Loading ...This is a guide for those who wants to use the iPad as a second monitor for a windows laptop.
Here’s what I used:
- ultraVNC (uvnc.com) for PC (free)
- Mocha VNC Lite – for the iPad (free)
It’s actually very simple to do.
1. Install the ultraVNC server
2. You should see the VNC Server icon in the task bar. Right click on it.
3. Click on Admin Property, select Display No 2
I chose to Remove Aero and Wallpaper, just to make it go faster
4. Right Click on uVNC Icon again and then Properties. Select Video Hook Driver. Optionally select the Low Accuracy to increase speed.
5. One more setting:
In C:\Program Files\UltraVNC, edit ultravnc.ini, to enable to secondary display:
primary=1
secondary=1
6. Make sure your laptop’s Display #2 is active, select Extend these displays
7. Startup Mocha Lite on your iPad. Note: IP address will be the laptop’s address, possibly 192.168.0.x but depends on the network. You can find it out by hovering over the uVNC server icon. Port number is 5902.
You will find that when it starts up it is basically mirroring your display. However, you can use your finger to scroll the screen – and that will display a second screen.
Next, get a stand and enjoy it as your second screen!
P.S. for those who do not have a laptop, google something called the Virtual Video Driver. I found one here. I don’t think I’ve got it working on my Windows 7 but I later realize my laptop card can do without.
There are programs and solutions available for the Mac Users,
iDisplay: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/idisplay/id363500805?mt=8
Mocha VNC Lite + Screen Recycler: http://marthees.com/2010/04/hacksugar-using-your-ipad-as-a-second-monitor/
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Fun. I use Mocha VNC too on my iPhone to remote to my work.
Good idea but not much gaining due to the iPad low resolution.
Is it me or did this article make you want to buy an iPad?
Great post.
Keep up the Great work.
Only 8 more days until the iPad gets released in Australia ( not that Im counting )
How is the latency using this method?
It’s obviously slower than a hardware connection (i.e. USB cable)
But because the two devices resides on the same network, refresh rate is acceptable.
I have a feeling that this is the same technology that the paid app uses also, but since I don’t have a Mac I can’t try it out. Maybe someone can comment on this?
I’ve tried this method on a Vista x64 laptop, but it doesn’t seem to work. I’ve installed the video hook driver and tried extending the display. However all I see is a mirror of my desktop on the Ipad..
Is there anything that I need to do, to get this up and running so that it can be an actual 2nd display.
thanks.
Have you tried use your finger scroll the screen on your iPad to the right?
Hi there,
Yes, tried that, but it just mirrors the current screen and doesn’t scroll past it.
hmm. I wonder if anyone else got this to work.
i would separate the issue into two potential areas.
1. test out if your video driver is setup to be extendable – plug in another monitor using the VGA cable, and see if the monitor shows the extended display?
2. double check the VNC Server’s setting.
i cant edit ultravnc.ini. when i save it does this msg:
cannot create C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\ultravnc.ini file
make sure the path and filename are correct
is this procedure the same using desktop running vista instead of laptop?
The major difference is the built-in video card/ VGA adapter in all laptops. This allows the VNC server to extend.
If you don’t have an extra video card, you can try with the video hook driver in the post. That should give you a virtual display.
I have the same problem as www, I only get a mirror image, no secondary screen. Anyone have this problem?
Thank goodness I came across this. I have an old 12 inch g4 powerbook i wanted to use as an extra monitor with my win7 pc and i couldn’t find a way to get it to work. I was trying to work vnc with a freeware program called zonescreen but it either doesn’t work or I lack the expertise. But trying your method worked out perfectly with just VNC (although obviously a little laggy). tyvm!
I try with XP and that don’t work. Do you have a solution ?
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Well re-read your question and two letters will solve your problem. “X” and “P” lol. I didn’t know people still ran that ancient o.s.
You know i was wondering if you can use something like this on a laptop, instead of using the ipad as a monitor i want to use my laptop as a second screen
Great article! Your method worked perfectly on my Win7 HTPC + iPad setup. My HDTV is the primary display via HDMI, while my iPad sometimes becomes the second wireless monitor for multimedia control. Btw, I don’t have a real monitor hooked to the VGA port of HTPC.
I have several additions to the method or flow for people who are going to follow it:
1. When installing uvnc, remember to choose mirror driver and server driver as additional features to install, because they seem to be the video hook driver needed later.
2. Run notepad as administrator (right click on it) to edit the ultravnc.ini file.
3. Set the second display in similar ratio (16:9 or 4:3) as the first one in screen resolution control, otherwise, mouse click of Mocha VNC on iPad won’ t be accurately positioned.
I do not see a C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\ultravnc.ini file anywhere. Right now, the iPad only mirrors the primary display. Can anyone help?
Nevermind, stupid user error! But still haven’t gotten this to work completely.
Thanks a lot for this wonderful article!.. Very nicely written!
I got it to work and now, I can control my laptop from my ipad.. I was just wondering though why can’t I “extend” my screen to my ipad.. even if I checked the option of extend my screen on windows settings..
Also,
I wonder if I can access my laptop remotely while am away from home/office,
Best regards and best wishes!
I want to know how can I have different screen on ipad and laptop. I want to see two different files on two screens. I can’t do that. I can see laptop screen on my ipad but can’t see different files on two screens.
I don’t agree with this post. Even so, I had searched with Google and I have found out that you are correct and I seemed to be thinking in the wrong way. Keep on producing good quality articles similar to this.
I have a question about that … doesn’t it mean I need a wlan connection? Does it also work without wlan router?
If not, it means i only can use it at home but not outside …
If so, it makes no sense after all
any way to connect a laptop to another laptop via usb and have vnc work that way… rather then over the network?
[...] Terdapat berbagai macam aplikasi VNC yang tersedia untuk berbagai sistem operasi. Pada kali ini saya menggunakan UltraVNC sebagai contoh. Aplikasi VNC di server dan client tidak harus sama, misalnya Anda dapat menggunakan UltraVNC di server Windows dan Mocha Lite VNC di client iPad. [...]
Oh,good,this is a good method to change the monitor.
works awesome, thanks!
Nice. Just what I was looking for and it works perfectly even with the iPad’s limited resolution.
YYES!!! it works , tnxs!!! Now , I use my notebook as second monitor in Win7 absolute for free (without MaxiVista and slow ZoneScreen ).
But Step 3 is skipped in my case. [+]Auto <- radiobutton selected.
Of course, this requires an extra display, so you’re just mirroring the unattached one I guess…
Step 3, setting Display to #2 is unnecessary, and may cause some clients to fail with default settings. The display in step 3 is not the same as the display you set in step 6. In step 3 leave Display as 0 or Auto.
Hello. I’ve tried your method and followed every step, but I can only mirror and can not scroll to a second display. I’m running Vista. Can you help me please? Does it have something to do with my graphics card? My laptop only has an intergrated one.
Hi, i made the test using GT-P1010 and Mocha Lite, and i just can mirror my display (Win7) anyone have any idea to how extend my screen ?
Thanks
Just use display link it’s soon much better
When I try to save the changes made to ultravnc.ini I get a “access denied” message from notebook. Does anyone know how to work around this?
I figured out the answer to my own question. I use Win 7 and here’s what I did: Found the file ultravnc.ini in Windows Explorer–>Right click–>Properties–>Security Tab–>Clicked on user names until I found the one lacking permissions–>Edit–>Checked boxes to allow permissions wanted–>Okay. Returned to file, opened it, made changes, saved and exited as usual. I’m now golden as far as that goes, but I’m still struggling to a second display option to show up on the “Change the appearance of your displays” screen. Currently it says, “Another display not detected.”
While on the “Change the appearance of your displays” page I typed Fn+F7 which happens to be the “change display” combo on my Lenovo Thinkpad and that gave me the option to “extend display” which made the option included in the instructions above appear. Hope that helps somebody else.
Hi,
Is it possible that I can use my television which is connected to an Ethernet be used as a second monitor? I do not wanna use cables like s-video, VGA, etc..It would be great if you can help.