You might be able to set your bios 'Halt On' setting for 'no errors.. try it
and see if it works.. if it doesn't, you will have to reboot with keyboard
screen and mouse, correct any errors, none of which you will recognise
because you are restarting with the peripherals connected that may or may
not have been responsible for the failures..
You could try starting with all attached and removing them after the machine
has booted, but if you have to make permissions changes, or any system
changes that affect the way that one computer sees or talks to the other,
you may find it anywhere between frustrating, difficult and impossible to
overcome them without seeing what both computers are doing at the same
time..
In this case, i will end with 'Good Luck' because, although I have no belief
in luck per se, you may need it..
--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User
"kmlillis" <kmlillis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:857E18DD-039E-4EC9-A8D6-5CEC52C67A46@microsoft.com...
> Mike,
>
> Clearly you are correct. The best solution is a KVM switch. However, I'm
> on
> a tight budget. You might even say I'm cheap. In any case, my question is
> "how do I do this without a KVM swith". An answer of "use a KVM switch" is
> not a very satisfying answer. Do you know of a way of starting the 2nd
> system
> without the peripherals?
>
> Kevin
>
> "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>
>> Kevin
>>
>> Post beeps only cover the machine as it starts.. they give no indication
>> of
>> what Windows is doing or not doing.. your best option is a KVM switch,
>> even
>> though you appear to be reticent about acquiring one..
>>
>> --
>> Mike Hall
>> MVP - Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "kmlillis" <kmlillis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:97D652A7-94CC-4C9C-97CD-1F1C406E5D47@microsoft.com...
>> > True, I won't see any error messages. However, I've been using these
>> > two
>> > systems for a month now and I never even turn on the 2nd monitor. It's
>> > just
>> > there so the system will boot. So I don't anticipate this normally
>> > being a
>> > problem. If for some reason I'm no longer able to get to the system
>> > with
>> > Remote Desktop I can always attach the monitor to see what the problem
>> > is.
>> > Also, I will be able to hear the POST beeps through the system's
>> > speaker.
>> >
>> > Kevin
>> >
>> > "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>> >
>> >> You have to ask yourself these questions..
>> >>
>> >> 1. How will I know if it has booted correctly?
>> >> 2. How will I see what error messages are displaying if it doesn't?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Mike Hall
>> >> MVP - Windows Shell/User
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "kmlillis" <kmlillis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news
D39CFDB-1717-4526-B8CA-B3396C7EEAA5@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I have two Windows XP systems. right now I have two keyboards, two
>> >> >monitors,
>> >> > and two pointing devices. I don't want to buy a KVM switch. Rather,
>> >> > I
>> >> > want
>> >> > to
>> >> > set up one of these systems so it boots with not keyboard, video, or
>> >> > mouse. I
>> >> > just want to use Remote Desktop to access this computer. Is this
>> >> > possible?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>