2 Posts
0
376
Using Inspiron 5410 as a monitor for another desktop
I selected the Inspiron 5401 5410, in part, because I wanted to use it as a monitor for my replaced win 8.1: I expected that some of my old (but useful) programs wouldn't run on Win 11. And I wanted to get rid of my old monitor.
So do I just take an hdmi cable, plug it into the hdmi port of my win 8.1 machine and then into the hdmi-in port of the 5401 5410, and hit the tiny button on the base of the 5401 5410. Will that work?
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
43.8K Posts
0
June 20th, 2023 11:00
You should be able to connect old PC's HDMI-OUT port to HDMI-IN on the Inspiron 5410 AIO. You will need to use the button on the AIO to select the HDMI-IN port as the source of the video signal. If you don't have another monitor connected directly to old PC, you'll always have to turn AIO on just to use that old PC. Probably good idea to power AIO on first, before powering on old PC. And then use the button to change the input source.
Compatibility Mode is strictly a Microsoft Windows thing, so Dell won't talk about it.
Windows has a built-in Compatibility Troubleshooter which can help you run software designed for a previous OS, assuming you have the installation disk(s) and product key(s). You can't just copy software files over from one PC onto another one. Apps have to be installed into Windows on that other PC.
Have you looked on line to see if you can download the installer for any of your old software, without needing installation disks, assuming you have their product keys?
FWIW, I'm running MS Office 2003 (originally for XP), on my Win 10 desktop without using a Compatibility Mode. You might need to use a Compatibility Mode with MS Office '97.
I'm also running an app designed for Win 95 in Win 10 by having compatibility set for Win 7, without problems.
You could consider LibreOffice (free) in Win 11 or OpenOffice (free). (NOTE: LibreOffice seems to get updated regularly, but OpenOffice may not be getting updated.)
Both have "Office" applications that mimic MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc, and read/write MS Office file formats, so they're compatible with your existing MS Office files and can create/save new files in Office format. I have LibreOffice on my laptop and move files back/forth to Office 2003 on my desktop with no problems.
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
43.8K Posts
0
June 19th, 2023 18:00
@Dello1732 - Title says Inspiron 5410 but post says 5401. Both models exist and can be an All-In-One. So which is correct?
Inspiron 5401 AIO has an HDMI-IN port with maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz (24-bit). Will that be adequate for your needs?
Inspiron 5410 AIO has both HDMI-IN and HDMI-OUT, so you'd have to connect to HDMI-IN.
Not sure why you'd want to run a separate PC to use it as a monitor. Win 11 has built-in Compatibility Mode testing which can automatically detect how to run older software as if it was running in some older versions of Windows, all the way back to Win 95. Or, you can just set it yourself manually for an older OS.
If your apps run in Win 8.1, there shouldn't be any problems using Win 11, either natively, or with Compatibility Mode configured for Win 8.1 for older apps.
Dello1732
2 Posts
0
June 20th, 2023 08:00
Thank you for your reply. I apologize for the confusion on the model number: I have the 5410 all-in-one.
As to why I didn't use the Compatibility Mode: I didn't know of its existence. There is zero info accompanying the Dell 5410 and why look for help online for something that you don't know exists? Plus some of my old software is really old. For example my version of Microsoft Office is 1997! It satisfies my needs (originally purchsed for my Win XP and then run - with some loss of functionality - on Win 8.1.) Some programs were on floppy disks! Plus I cannot locate some of the distribution disks.
I copied over many programs from Win 8 .1 and tried to run them with mixed success. Sometimes there were bits and pieces of the original installation in obscure hiding spots that didn't make the copy because I didn't know of them. Sometimes, even with a CD distribution disk, Win 11 won't run Setup for some of them, or it goes through the process and, then at the end, says "missing something". The aggravation factor is very great. Many of these old programs are used very infrequently (2-3 times per year) and I thought it'd be nice if I could just keep the old desktop around just for them, but to use the new AIO as the monitor.
So, I appreciate your help but I still wonder if I can go from HDMI-out from my Win 8.1 desktop to HDMI-in on the Win 11 AIO.