I have 2 computers, one running Windows XP and one running Windows 98. I want to capture video from the Windows 98 machine by splitting the VGA output into component RGB connections, then routing that signal to a capture card in the XP machine. Are there any precautions I need to take to ensure that any hardware doesn't get damaged? Such as resolution changes and recommended refresh rate? I wish I could use a screen recorder for this, but Windows 98 can't run on the hardware of my XP machine and my Win98 machine isn't fast enough to record the screen. Edit: I heard that the signal for component and VGA are different, and this won't work for what I'm trying to do. Am I right?
Component RGB and composite video (capture card input) are two totally different signal types. You can't do what you are trying to do by "patching" this video in from VGA. You need a VGA card in the 98 machine that supports composite output and a caputre card in the XP machine that supports composite input. Alternately, You can set up VNC and remote desktop into the 98 machine. You might be able to capture the video that way.
Well, I'm wanting to record some old game footage from a laptop running Windows 98 using a video output. The system has both a VGA and S-video output. I could use S-video just fine, but I was wanting to see if I could also use VGA for games than can run in resolutions higher than 640x480.
There are VGA capture cards available, but their cost is very high. You might be able to find a used one on ebay.
As KB said, VGA capture cards (aka Frame Grabbers) are available but not cheap. My previous post is edited for clarity.