I’m not used to accepting defeat when it comes to computers. I often make things happen even if all logic and documentation tell me otherwise, like that time I got XP running on a Vista-only machine or when I steamrolled my way through OSX 10.4 with no admin password. I’m good at tinkering. I eventually make things go.

Unfortunately, I seem to have stumbled upon something I can’t force my way around: using my old iMac as an external display via TDM. Even though everything I read said “this will not work”, I thought I could somehow convince it otherwise. After all, my computer wasn’t aware that it was missing the necessary ports and if I just told it to believe, surely things would work out in the end. Surely!

Oh but no. Regardless of how hard I wish and how much fairy dust I sprinkle on things, I absolutely cannot use my late-2009 21.5″ iMac in TDM. I can still use the Samsung monitor as a second display, so I won’t be stuck in 1993 .. but what to do with my old iMac? I don’t really need three Macs, but I won’t get much for it if I sell it. Apparently there are some not-great-but-adequate display solutions I can look into, or .. I can install Windows 7 on it, and use it as a real live gaming machine.

Suddenly, I am very excited about the possibilities and it’s all thanks to Catherine, who gave me the aforementioned Gift of Hope.

HOORAY! COMPU-TINKERING! Seriously, this excites me. I love going both ways!

*: by “see” I meant “see content on two monitors”. You’ve been Upworthy’d!