Want to make Vostro Laptop "dumb" monitor temporarily

Greetings All:
My desktop PC monitor died...Is there a way I can use my Vostro 1500/Vista as a monitor only by reversing the VGA signal? while fixing the dead monitor. Or is this a computer to computer USB -type operation?

 

That would be a nifty feature to have on a laptop. Just a little toggle-switch or something that would allow a laptop to be used as a portable monitor for uses just like you're asking. Unfortunately, at least I've not yet seen such a thing, short of a separate video capture card.

For a different approach: Are they on the same network? Can you just use the laptop to remote into your computer using Windows' Remote Desktop or something like VNC instead? Remote Desktop would usually require using the laptop's keyboard and mouse as well (unless maybe you use the Remote Assistance mode with the right options), while using VNC should allow you to continue to use the desktop's keyboard and mouse with the video displayed remotely on the laptop's display.

 

Thanks for your help!