Computer help needed!

[RedCarsGoFaster]

I give up. IBU.

I have two laptops for WFH. Different systems. One is an elderly HP, the other is a brand new Microsoft Surface. I like to keep them closed and hook them up to my external screen as it's much bigger.

I have one external screen, one USB mouse and one USB keyboard.

I've bought a KVM switch and hooked it all up. I can only get one sodding laptop to work on the screen.

Help! I'm going nuts! I'm usually tech savvy, but today I'm definitely too tired for this and google has NOT been my friend. AIBU to beg for help?

For another idea, does it work if you do the setup you showed in your diagram, but remove the VGA cable? You'd then be asking the HP laptop to output video over USB to the Targus dock, which it may or may not support.

I'm pretty sure the VGA port on the dock is an output, not an input, so that VGA cable is connecting two outputs together.

you might be able to plug the surface HDMI and the HP computer VGA cable both into the monitor at the same time. then you can switch displays by changing the 'input' setting on the monitor, and switch keyboards/mice with the KVM switch.

that might make everything work without needing to buy more widgets.

I work in IT and cried at the diagram! However it is impressive and if you ever fancy doing documentation for me I would be grateful.
Looks like you've tried to be efficient and the tech just won't work in that way.
However I'm sending it to my team tomorrow to work out for a little Thursday challenge!

@Sloelydoesit Ha, that's amazing, thank you! I make charts like this but in i2 as part of my job. I'm going to pull it all apart today and start again - especially with the VGA/HDMI connections.

So, update!

I unplugged everything and started again.

Turns out the Targus dock is because the Surface has no HDMI output 🙄.

It's now working by flipping between screen inputs manually between the HDMI via the Targus for the Surface laptop and a VGA cable from the HP direct to the screen.

I could do with a less clunky method of switching the screens, but it works for now and I'm planning to get a 2nd screen soon to remove the problems completely!

Thank you all so much for the sanity check, I can finally work more easily.

Now, if anyone knows how to override the centrally set screen timeouts - so it doesn't lock up the effing Surface if you don't pay it attention for a minute or so - that would be amazing!

Just search for Power settings in the start menu - choose power and sleep - change the screen sleep settings.

Not sure what model of surface you have but most have mini display port video outputs and your monitor has a regular display port input and therefore, if so, you would just need a mini display port to display port cable to connect them and get rid of the Targus.

Like this: www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter-Cable-Black/dp/B002XVYZ82?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Alternatively, if it is a surface with a usb-c video output you can get this:

www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Mini-DisplayPort-Adapter-Cable-Black/dp/B002XVYZ82?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Post the model and I can tell you for sure which one.

Just search for Power settings in the start menu - choose power and sleep - change the screen sleep settings.

I'd assume that the OP is referring to a group policy set by the company's IT dept to lock the screen (prompt for password) after only a short period of inactivity, so not just the standard timeout period before the screen turns itself off? If so it'll have been set that way for security reasons (so that the laptop is less likely to be found unlocked if the OP leaves it unattended.)

OP - you should ask them if they'll extend that timeout for you. They'll probably refuse, but you never know, LOL!

Find help here www.sumerge.com/
pls