Can you run a WinXP/2003 box without a monitor attached?

[Urinal Mint]

I really don't want to have to buy a cheapo monitor to run a separate media box, and I hate linux.

Thanks

 

[Bootprint]

You could get a KVM switch to use only 1 monitor/keyboard or use something like VNC.

 

[jm0ris0n]

Yes, a computer will boot without a monitor attached It will run without one too. No KVM needed.

 

[Baronz]

Yes it works fine.

Have VNC start as a service and you can control it remotely once it boots Did that with my server, worked good.

 

[scott9343]

Originally posted by: Baronz
Yes it works fine.

Have VNC start as a service and you can control it remotely once it boots Did that with my server, worked good.

don't even need vnc if you are using 2000/03 server...terminal services does just fine.

 

[Accord99]

As does Remote Desktop with Windows XP Pro. And at much, much more responsive speeds as compared to VNC.

 

[miniMUNCH]

My vote for remote desktop...works great for that sort of thing.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: jm0ris0n
Yes, a computer will boot without a monitor attached It will run without one too. No KVM needed.

At least some of them will. I have an Epox 8RDA+ with a GF2 Ti450 card, which refuses to POST unless I attach a monitor.

 

[Matthias99]

Most boards, however, will not boot without a keyboard. Just thought that would be worth mentioning if you were going to set this up.

 

[thorin]

TightVNC.

Thorin

 

[Kungfu72]

Really? I just set up my old Asus K7M/Athlon 700mhz combo with Windows Server 2000, and it doesn't have a keyboard connected and boots fine. Are newer boards requiring the keyboard be plugged in?

 

[MDE]

You could just boot it up with a monitor and then unplug the monitor.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
You could just boot it up with a monitor and then unplug the monitor.

Remote Desktop is the easiest way I think.

 

[Matthias99]

I would suspect, actually, that newer ones would *not* lock up unexpectedly without a keyboard (the old -- and unintentionally hilarious -- "No Keyboard Detected. Press F1 to continue!" message ), or at least that you can tell it to boot despite not having one (I think mine does this). It's just something to be aware of, and you should test it -- you don't want to set up a server that locks up the next time you reboot it remotely.