How do I use my iMac(late 2009) as a monitor for my MBP(2012) or my MBP(late 2010) without software?

I currently have a late 2009 iMac, a 2012 MBP, a mid 2010 MBP and a MinDisplay Port (MDP) male to male cable. I am trying to either use the iMac a second monitor for one of the MBPs or mirror the display.
The iMac has a MDP port and is running OS X 10.7.5 (Lion)
The MBP 2010 has a MDP port and is running OS X 10.8.4 (Mountain Lion)
The MBP 2012 has a Thunderbolt port and is running OS X 10.9 (Maverics)
When I connect the 2010 MBP to the iMac with the MDP cable the screen of the iMac goes black and the MBP flashes blue. I have been looking for a solution and I have tried:
Rebooting them in the order of: connecting the cable, turing on the MBP, then turing on the iMac
Whilst they are on simply plugging the cable between the two
Connecting them with the cable while they are on, then pressing cmd-f1 on the MBP
Connecting them with the cable while they are on, then pressing cmd-f1 on the iMac
Pressing cmd-f2 on the iMac, whilst there are connected, only toggles a black screen on the iMac
Pressing cmd-f2 on the MBP doesn't do anything
Every time I connect the MBP 2012 to the iMac with the MDP cable, the MBP screen goes black and the computor screen becomes unresponsive but the screen stays on and I have to reboot the MBP.
I will really appreciate anyone who has any information on this topic.
Thanks

If the iMac is a 21-inch model, not without using a product such as ScreenRecycler over a network.
If the iMac is a 27-inch model, click here for information.
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