>i bought a switching box with one DB 25 I/O plug on the one side and 4 I hope you mean DB-15. If it's DB-25 you have a lot of connector-soldering to do to make this work.
>identical DB 25 I/O plugs on the other side, with a switch that selects >one of the 4 at a time. Macs need the sense-pins shorted at bootup. If there is nothing attached they will boot, but you will get no video when you *do* attach a monitor to them. So, yes, with your switchbox (assuming it *is* DB-15) you will have to have each computer selected on the switchbox when you turn it on. Or else the sense pins won't show up on the video port of that machine and it will start with no video. As for keyboard and mouse, ADB is not hot-pluggable. Do NOT attach them to a switchbox. Belkin makes a ADB-to-PS/2 adapter for their switchboxes which you can buy on eBay for approx. $20 or so. Belkin switchboxes emulate the keyboard and mouse when you switch to another port. They make the computer think the mouse and keyboard are still attached. I haven't used the Belkins with ADB, but I use them with PS/2, and they work great. _________________________________________________________________ Surf the Web without missing calls! Get MSN Broadband. http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/freeactivation.asp -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:vintage.macs@;mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:vintage.macs-off@;mail.maclaunch.com> For digest mode, email: <mailto:vintage.macs-digest@;mail.maclaunch.com> Subscription questions: <mailto:listmom@;lowendmac.com> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
