Windows screen on Mac display

[Parsen66]

As mentioned before I have moved from a PC to a Mac. I still have to use a Windows laptop for work and would like to be able to have the Mac screen display my laptop. The set up I used previously was a KVM switch between two PC's.

I bought a Thunderbolt to DVI cable thinking that this would transmit the laptop to the iMac, well it doesn't. Is there a cable that would allow this it happen? I realise that I will still have to use a separate keyboard and mouse for the laptop which I'm ok with but would really love to enjoy the quality of the iMac when working on my laptop.

I have also tried to use Remote Connection between both but I've not be able to get the iMac to 'talk' to the laptop and set up the connection. Everything is set right to allow remote connections to both but no matter what I try it won't connect.

Any advice on either or both questions above would be very gratefully received.

[Tigger]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

I don't know too much about this - but my first thought is you are trying to get two different systems to talk to each other, its a bit like putting a husband and wife in the same room and expecting them to talk

I know you can boot a Mac with Windows so maybe thats an option but I'm sure you'd need to buy a version of Windows for Mac - Maybe someone can offer you options but as my last windows machine was thrown away a few months ago its something I've not needed to do

[AndyMulhearn]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

So if I get the question right, you want to be using your iMac and have the Windows laptop screen appear in a window on the iMac.

As Ian says, you can use virtualisation or you could look at VNC - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing - which runs a server on your Laptop and a client on your iMac. I've done this myself but not for a very long time...

[Cyberman]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Do these links help at all?

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-imac-as-a-monitor/https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5647

[Paulstw]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

RDP port doesn't transmit well with Apple however, just use teamviewer on the MAC and accept the connection on the PC. That way you can control the PC on the MAC. It's free to use for personal use.

[Colin]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Teamviewer as Paulstw is the easiest way to do this and does not require any physical connection between the two other than the internet, they can be on different sides of the world and it still works. It is how I sort my 87 year old mother's laptop out when she messes it up ;).

[Parsen66]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Thanks all for your quick replies.

I've tried Teamviwer and others that are similar and although they work there is always an annoying lag. Sat at my desk for an entire day it becomes somewhat tiresome after a while.

I was really hoping for a physical connection to eliminate this lag. Maybe I'm kidding myself that it can be done.

The KVM switch was great as it was a direct connection between the two.

[Birdy]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Again not had the need to do this but I do run Parallels on my iMac so I can use Windows only packages. If you had a windows environment running on the iMac then the connection might work. As Ian says the problem is the two systems can't directly communicate.

[Parsen66]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Again not had the need to do this but I do run Parallels on my iMac so I can use Windows only packages. If you had a windows environment running on the iMac then the connection might work. As Ian says the problem is the two systems can't directly communicate.

Andrew, Id rather not install a Windows OS unless I really have to.

Microsoft do offer a free download for their Remote Connection suitable for iMac. I've downloaded this but for love nor money it wont play ball and connect.

As the lady in my IT department said 'you wanted a shiny new Apple machine, so live with the fact it looks pretty and suffer using Windows on the laptop'

[Tigger]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

As the lady in my IT department said 'you wanted a shiny new Apple machine, so live with the fact it looks pretty and suffer using Windows on the laptop'

I started the same in the end I dumped the laptop got a Macbook ... time to get the flexible friend out

[Parsen66]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

... time to get the flexible friend out

Again lol

[Jock]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

I do this quite a lot - and I use Microsoft Remote Desktop on the iMac / Macbook. I don't notice too much of a lag, but it is there.

Can I just check your setup? You have a Windows laptop and an iMac and want to share a display?

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the iMac display can't be used as a monitor for an external device, so you seem to have two options.

One is remote desktop software - which works - TeamViewer, Microsoft RDP, VNC - whatever your preference is.

The second is to use a separate monitor and pipe both the laptop and iMac displays through a KVM - not the best solution though.

There is a third option I use when I just want some windows specific stuff running on the Mac - if you're slightly technically savvy, have a look at Wine (https://www.winehq.org) - it's fine for most things.

I'd suggest the Microsoft Remote Desktop - you have to enable it in Windows as well - Start->Control Panel->System->Remote settings.

[Cyberman]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the iMac display can't be used as a monitor for an external device, so you seem to have two options.

Under some circumstances you can use an iMac as a monitor, see...
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-imac-as-a-monitor/ https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5647393
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/87662/how-could-i-use-an-imac-as-secondary-monitor-for-windows-7-laptop

But I suspect for most people a software connection will be easier.

[Parsen66]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

I do this quite a lot - and I use Microsoft Remote Desktop on the iMac / Macbook. I don't notice too much of a lag, but it is there.

Can I just check your setup? You have a Windows laptop and an iMac and want to share a display?

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the iMac display can't be used as a monitor for an external device, so you seem to have two options.

One is remote desktop software - which works - TeamViewer, Microsoft RDP, VNC - whatever your preference is.

The second is to use a separate monitor and pipe both the laptop and iMac displays through a KVM - not the best solution though.

There is a third option I use when I just want some windows specific stuff running on the Mac - if you're slightly technically savvy, have a look at Wine (https://www.winehq.org) - it's fine for most things.

I'd suggest the Microsoft Remote Desktop - you have to enable it in Windows as well - Start->Control Panel->System->Remote settings.

Thanks for your indepth reply Jock, much appreciated.

Yes I have a windows laptop and want to show the screen of that via my iMac display. After reading your post I have tried VNC and that worked well, albeit with a small amount of lag.

Ideally I want to use the Microsoft remote connection but cannot get the iMac and PC to talk, it keeps telling me either isn't either on or has an internet connection, which they both do of course.

I think I'll have to settle for VNC or the like

[Jock]

Re: Windows screen on Mac display

Could be firewalls are blocking connections - on the iMac, under System Preferences, Security & Privacy, if your firewall in ON, you'll need to make sure port TCP 3389 is allowed. Same goes for Windows firewall if that's enabled. Try disabling the firewall on both and see if you can connect using RDP.