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