Need PC help. 2 PC's: 1 Vista,1 XP...

[Darin]

I have a main computer running Vista that I use daily, and an older computer that has XP that sits in the corner collecting dust. I have a Sony MiniDV cam that Sony will not update the drivers for so you can get video from the cam to a PC with Vista. Sony only provide drivers to capture the video on an XP OS. To get video from the cam, I have to hook my monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the XP box, capture the video, then dump that on a thumbdrive, then hook everything back up to my Vista box and do any editing, burning uploading etc.

What I'd like to do is connect the boxes and and be able to connect the cam to the XP box, and do all the capturing etc with my mouse, monitor etc connected to the Vista box.

Is this possible?

[Dino]

Vista sucks just run XP on both machines.

[Darin]

Originally Posted by Dino

Vista sucks just run XP on both machines.

Thought about it. But, I'm having no other real problems with Vista, I like Vista otherwise. And I don't want to worry about driver and software support fallin off with XP on BOTH machines. Vista is a reality, I'm going to just deal with it. Plus, I only have one XP disc and am not prepared to buy another one.

[Algiman]

If the 2 PC are networked, I would use remote desktop from the Vista machine to access the XP machine, run the various video capturing aps, and have a shared folder on the Vista machine that you drop the video to. Close the remote desktop, and carry on with the editing etc on the Vista machine. I think that's what you want to achieve isn't it?

I've become a big fan of Vista. It isn't perfect, but no OS fits every conceivable situation.

[jemsite]

a simply KVM switch would be alot easier (switches keyboard, video & mouse between the two PCs). You can also just leave the XP box sitting in the corner on a network connection and remote access it. If you're using XP Pro or Media Center use Windows Remote Desktop otherwise you need either VNC or even better live mesh www.mesh.com which gives remote desktop and more into xp and vista home boxes (and mobile phones).

on the xp box setup file sharing to the entire C drive or better yet the specific folder where you're dumping the videos. this of course assumes a very simple network and switch (likely router w/ built in switch and cables).

lots of help here
http://www.windowsnetworking.com

... glen

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by jemsite

a simply KVM switch would be alot easier

Luddite

If you're using XP Pro or Media Center use Windows Remote Desktop

I thought you could download a patch that would allow remote access to all XP variants now? I could be wrong mind you.

[jemsite]

i'm not sure if patches/hacks actually work so easily for XP home but you can easily goto www.mesh.com for the same technology ...glen

[Algiman]

Just checked. I believe that XP home has the client so can be accessed using remote desktop from higher versions.

[Dino]

Originally Posted by Darin

Thought about it. But, I'm having no other real problems with Vista, I like Vista otherwise. And I don't want to worry about driver and software support fallin off with XP on BOTH machines. Vista is a reality, I'm going to just deal with it. Plus, I only have one XP disc and am not prepared to buy another one.

Wmdows ME was a reality but many people managed to skip over it. Glen seems to have a good solution without blowing off your hard drive.

[jb4674]

Or you could install the sony software on the vista machine if you're slick enough and run the app from the vista machine itself. The reason you can't install/run it is because vista has the wonderful program compatibility assistant running in the background. you can always disable it or here are your other options:

1. run the xp machine and the vista machine using a kvm box
2. run both of the machines on a network and rdp into the xp box to do whatever you need to do (IMO this would be overkill for what you're trying to do)
3. remote access. Again overkill IMO since the machine is within a few feet of you.

This would be my favorite:
4. run a virtual machine from within your vista box and install xp onto it (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro.../overview.mspx). Once you install it, run the program, edit your videos and then do whatever you need to do. The nice thing about running a vm inside your vista box is that you can make it as small as you need to and give it peanuts for memory and disc space.

Jimmy