iMac As a second PC Monitor

[Newbie-Wan]

I want to use my iMac display as a second monitor for my laptop.
I have a 2013 27" iMac for personal use.
I have a 2011 HP Elitebook 8440p for work. This has a DisplayPort (not a mini DisplayPort). It also has a VGA port.

I bought a DisplayPort -to-min DisplayPort/thunderbolt cable, plugged them into each machine, but got no results.

Any idea why this didn't work?

Thanks all.

 

[overanalyzer]

I'm not sure you can use that adapter:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924#4

 

[rkaufmann87]

I want to use my iMac display as a second monitor for my laptop.
I have a 2013 27" iMac for personal use.
I have a 2011 HP Elitebook 8440p for work. This has a DisplayPort (not a mini DisplayPort). It also has a VGA port.

I bought a DisplayPort -to-min DisplayPort/thunderbolt cable, plugged them into each machine, but got no results.

Any idea why this didn't work?

Thanks all.

Yes here is not idea but facts, because your iMac uses Thunderbolt for Target Display Mode, your PC does not have Thunderbolt video output therefore it will not work, don't waste your time asking for work arounds, there are none. Someone asks this question about 3 times a week, I think you're #5 this week.

 

[PJM82]

I want to use my iMac display as a second monitor for my laptop.
I have a 2013 27" iMac for personal use.
I have a 2011 HP Elitebook 8440p for work. This has a DisplayPort (not a mini DisplayPort). It also has a VGA port.

I bought a DisplayPort -to-min DisplayPort/thunderbolt cable, plugged them into each machine, but got no results.

Any idea why this didn't work?

Thanks all.

To avoid confusion when your looking up accessories, your model is referred to as the late 2012 iMac, even though only about 5 shipped in 2012 .

 

[53kyle]

Yes here is not idea but facts, because your iMac uses Thunderbolt for Target Display Mode, your PC does not have Thunderbolt video output therefore it will not work, don't waste your time asking for work arounds, there are none. Someone asks this question about 3 times a week, I think you're #5 this week.

Thunderbolt isn't the video output, the mini displayport is. They are combined into one port.

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Try pressing command + f2 on your imac once everything is plugged in.

 

[justperry]

Thunderbolt isn't the video output, the mini displayport is. They are combined into one port.

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Try pressing command + f2 on your imac once everything is plugged in.

Nitpicking.

Edit: Don't even think you are right here, thunderbolt by itself is just a transporter of signals based on PCI, you can transport all signals/protocols with it as long as there are drivers for it.
(If it is used as a cable for Video output it's a video cable)

 

[Newbie-Wan]

Thanks to all who replied. MacRumors community rocks.

 

[aggri1]

This would probably work if your iMac was a 27" 2010 model, which had no Thunderbolt, and accepted a DisplayPort video signal input.

 

[MacGizmo]

You're holding it wrong!

Sorry, nobody else said it, so I had to.