USB keyboard; that could bypass the problem if it's not a BIOS setting. Using VNC you can use your laptop keyboard to manage the '98 box, but that won't help you get to the BIOS as the machine has to be booted before VNC will run.

Wow! This might actually be what I am looking for!

I'm not too worried about BIOS, but this will do for the time-being. Unfortunately, finals are but a few weeks away and I have a handful of projects I have to tend to. So I gotta get to work on that. But after December 13, I'm off!