Controlling Two Laptops With One Mouse

inventor1949 · Apr 27, 2020

Hi
My setup is two laptops one with two external monitors and I use USB 3.0 wormhole j5create the problem with this hardware is that it gets disconnected every time I restart and is very difficult to reconnect, I don't have a network setup I am working of a hotspot/WiFi so I decided to ask is there another unit that will do the job of using one mouse to control the two laptops and able to copy/paste
Thanks, Mike

foogoo · May 1, 2020

You don't have a network? Are both laptop using their own hotspot? Their own SIM and data service?
The j5 is the best solution or one like it - try StarTech.com KM Switch Cable - USB 3.0
There are USB sharing hubs but you have to hit a switch to change controls.
You could use a KVM - again you have a hot key or button to switch controls.

inventor1949 · May 2, 2020

No network
both laptops are on there own same WiFi or hotSpot and one of the laptops have 2 external monitors connected with plugable adaptors I use the j5 but some reason it don't reconnect the laptops when I put them to sleep sometimes is working and other times not, I have to disconnect j5 and reboot, the tech requested that I remove the Fresco Logic USB VGA Display Driver because is not comparable with the plugable adaptors but when I do it reinstalls itself so that dont work. Anything I been missing?

foogoo · May 3, 2020

For the heck of it.. turn USB power control to always on. In device manager, under the USB controllers.
"no network" - "their own same" that is a contradictory statement. Either
A) Both laptops have a cellular modem and connect directly to the Internet via 3g/4g.
B) Or you have an external 3g/4g device, usually called a "hotspot" both laptops join
C) You have router (WIFI) that both laptops connect to for Internet. Cable or DSL
D) You share the cellular connection from one laptop to the other aka a bridged connection.

inventor1949 · May 3, 2020

foogoo said: ↑

For the heck of it.. turn USB power control to always on. In device manager, under the USB controllers.
"no network" - "their own same" that is a contradictory statement. Either
A) Both laptops have a cellular modem and connect directly to the Internet via 3g/4g.
B) Or you have an external 3g/4g device, usually called a "hotspot" both laptops join
C) You have router (WIFI) that both laptops connect to for Internet. Cable or DSL
D) You share the cellular connection from one laptop to the other aka a bridged connection.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right not word it right, so Ok each laptop is connecting to the internet via a WiFi and sometimes I use my smartphone's hotspot
I look into turning the USB to always on bu I don't see that setting in the device manager

plodr · May 4, 2020

The settings for USB always on are found under Power Options, not Device manager.
Click on Change advanced Power settings.
You'll see USB in the box that pops up.

inventor1949 · May 5, 2020

I looked in to that setting and it is on Enabled

plodr · May 5, 2020

When you use one mouse between 2 devices, you switch from one computer to another either by some keyboard key or a physical switch.

It is not possible to copy on one computer, switch to a different computer and paste what it on the clipboard of the first computer to the second computer. It is a different clipboard with different entries.

I suggest if you need to copy something to a different computer you use a method that works:
Create a file with what you want to appear on the second computer.
a) copy that file to a USB stick then put the USB stick in the 2nd computer and grab the file.
b) email what you want and pick up the email on a 2nd computer.
c) get a data transfer cable, connect the 2 laptops and move files back and forth.
example: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Transfer-Compatible-Computer-Software/dp/B005OTPVMY

I just used method b last week. I had a set of videos on YouTube that I wanted to watch. Sometimes I watch on my desktop but other times I watch on a laptop or an android tablet.
I emailed the text file with all the links then picked up the email on the 2 other devices.

I used a data transfer cable way back in the Windows 9x days because floppies were too small to transfer large files unless you took the time to break them into parts and used multiple floppies to put the large file on. Then I opened File Explorer which showed both computers and I was able to move files back and forth.

foogoo · May 6, 2020

plodr said: ↑

When you use one mouse between 2 devices, you switch from one computer to another either by some keyboard key or a physical switch.

It is not possible to copy on one computer, switch to a different computer and paste what it on the clipboard of the first computer to the second computer. It is a different clipboard with different entries.

I suggest if you need to copy something to a different computer you use a method that works:
Create a file with what you want to appear on the second computer.
a) copy that file to a USB stick then put the USB stick in the 2nd computer and grab the file.
b) email what you want and pick up the email on a 2nd computer.
c) get a data transfer cable, connect the 2 laptops and move files back and forth.
example: https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Transfer-Compatible-Computer-Software/dp/B005OTPVMY

I just used method b last week. I had a set of videos on YouTube that I wanted to watch. Sometimes I watch on my desktop but other times I watch on a laptop or an android tablet.
I emailed the text file with all the links then picked up the email on the 2 other devices.

I used a data transfer cable way back in the Windows 9x days because floppies were too small to transfer large files unless you took the time to break them into parts and used multiple floppies to put the large file on. Then I opened File Explorer which showed both computers and I was able to move files back and forth.
Click to expand...

The j5create will copy clipboard and files between computers and so do software KVMs , but for some reason he doesn't think he is on a network to use those, but he also said these laptops connect to the same wifi.. now he started a new thread asking about 'docking' a laptop or using a port replicator.

Also he should look at the Freedom Switch here https://www.blackbox.com/en-us/products/black-box-brand-products/kvm/control-room-kvm/km-switches

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Controlling Two Laptops With One Mouse

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