Turn one PC into two

zod

Have a dual core Windows 7 3GB RAM PC

Want to buy a graphics card with dual output an extra monitor, usb keyboard and mouse. The second position would be next to the primary. Do not want to have to buy another PC, no matter how cheap.

Anyone know of any software that would allow a second session on the second monitor..

the cheaper the better! thanks

JDxtra

Unless you only want to use one at a time, that will not be possible. You will be fighting over control of the keyboard and mouse! Buy a second PC.

CrinkElite

have you looked into vmware. It allows you to run an OS inside an OS. the performance is surprisingly good with very little overhead altough it is memory hungry, with this you would not need to have another screen at all. you can simply ALT-TAB to another OS,
linux inside vista. xp inside vista and many other combinations.

MrVestek

Erm... you could do this technically by using something like VirtualPC but the performance would vary alot.

Use Virtual PC on one screen and your main PC's session on the other. You can install a virtual os to the virtual machine and use that... install something like Ubuntu so that it'll run relitively smoothly.

Still a piss poor solution to getting an actual PC tho.

Overheal

and none of those are a 2 user solution.

For the cost of the Extra hardware you need

a graphics card with dual output an extra monitor, usb keyboard and mouse.

you could just get a netbook and I assure you it would have as much performance as most VirtualPC options.

Anti

I remember seeing a motherboard that would alow this a few months ago. I think it was either abit, asus or asrock. Basicially one cpu, but 2 chipsets on the board. Then 2x everything else to go with it. Basicially 2 motherboards crammed onto one PCB. I'll see if i can find a link to it. Oh i do know there is a New DFI boards about to come out which does something similar with a hardware switcher, but back to looking for the other option

DFI mobo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiIyxY4jIuU

Overheal

Interesting. but that is basically buying a new machine in the process of getting that board.

zod

Overheal wrote: »

and none of those are a 2 user solution.

For the cost of the Extra hardware you need you could just get a netbook and I assure you it would have as much performance as most VirtualPC options.

I have the dual output monitor card, keyboard and mouse so all I need is a monitor.

this one is €99 and 19" which is just about the size I need ( netbook screen is far too small, as far as performance goes .. its for browsing)

now just need the software ???

Edit : This software is €99 anyone konw of any other ?

Snowbat

Is Windows a requirement? It appears straightforward to do in Linux:

Six-headed, Six-user Linux System:
http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html

Edit : And here's an Ubuntu two seater:
http://netpatia.blogspot.com/2007/05/multiseat-in-ubuntu-704.html

Bob_Harris

With VirtualBox you can do this by specifying what USB devices to use in a specific Virtual Machine.

Similar question here

So you'll have two mice and two keyboards plugged into the PC.

Windows 7 installed on the physical machine, with VirtualBox installed on top of that.

Set up a virtual machine and install your chosen second operating system. In the setting for the virtual machine specify the mouse and keyboard you want it to use (under USB filtering I believe). In the link above it's recommended to disable auto mouse integration.

Simply run the virtual machine in full screen mode on the second monitor. You could set it up that the VM starts at boot if you want also.

zod

Is Windows a requirement? It appears straightforward to do in Linux:

yes I'm afraid so

Bob_Harris wrote: »

With VirtualBox you can do this by specifying what USB devices to use in a specific Virtual Machine.

Similar question here

So you'll have two mice and two keyboards plugged into the PC.

Windows 7 installed on the physical machine, with VirtualBox installed on top of that.

Set up a virtual machine and install your chosen second operating system. In the setting for the virtual machine specify the mouse and keyboard you want it to use (under USB filtering I believe). In the link above it's recommended to disable auto mouse integration.

Simply run the virtual machine in full screen mode on the second monitor. You could set it up that the VM starts at boot if you want also.

thanks looks like this could be perfect!