[windows2000] Re: Second keyboard?
- From: "Ray Costanzo" <ray@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:10:03 -0500
I think I'll just suggest character map. J But thanks Jim!
From: windows2000-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:windows2000-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jim Kenzig
ThinHelp.com
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 10:38 AM
To: windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [windows2000] Re: Second keyboard?
I think the keyboards would both be set. So it wouldnt work. This is a
perfect use for virtualization. Just make a virtual copy of your current PC
OS/drive, get the free convert program from VMWARE.com and VMWare Player.
Use the convert utility to create a virtual copy of your hardisk (vmdk) and
install the vmware player, run the vmdk file that convert creates and you
have an exact copy of your PC. You'll have to give it a license key though.
(This CAN be done over a network to a file server drive and stored there and
run from there if you have the bandwidth also. ) Now set the keyboard on
the virtual machine to what you want. When you need the extra characters
just run it under the vm. You can easily copy files back and forth between
the physical PC and the virtual one usine virtual nics.
Of course you can do this with MS Virtual PC also which is free but it takes
several more steps. You still need the convert program from VMWARE, you
convert the physical PC to a VMDK and then you have to download a free
program to convert the VMDK to a VHD and run up the VHD file in Virtual PC.
Lots more time and lots more steps. You will of course need the space on
your hard disk for the vmdk file and a 30 gig PC is going to be a 30 gig
vmdk file. It will take about 4-6 hours to convert your PC from physical to
virtual.
I just upgraded to a new PC with Windows Vista and made a virtual copy of my
old system. I have an exact replica (in a 30 gig file) of my old PC I can
run up anytime... all for free. (aside from the XP license key which I had
many of laying around).
JK
On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 9:39 AM, Ray Costanzo <ray@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So, this question was posed to me, and it got me curious. Is it possible to
connect a second keyboard to a Windows computer and individually map the
keys to different characters? Like, if you're taking an abstract algebra
class for instance and need to be able to type lots of different symbols
more easily than Alt+nnnn, can you have a second keyboard next to you that
you map to these other characters?
--
Jim Kenzig
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Services
http://www.thinhelp.com
Citrix Technology Professional
CEO The Kenzig Group
http://www.kenzig.com
Blog: http://www.techblink.com
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