Can I control my PC and laptop using one program?

Q I frequently switch between my Dell desktop PC and an HP laptop. A friend suggested I buy a machine that lets me use the same keyboard and mouse on both, but can you recommend software that does the same job? Stephen Clarkson

A A KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch, as suggested by your friend, lets you do this, but it’s extra clutter on your desk and they cost upwards of £30. The free version of Sharemouse is a software alternative that lets you use a single keyboard and mouse on two computers. Once set up, you can choose which computer to control simply by moving your mouse from the desktop of one to the other.

You’ll need to install Sharemouse on both computers. Go to www.snipca.com/44014, tick ‘I accept the license terms’, then click Windows Download. Check the system tray on both computers for the Sharemouse icon (a black cursor - you may need to click the up arrow to the left of the system tray to reveal it). After a few seconds, the icon should display a green tick (see screenshot), indicating Sharemouse has found the other computer. Right-click this icon, select Monitor Manager, then move the two boxes so they match the orientation of your two computers (this determines the direction you need to drag the mouse to switch computers).

There are some drawbacks. Unlike with a KVM switch, Sharemouse doesn’t let you use the same monitor for both computers, so you’ll need to keep your laptop’s screen open. And to do anything beyond sharing your keyboard and mouse (such as dragging files between computers), you’ll need the paid-for version, which costs a hefty £77.